It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving in Batavia without The Fox and the Turkey Four Mile and One Mile Youth Race, a tradition for hundreds of enthusiasts hosted by the Fox River Trail Runners.
Run throughout downtown Batavia, the race, now in its 29th year, again kicked off with the youth race, followed by the four-mile run.
Abby Omerza of Aurora was among those taking part in the event.
“People keep coming because it’s a nice neighborhood race,” she said. “People run through the neighborhood and folks come out and cheer. Some run past their own houses.”
Once again, a portion of the race proceeds – $5 was the registration fee to participate in the four-mile run – will be given to the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, which just celebrated a grand opening and ribbon- cutting earlier this month for its new, expanded location at 916 First St. in Batavia.
Ravi Sundara, president of the Fox River Trail Runners, spoke before the race and said attendance was expected to be in excess of 1,600 runners on Thursday.
“People come out because what we’re doing with this race is about tradition and family and supporting the food pantry,” Sundara said.
The usual donation to the food pantry from the race proceeds is in the $16,000 range, Sundara said. Other money raised from the race covers expenses as well as some of the programs of the Fox River Trail Runners group which works “to promote running as part of a healthy lifestyle.”
“We have some races and some educational programming that we do that don’t bring us money. We just pay for it,” he said. “This race helps to support our other initiatives.”
Sundara said the event has been a longtime favorite in Batavia.
“It’s a tradition and people come out,” Sundara said. “It’s been 29 years and we’re just going to keep going. Well more than half that come, come as a family.”
The usual T-shirt given away to entrants was replaced this year by a stocking cap which officials thought would be more useful.
“We switched to a hat as it’s something people can use every day in the winter,” Sundara said.
Temperatures in the high 20s greeted runners at the event on Thanksgiving morning. Many said the race was about being with family and burning calories before the huge meal that was to come.
Jason Noel of Wheaton said this was his first time running at the Batavia event and that “I’m new to the area and I was looking for a race to get into.”
“As far as running, you’ve got to clear the stomach and make room for all the turkey I’m going to eat later and get some good competition out there and have some fun,” he said. “I looked at the weather this morning and thought it was going to be colder, but I don’t feel too bad right now.”
Sara Studer-Bagan of Oswego was one of many people who came to Batavia Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, for the 29th annual The Fox and the Turkey Four Mile and One Mile Youth Race. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)
Sara Studer-Bagan of Oswego said she had run the race five times before.
“I come back to this year after year as Batavia does a wonderful job bringing the community together and establishing a wonderful tradition at the beginning of Thanksgiving,” she said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
