Thanksgiving race in Sugar Land a family tradition

By Roberta Macinnis
Houston Chronicle

Lots of cities have a fun run on Thanksgiving. But not many have four of them.
Who knows if it's Houston's relatively balmy holiday weather or a somewhat collective urge to burn a few calories before the big feast? Regardless, on Nov. 25, four variations on the theme will play out across the area.
They include the Anadarko Run Thru the Woods in The Woodlands, Katy's Turkey Dash, the Uptown Turkey Trot in the Galleria, and the Sugar Land Turkey Trot, the area's oldest Thanksgiving Day race.
Staging the Sugar Land event is a 19-year tradition for the family of race director Andy Stewart, said his younger brother, Steve Stewart.
"It's all about being around family and friends," he said. "It's a very special day."
Steve Stewart ran in the first Sugar Land Turkey Trot, and those years when he doesn't participate (he's currently sidelined with a stress fracture), he volunteers.
Joining him are his parents, Pat and Tom Stewart, and his younger sister, Lynn Stewart.
Even his grandmother "worked security at the store (Andy Stewart owns Finish Line Sports)," when she was still alive, he said.
Cousins often join the effort, and Stewart's aunt, Jean Dixon, provides what he calls "the catering."
"Everyone says they run it because they burn more calories so they can eat more later," Stewart said. "It gets to be the big joke.
"But then they're over at the table powering down Aunt Jean's snacks. The reality is, they'd have to run a lot longer,"
The Stewarts gather at Tom and Pat Stewart's home in Sugar Creek around 2 p.m. to share their holiday meal, relax and talk about the day's race.
Traditions within the tradition have evolved through the years, Stewart said.
For example, the turkey-figure trophies.
"They were originally for the kids, but the adults liked them so much, now everyone gets them," Stewart said.
And a few years ago, Tom Stewart came up with the idea of forming a "high-five tunnel" at the end of the kid's mile.
"Parents and spectators line up and high-five them as they finish. The kids just go crazy," Steve Stewart said. "The little bitty ones will stop and stare at you. They're not too sure of what's going on, but they catch on real quick."
The children's run is named in honor of a former participant, Sean Scroggins, who died of a brain tumor about eight years ago when he was 15, Stewart said.
Andy Stewart always says a few words about him, and Scroggins' mother, Charlotte Scroggins, is often on hand to fire the starting gun.
One of the race beneficiaries is the MD Anderson Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund.
"That's always real special for us," said Steve Stewart, who used to work for Scroggins.
Many children return each year, and seeing how much they've grown is an important part of the day for his family, Stewart said.
Long-time Turkey Trot runner Don Ruggles agreed.
Ruggles said he always tries to warm up for the main race next to the finish line of the children's event.
"I see the kids of my training partners (in the Finish Line Sports Running Club) and see the next generation of runners," he said. "It's a very big part of it."
The Sugar Land Turkey Trot is a tradition in the Ruggles' house as well.
Ruggles said he hasn't missed the run since he started doing it about 14 years ago.
"It's our home race, in our own back yard," he said. "My wife volunteers, so we put the turkey in the oven in the dark, go to the race, then come home and put together the rest of the meal for about 20 to 25 people.
"We've incorporated it as part of our day. We have relatives from all over the state come, and they always ask me how I did, because they expect me to have done it.
"I never miss that race; I wouldn't even consider anything else."
While there are alternative races, everyone is welcome at the table, Andy Stewart said.
"It's a unique situation," he said. "With all the competition, we still draw at least 700 every year.
"Our neighborhood course could not handle several thousand. About 1,000 is great for us."
Title:

Lots of cities have a fun run on Thanksgiving. But not many have four of them.
Who knows if it's Houston's relatively balmy holiday weather or a somewhat collective urge to burn a few calories before the big feast? Regardless, on Nov. 25, four variations on the theme will play out across the area.
They include the Anadarko Run Thru the Woods in The Woodlands, Katy's Turkey Dash, the Uptown Turkey Trot in the Galleria, and the Sugar Land Turkey Trot, the area's oldest Thanksgiving Day race.
Staging the Sugar Land event is a 19-year tradition for the family of race director Andy Stewart, said his younger brother, Steve Stewart.
"It's all about being around family and friends," he said. "It's a very special day."
Steve Stewart ran in the first Sugar Land Turkey Trot, and those years when he doesn't participate (he's currently sidelined with a stress fracture), he volunteers.
Joining him are his parents, Pat and Tom Stewart, and his younger sister, Lynn Stewart.
Even his grandmother "worked security at the store (Andy Stewart owns Finish Line Sports)," when she was still alive, he said.
Cousins often join the effort, and Stewart's aunt, Jean Dixon, provides what he calls "the catering."
"Everyone says they run it because they burn more calories so they can eat more later," Stewart said. "It gets to be the big joke.
"But then they're over at the table powering down Aunt Jean's snacks. The reality is, they'd have to run a lot longer,"
The Stewarts gather at Tom and Pat Stewart's home in Sugar Creek around 2 p.m. to share their holiday meal, relax and talk about the day's race.
Traditions within the tradition have evolved through the years, Stewart said.
For example, the turkey-figure trophies.
"They were originally for the kids, but the adults liked them so much, now everyone gets them," Stewart said.
And a few years ago, Tom Stewart came up with the idea of forming a "high-five tunnel" at the end of the kid's mile.
"Parents and spectators line up and high-five them as they finish. The kids just go crazy," Steve Stewart said. "The little bitty ones will stop and stare at you. They're not too sure of what's going on, but they catch on real quick."
The children's run is named in honor of a former participant, Sean Scroggins, who died of a brain tumor about eight years ago when he was 15, Stewart said.
Andy Stewart always says a few words about him, and Scroggins' mother, Charlotte Scroggins, is often on hand to fire the starting gun.
One of the race beneficiaries is the MD Anderson Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund.
"That's always real special for us," said Steve Stewart, who used to work for Scroggins.
Many children return each year, and seeing how much they've grown is an important part of the day for his family, Stewart said.
Long-time Turkey Trot runner Don Ruggles agreed.
Ruggles said he always tries to warm up for the main race next to the finish line of the children's event.
"I see the kids of my training partners (in the Finish Line Sports Running Club) and see the next generation of runners," he said. "It's a very big part of it."
The Sugar Land Turkey Trot is a tradition in the Ruggles' house as well.
Ruggles said he hasn't missed the run since he started doing it about 14 years ago.
"It's our home race, in our own back yard," he said. "My wife volunteers, so we put the turkey in the oven in the dark, go to the race, then come home and put together the rest of the meal for about 20 to 25 people.
"We've incorporated it as part of our day. We have relatives from all over the state come, and they always ask me how I did, because they expect me to have done it.
"I never miss that race; I wouldn't even consider anything else."
While there are alternative races, everyone is welcome at the table, Andy Stewart said.
"It's a unique situation," he said. "With all the competition, we still draw at least 700 every year.
"Our neighborhood course could not handle several thousand. About 1,000 is great for us."