Looking to build off success from a virtual Turner Trot 5K to benefit the Justin Turner Foundation, the event returned this year with an in-person option as well. Justin and Kourtney Turner greeted participants at Dodger Stadium as the sun began to rise, and ended the morning with them at a finisher festival on the Los Angeles Dream Center campus.
“It’s so exciting to do this in person,” Justin Turner said at the starting line set up behind the center field plaza at Dodger Stadium. “This is our second annual Turner Trot, I’ve seen a lot of the first-year virtual shirt out there and Moonshine hat, so thank you for coming back.
“This race is actually pretty special to us because of the course. We’re starting right here in Dodger Stadium, which is our second home. We’ve spent the last nine years here making a lot of memories with the Dodgers, and then basically running the first part of the L.A. Marathon, which Kourt has ran for the last four years. So getting an opportunity of having the city close down Sunset is something that we never imagined in our wildest dreams.
“The course is going to be great going down Sunset, through Echo Park, right by the lake, and then finishing at the Los Angeles Dream Center. I hope most of you guys who are here supporting the foundation, know about the Dream Center. It’s an unbelievable organization that Kourt and I do a lot of work with.
Second annual (and first in-person) @JTFoundation10 Turner Trot 5K was a success this morning. @redturn2 @court_with_a_K pic.twitter.com/OdhOGjvm9L
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 4, 2022
“They support a lot of our initiatives, especially with homeless veterans, so we couldn’t be more excited that you guys are going to be crossing the finish line by walking onto their campus. I hope you guys take some time at the finisher festival to learn about the Dream Center. They’re doing tours so you can walk around and check it out, and also find out ways to get involved.”
While he was escorted over to the finisher festival at the Dream Center, where a wide variety of vendors were on hand with refreshments and snacks, Kourtney Turner joined the Turner Trot participants to complete the 3.1-mile trek out of Dodger Stadium.
She is constantly touted by Justin as the backbone and driving force of their foundation, and that entailed a new undertaking with planning the second annual Turner Trot.
“You never really know what you’re getting into when you do your first event. Last year being virtual was a completely different animal,” Kourtney told DodgerBlue.com. “It came together nicely, and I think when you have so many supporters and participants that already know what we’re doing and kind of lead the charge and step up right away, it helps make it go a lot easier.
“I won’t downplay all the work that goes into it, but for our first in-person, I am incredibly happy with the turnout.”
Turner Trot ended at @LADreamCenter, where @djsevere was playing. @JTFoundation10 @redturn2 @court_with_a_K pic.twitter.com/CJcJCCJ0Ae
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 4, 2022
Justin added: “This one was interesting. Kourt was quarterback on this one, put in a lot of work, a lot of time, weekly meetings with a few companies to put this together. It was really an eye-opening experience on how much it takes to put on one of these 5Ks as far as permits, the course and making sure you’re making it 3.1 miles, then the finisher festival and sponsors.
“The whole experience was actually a little bit different for us than we’ve had for the golf tournament, but I think at the end of the day when you take a look around, everything came out spectacular and we couldn’t be more happy with all the support, all the runners, all the vendors that are out here creating this great experience.”
The 2022 Turner Trot 5K had more than 1,200 in-person participants, which included Justin’s Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Chris Taylor and his fiancée Mary. Tricia Roberts, wife of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, also participated, and so did Max Muncy’s wife, Kellie, and NHL star Tyler Toffoli.
Justin Turner Foundation events
Since being established in 2016, the Justin Turner Foundation has hosted an annual golf tournament, radiothon with AM 570 L.A. Sports, 5K and new in 2022 was an All-Star Bingo event.
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