GR Turkey Trot doubles in size

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The 20th annual Grand Rapids 5K Turkey Trot more than doubled the number of runners from 2011.

More than 2,000 runners took part in the fun fundraiser for GRPS athletics on Thursday, in part because it moved to the streets of downtown Grand Rapids from its previous location at Cornerstone University.

The 5K Turkey Trot is the biggest fundraising event for Grand Rapids Public Schools athletics all year. The money is raised so kids in the district don't have to pay to play sports.

The move from the suburbs to downtown Grand Rapids this year seemed logical to organizers.

"Its our school, our community, so this is a good place for the event to be held," said Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall-Neal.

The new location brought many that had run the race before but also some new faces.

"I've never done any 5K's before," said Alexis Baker.

Roger Bonga, who has run the race several times, turned out again for the annual event and told 24 Hour News 8 that he enjoyed the move downtown.

Whether they were first-time runners or had been around the course a time or two, most everyone said the event relocating downtown was a good move.

"I loved it", said Dan Dorn "I love the course. Along the river is fabulous, starting here is, of course, always special and then running across the bridges and so forth really makes it kind of special."

The race also ended inside the Van Andel Arena, which Dorn also enjoyed.

"I didn't know you can finish inside the place. You know, you run inside the building and go like, 'Wow, this is cool.'"