This year, organizers of the 29th Annual Turkey Trot, hosted by the FirstHealth Center for Health and Fitness-Pinehurst, will partner with MooreFit to encourage local businesses and their employees to participate in one of the four featured races.

The 2009 Turkey Trot is set for Saturday, Nov. 21.

MooreFit was created as a means for Moore County businesses to challenge their employees to become more active and health conscious. The 2009 Ready, Set, Trot challenge encourages prospective participants to commit and train to run or walk one of the Turkey Trot races. Competitions among businesses as well as individual prizes will be awarded as part of the challenge.

The Turkey Trot draws more than 1,000 runners/walkers to the community each year. It features a one-mile fun run/walk, 5K, 10K and half-marathon.

The USATF/RRTC-certified courses begin on the campus of the Center for Health and Fitness and wind through scenic Pinehurst before ending back at the fitness center. Participation is suitable for serious runners who want to take on the challenging half-marathon or for walkers who prefer the one-mile or 5K courses.

Registration can be done online at www.active.com or at the Center for Health and Fitness. Registration and packet pick-up will be Friday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. or Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 a.m. at the race site.

Races will begin as follows: one-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m., half-marathon at 9 a.m., and 5K and 10K races at 9:30 a.m. An awards ceremony will immediately follow the races.

Age group awards for men and women will be given in the 5K, 10K and half-marathon. Awards will also go to the overall male and female in each of the four events. All participants will get a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a finisher's medal will go to each half-marathon participant.

Registration is $15 for the fun run, $20 for the 5K and 10K, and $25 for the half-marathon. There is no cost for participating children ages 6 and under. Entries received after Nov. 18 will cost an additional $3.

For more information on the race, call (910) 715-1843 or e-mail race director Jodi Heimrich at jheimrich@firsthealth.org.