“Did you get lunch?” one dental hygienest asked the other.

“No,” answered the second. “I bought a dress that’s a size too small and, well … .” She went on to explain that she’d bought if for an event on Friday — the day after Thanksgiving.

“ ‘at’s a-mer-a-ble,” I said sounding like Foster Brooks but sincere in my appreciation of her optimism.  “A dresh a shize too shmall before ‘hankshgiving. ”

Health and fitness writer guy kicked in and I suggested that first thing Thursday morning she should run 10 miles because, curiously, exercise can act as an appetite suppressant.

She looked at me skeptically, not so much about the appetite suppressant but about the running 10 miles part.

“Or at leash go for a long walkh,” I offered.

For years now, I’ve either gone for a long run or a long ride Thanksgiving morning. This spurt of endurance exercise usually moderates my T-day intake, and when it doesn’t, it at least assuages my guilt over the remainder of the day. The trick can be convincing yourself, on a holiday, to rise early for a solitary workout. This trick can be accomplished with some help, from the assortment of organized rides and runs offered.

In running circles, Thanksgiving is especially well-known for the trots — the Turkey Trots, of which the website Running.net lists 11 this Thanksgiving in North Carolina. They are:

• Asheville: Earth Fare Turkey Trot 5K, 9 a.m.
• Boiling Springs: Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot, 5K Run, 5K Walk, children’s fun run.
• Carrboro: Double B Gallop and Gorge 8K.
• Cary: Inside-Out Sports Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 8K, One Mile, Kid’s 100-yard Dash, 5K, 9 a.m., (One Mile race is at 8:30 a.m.).
• Charlotte: Charlotte SouthPark Turkey Trot 8K, 1 Mile FR 8:30 a.m.; 8K Run & Baby Jogger 8K 9 a.m.; 5K Walk 9:15 a.m.; Tot Trot 10 a.m.
• Cornelius: Lake Norman Turkey Trot, 10K, 5K, 7:30 a.m.
• Duck: Advice 5K Turkey Trot, 9 a.m.
• Mooresville: Mooresville Christian Mission Turkey Trot 5K, 9 a.m.
• New Bern: Twin Rivers YMCA & Taberna Country Club Turkey Trot 5K run/walk/dog jog, 8 a.m.
• Raleigh: Ridgewood Turkey Trot, 8K & 1 Mile, 8 a.m.
• Winston-Salem: Turkey Strut 5K, 1 Mile fun run/walk, 9 a.m.

Find out more about those runs here.

There aren’t as many organized bike rides, but I did find two, both in the Triangle. (Precipitation cancels both rides.)

• Earn-Your-Turkey Ride, 45 miles, 17-18 mph pace, 9 a.m. Start and finish at Apex Community Center.
• Gyros Cycling Club Thanksgiving Day Ride, 35 miles, “easy pace,” 9 a.m. More info here.

Alas, I won’t be running or riding this Thanksgiving, largely because I now have a new appetite suppressant.

I can’t chew.

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