C.O. gives thanks — on the run, at the table

Thanksgiving — a time to spend with family and friends watching parades, football — oh, and stuffing your belly with turkey, mashed potatoes and all the other fixings that come with it. Thursday in Bend, though, a lot of people took the time to give for a good cause.

The day started at the ninth annual “I like Pie” Thanksgiving Run and Walk in downtown Bend.

I caught up with David Thomason, one of the people who started the run nine Thanksgivings ago.

“For all these people to come out on a chilly Thanksgiving morning and go for a little run, and also bring pies and food is just really a cool thing and just speaks to the holiday really well,” Thomason said.

Thomason said the run wouldn’t be a success if it wasn’t for the close knit running community here in Bend.

The event, sponsored by FootZone, has a cost of a suggested donation of $5 and five pounds of food for NeighborImpact, a 21 Cares for Kids partner. There’s also a pie baking contest.

Why is it a run for pie? For Thomason, the answer is simple.

“Turkey gets all the press, but really it’s all about the pie. That’s why we’re here today,” Thomason said.

My next stop of the day was the Central Oregon Thanksgiving Classic. The run’s purpose is to benefit “Girls on the Run of Deschutes County.”

“It was fun. I did it last year, and I’m going to do it next year too,” Karissa Remetes said.

Race Coordinator Melissa Barnum said she was impressed with the number of people who came out to support the cause. She also told me she’s looking forward to what the rest of the day has in store.

“After the race, I’m probably just going to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my family and celebrate an awesome event this morning,” Barnum said.

After working up an appetite at the races, some folks headed over to McMenamin’s to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

“Everybody’s excited about letting everyone enjoy the holiday,” said McMenamin’s Executive Chef John Price.

The common theme from all the celebrations is that, on this day, everyone has something to be thankful for.

“For this program and for the support we have from our Boys and Girls Club staff, and all the volunteers who come out and volunteer their time on Thanksgiving to make it possible for us to have this event,” Barnum said.

“I’m just thankful that I can come out and go for a run, be around my family and have my health. We’re all just out here having a good time,” Thomason said.

“This morning on the way into work, even though it was at 4 o’clock in the morning, I just started feeling thankful for my family,” Price said.