(This article was written by Abigail Muniz-Garcia and was featured in the November 2024 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
Lace up your running shoes, leave the turkey on low, and head over to Footworks Start to Finish in Harlingen on Thanksgiving morning. The Friendsgiving 5K Walk/Run with Footworks is slated to start at 6:45 am on Thursday, November 28.
This is the 13th year the Friendsgiving 5K Walk/Run with Footworks will be happening and Joseph Cunanan, owner, wants everyone to know they are welcome.
“It’s been a tradition since 2011,” Cunanan said. “We have tons of giveaways, merchandise, etc. There will also be free snacks and refreshments.”
While a 5K walk/run may not be the top priority for everyone on Thanksgiving morning, Cunanan wants to invite the public to the free event in hopes of promoting an active lifestyle.
“We just want everyone to get up and move and be active here in the Valley,” Cunanan said. “More events are popping up left and right. Everybody is doing their part. We just want everyone to be active and enjoy the outdoors and running.”
The family-friendly event averages from 250 to 300 participants. “It’s a family fun run. People take their dogs as well. There’s no age limit,” Cunanan said.
Jesse Robles, a physical therapist assistant and runner from La Feria, attended last year’s event and hopes more people will join this year to “burn some calories” before eating their Thanksgiving meal.
“It’s always good to get together with friends and strangers to get out there and run whether it’s a big event or a small event,” Robles said.
The run, which starts at Footworks and ends there too, can either be a 1 mile or 5K run.
For anyone who has never run before, Cunanan mentions that the most difficult thing about running is just starting.
“The hardest part really is lacing up and showing up. As soon as that first mile hits, it’s all fun,” he said.
Cunanan invites the public to visit Footworks for their shoe needs. A good pair of running shoes does make a difference. That’s when the store comes in. They analyze the foot to help see what kind of shoes are best for each individual as all shoes are made different.
In the meantime though, pencil in the free event happening in just a few weeks.
“We just want everyone to join us in the tradition,” Cunanan said.
For more information, please follow Footworks Start to Finish on Facebook and Wearefootworks on Instagram. They are located at 2224 S 77 Sunshine Strip, Harlingen, Texas 78550.
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