Run to Feed the Hungry is back in Sacramento. Here’s your guide to the Thanksgiving event

Run to Feed the Hungry, the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the U.S., is back for its traditional in-person event after a virtual format last year due to COVID-19.

Historically, 27,000 to 29,000 people participate in the run, said Blake Young, the president and CEO of the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, the beneficiary organization of the event.

The financial fallout from the pandemic triggered a hunger crisis, according to the official Run to Feed the Hungry website — and the food bank experienced a significant increase in demand.

In the last year, it went from distributing food to an average of 150,000 people each month to 300,000 some months.

With over 100 affiliated food distributions centers in the Sacramento area, the organization is the largest nonprofit provider of basic human needs in Sacramento County, according to the official website.

The run is in its 28th year. The 5K and 10K will take place — rain or shine — Thanksgiving morning.

How to participate

Registration remains open through Nov. 25.

People who cannot attend the event in person, can register as virtual participants and have their shirt and bib mailed for $7 or the items can be collected in person at packet pick up.

Last year, Run to Feed the Hungry registered about 21,000 virtual participants.

Registration fees range from $20 to $40. Contact 916-456-1980 for more information. You can register online at raceroster.com.

One adult registration at $35 can provide 175 meals for the food bank. That means one race registration could feed five families for four days.

According to Young, 7,740 people are currently registered for this year’s run.

Distance

To cut down on mass gathering at the starting line, there will be rolling starts to allow less congestion along the route. Participants may decide if they will participate in the 5k run or walk or the 10k run the morning of the event. The 10k race starts at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K race starts at 9 a.m.

Here are the start times:

10K race: timed

The 10K race will officially start at 8:15 a.m. with the timed participants. These participants will have between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. to cross the start line.

10K race: untimed

The 10K untimed participants will follow at 8:20 a.m. and will have until 8:40 a.m. to cross the start line.

5K race: timed

The 5K race will officially start at 9 a.m. with the timed runners who will have five minutes to cross the start line.

5K race: untimed

The 5K untimed participants will follow starting at 9:05 a.m. and have until 10 a.m. to cross the start line.

Location

The event features a loop course that starts on J Street, west of the entrance to the Sacramento State campus, and runs through the streets of East Sacramento. Please keep the following at home:

• Dogs
• Roller blades
• Bikes
• Scooters
• Skateboards

Strollers, baby joggers and wagons are only welcome in the untimed events.

Event day parking

Parking is available at Sacramento State and in East Sacramento neighborhoods.

But Run to Feed the Hungry recommends carpooling or biking to the event. Free monitored bike parking is available at the J Street entrance to Sacramento State.

Volunteer opportunities

To volunteer, you must be 16 or older. You can find volunteer registration on raceroster.com.

COVID-19 precautions

Run the Feed the Hungry strongly recommends participants be fully vaccinated or obtain a negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test at least 72 hours before the start of the event.

Face coverings are required indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will also be available to all attendees and hand sanitizer will be located near the restrooms.

Visit Run to Feed the Hungry’s question and answer forum for more information.

Packet pickup

Packet pick-up is available from Nov. 20 to Nov. 24 at Fremont Presbyterian Church, 5770 Carlson Dr. Parking is available across the street at Scottish Rite Masonic Center.

Here are the available times to pick up your packet:

• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 23
• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24
• 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 25

This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 9:36 AM.