Not a fan of running in cold weather? Last week’s Turkey Trot was cool enough for me. But the promise of slightly warmer weather during today’s weekend weather forecast—at least I swear I saw claims in my half-awake stupor—and an event that sounds too spirited to skip might just get me up and running Saturday morning.

Wouldn’t you be curious about a 5K called the Santa Hustle? I sure am especially since I’ve dragged myself out of a warm bed to shuffle across the ice for the Rudolph Ramble and sprint through River North and Fulton Market for the Jingle Bell Run. Besides, this Hustle has one of the most unique goodie bags ever with its Santa hat, white beard, and technical T-shirt that doubles as a red Claus coat. Even if you do have to wear it for the race, and potentially look pretty darn silly, it’s nice to know that everyone else is doing it too. And they’re getting up early to get their Ho, Ho, Ho on—the race starts at 9 am but you know as well as I do that a race at Montrose requires early arrival or you’ll be searching forever for a parking spot.

If you know right now that you’re in for running this race, hustle over the Universal Sole to register (or register online beforehand) and pick up your packet because there is no day-of option. If you’re still on the fence, maybe because you’re doubting that the weather gods will behave and provide good running conditions, just plan to watch the Santas depart from Montrose. You can always run sans costume on your own time, and maybe take some pictures that aren’t bouncy from running with a camera. Just a thought. Or get motivated watching these Santas and then make your way to Indianapolis to run that Santa Hustle on December 17.

But, to the weather gods, please oh please, don’t rain or be too windy along the Lakefront. If that happens, I really will go into hibernation with no chance of running until we see signs of spring. And forget spectating simply to ease my curiosity on this march of the Santas—a warm bed is too inviting when it's cold, windy and wet.

Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie. It’s a meal fit for a king, or a queen, and it’s hitting our tables (or the restaurant menus) in a few short days. But before that Thanksgiving meal does its traditional damage, derailing those diets and hitting off the perennial holiday weight gain, we can at least try to give ourselves an extra burn in the calorie bank. Thanksgiving might be known as a food-consumption marathon, but who said running—and no, not 26.2 miles as a foot race marathon would dictate—a turkey trot can’t be part of the tradition, too?

If you’re thinking you need a reason to lace up your running shoes come Thursday (or an excuse to arrive at Grandma’s a little later than planned), here are a few options for where you can go hob nob gobble at races in and around the city.

Turkey Trot Chicago. Celebrating 34 years of running, the same number as the Chicago Marathon, this 8K is practically a Chicago Thanksgiving tradition based on years alone. Gather in Lincoln Park with the runners and non-runners (hey, there’s a walk, too) of your family and hit the path with roughly 5,000 other participants.

North Shore Turkey Trot. Missed out on a wind jacket at this year’s Hot Chocolate race earlier in the month? RAM Racing can top it with a fleece jacket if you’re willing to trek it up to Highland Park for this 5K.

Edison Park Turkey Trot. Whether you want to stay put on the northwest side or explore a different part of town, you can at this neighborhood 5K. And even if you decide at the last minute that you want to run, you won’t have to fret about expensive race-day registration costs that often turn off runners (or this runner). At $25, you’ve practically entered a time machine that dropped you off circa 2005.

Old St. Pat’s Turkey Trot. To participate in this trot, all you have to do is bring yourself to Old St. Pat’s Church at Adams and DesPlaines to check-in at 7:30 am. What it lacks in race fee, timing and a set distance it makes up for in social gathering and fun.

Turkey Trot 5K at Grant Park. Can’t run on Thursday because you’ll be out of town? Save your running legs for Saturday, November 26, when this new 5K hits Grant Park. You may have over indulged on Thanksgiving but no one said you couldn’t try to remedy the situation after the fact.

Need more ideas for where to run? Local and national calendars can help you find a race near your Thanksgiving location.

The fall chill is in the air, the leaves are falling off the trees, the days are shorter and shorter. The marathon, Chicago that is, is over. Unless you’re heading out of town for a 26.2-miler, you won’t have to tackle the distance until spring (and even that’s a stretch since you’d be driving to Champaign or Kenosha to do it) or next fall when Chicago rolls around again—or better yet, the next time you get the urge to run a marathon, if ever. But while you don’t have to think about how you’re going to trudge through 26.2 miles—and all the long training runs that go with it—every other race just got a lot shorter. Or they feel like they did.

Some might argue that they also get more fun. Why? For the simple facts that you don’t have to stress about how to fuel on the course (at least to the degree that you do in a marathon), ward off blisters when your socks fail 15 miles in, and rely on your training runs (or lack of if you questioned why you toed the line in the first place). Now that you don’t have to run a marathon, check out these races that can keep your feet busy this weekend:

Zooma Great Lakes Half Marathon, Oct. 22. Ladies, here’s your chance for a girls getaway that automatically includes the workout—my favorite kind of weekend. You won’t have to travel too far for this 13.1 (or 5K if you want shorter) even though Lake Geneva and The Abbey Resort can feel like they’re a world away. Hang time with the girls, a finisher’s necklace, and an expo and party where you can shop ‘til you drop, sip wine and get pampered? It doesn’t get much better.

Wisconsin Dells Marathon and Half Marathon, Oct. 23. Had a bad day in Chicago two weeks ago? The temperatures are cooler, you’ve had an extra two weeks to train (or recover), and you need a run that’s not constantly interrupted by a wind-ravaged path (hopefully you stayed inside today). Here’s a race that’s not as flat as Chicago but offers up more fun since you can play at the waterparks after you’ve crossed the finish line—or before if you want to count it as a pre-race ice bath.

Homecoming 5K, Oct. 23. Show your alumni spirit at this 5K happening at Montrose Beach Sunday morning. You might not find kegs and eggs, but it’ll certainly wake you up. Read more at this older post.

Frank Lloyd Wright Races, Oct. 23. Sure, this involves trekking it out to Oak Park on the green line, but trust me, it’s worth the train fare. This neighborhood race takes you past some of the famed architect’s local masterpieces, serves up a pancake breakfast afterward that’s indoors, and is celebrating 35 years in the running. But more importantly you can run a 5K, a 10K, or finish the 5K in under 45 minutes and you can run both (yes, people have done it).

The 5K Foot Chase, Oct. 23. The International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference starts on Saturday, which sparked the Chicago Police Department and Motorola to organize a run/walk to kick off events for the week. You won’t be chased by police officers as run near the Gold Star Families Memorial, but proceeds from the race will benefit the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. Think of it a little like the fall version of the Run to Remember.

Where are you running this weekend?

With the Chicago Marathon just hours away from starting—we’re at less than 24 hours with some speedsters already being finished with their 2011 race—it’s easy to say that the world revolves around McCormick Place, site of the expo and packet pick-up, and Grant Park, where the race will start and finish on October 9. But if you’re not running the marathon or you’re an endurance sports nut but want to steer clear of McCormick Place, or you need an excuse beyond groceries to go to Whole Foods, you might want to attend a lecture by endurance athlete Brendan Brazier who’s in town this weekend. And who knows? If you are running tomorrow’s race, you may pick up a few tips from this professional Ironman triathlete to help you in your race—or the next one.

In addition to his success in triathlon, Brazier is a best-selling author on performance nutrition and creator of a whole food nutrition product line called VEGA. And he’s vegan, proving that you don’t have to eat meat to be a successful athlete. He’s not the lone vegan or food-restricted athlete out there, but what makes Brazier’s situation unique is that he’s created prescriptions that the rest of us can apply to our daily intakes. As for what that entails, you can learn more at Whole Foods.

Saturday, October 8. From 3-5pm, catch Brazier at Whole Foods Market Lincoln Park, 1550 N. Kingsbury. A lecture will be followed by demos and book signing for “The Plant Based Diet.” To RSVP, contact 312-587-0648 or mw.kbs.marketing@wholefoods.com.

Sunday, October 9. From 4-6pm, Brazier will be at Whole Foods Market South Loop, 1101 S. Canal. A lecture will be followed by demos and book signing for “Stress and Nutrition.” To RSVP, select the event at Vega Community.

Monday, October 10. From 6-8pm, find Brazier at Whole Foods Market Sauganash, 6020 N. Cicero. A lecture at the Polish Alliance will be followed by demos and a book signing for “Stress and Nutrition” at the store. To RSVP, contact 773-205-1100 or vega.chicago3@gmail.com.