Five reasons why you should Turkey Trot

I and my husband just ran in the Turkey Trot 2017 5K/10K run. The registration fees were $48 per person. Spending about a $100 for a couple just for a run didn't make complete sense at first. But a close friend got us a 50% discount and we registered. Back in my mind though, I was curious what motivates people to attend such events, where you pay a decent amount to participate, then you go early, struggle with the parking etc, just to run 3 miles. Wouldn't you be better off running in your neighborhood, for free and at the time of the day that you like?
Well, if that time comes ever is the first question for many people. That discipline can be brought in if desired or if you pay for the running. Health is the highest reward in life!! Thousands of people decide to pay for the registration and wake up early in the morning of a long weekend to come to the 5K/10K run not just for charity but for their health. They can make donations to their favorite charity anytime anywhere without breaking any sweat. But it is the sweat that they indeed want to break.
If you have been training passively for the run, these events help level up your training since the date is set so now you have a deadline. Or it can compel you to start training for the event and it is a double win-win. If you are registering as a group, then it becomes a public contract and the team members can motivate each other during the training even if they don't train together.
Another fun part is the companionship of the family, friends, and colleagues. It feels nice to come together, support each other and having a target of just becoming better than yourself. When you are in the middle of your run, your heart rate is high and your legs are almost giving up on running any further. You slow down, look at your time, look at the distance remaining, then you look at people cheering up for you everywhere, and some energy pumps in, you decide to run a little bit more, then a little bit further and you see the finish line, and you decide to complete it running non-stop!! Before you know it, you have done it. You have met your goal, you are a winner, regardless of you getting medals.
And beyond the finish line is a cheerful atmosphere, there are refreshments, music and so many people socializing. It is a great place for networking. You meet people from almost all the corporates in your city. Your friends can introduce you to theirs, in the informal settings, and if you are good at it, you can make many bright connections. People generously exchange their contact details, can go to lunch together or follow up later.
Beyond the race event, there is a general sense of earning your feasts that comes after the race. It makes you feel great to have run, so you can eat without guilt, but also all the hormonal releases somehow make you pick healthy choices on your plate. I look at it as a positive reinforcement to the good deed you did running earlier in the day. And what else, if you go by the orange theory, then if you earned more than 18 points in the orange zone, which you definitely did if you ran even 2 miles, your body will burn calories for next 48 hours even if you are just sitting on your couch and reading this article or watching TV.
All this is enough motivation I believe, in registering for more such events and running for the charity, you raise money for the needed causes, and you raise the level of your own fitness in doing so!!