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Steamboat Springs — Fourth-grader Ashlan Alicea clutched a small plastic cup of water while trying to catch her breath Tuesday morning after the first turkey trot at Strawberry Park Elementary School.

“I worked so hard,” she said. “I’m so tired. I ran all around Butcherknife. It was pretty worth it.”

Ashlan and the other third- through fifth-graders ran or walked a mile away from Straw­berry Park on a trail along Butcherknife Creek before turning around and heading back to the school.

Strawberry Park physical education teachers Liz Meissner and Allie Sabat created the turkey trot.

Meissner said the students have been doing mile runs in P.E. class since school began. She said the turkey trot was an activity intended to get the students some exercise before they pig out for Thanksgiving.

“It’s a great family, right-before-the-holidays event,” Meissner said. “We hope it catches on.”

Judging by the students’ reactions, that shouldn’t be a problem.

“It was good,” fifth-grader Steven Brown said. “It was fun. It was really fun.”

Some students lauded the opportunity, in addition to recess, to get outside and run around. Fourth-graders Kylie Spradlin and Jake Berry said there was a teamwork element during the turkey trot. They said everyone encouraged each other to finish strong.

Fourth-grader Maggie Morton noticed something similar.

“I think we all worked together,” she said. “Everybody said ‘good job’ when we were finishing.”

Third-grader Chase Seymour was excited after besting some of his older classmates.

“I had fun because I almost beat every fourth-grader,” he said. “And I got to run with all my friends. Everyone was giving me high fives and stuff.”

Several parents volunteered at different stations along the course. Others came out to run with their children.

“We wanted to support our son and the school,” said parent Jackie Schuiling, who with her husband, Dave, joined fourth-grader Sammy during the trot. “It sounded like a creative, fun event and a way to get the kids outside and exercising.”

Some teachers also participated.

“It’s great,” fourth-grade teacher Todd Miller said. “It promotes a healthy lifestyle. We live in a community that supports that. What better way to support that before Thanksgiving than a two-mile run?”

Even co-Principals Michele Miller and Celia Dunham laced up their running shoes for the trot.

The kindergartners and first- and second-graders participated on a shortened course at 1:35 p.m. They ran around the school and parking lot instead of the trail along Butcherknife Creek.

The turkey trot was one of several holiday-themed activities Tuesday at Strawberry Park. The kindergartners serenaded their parents — wearing decorated brown construction paper vests — during a Thanksgiving singalong. And two second-grade classes performed a Thanksgiving play for parents and had a feast.

Meissner called the first turkey trot a success and said she and Sabat already are talking about next year’s event. She said the teachers might wear costumes and that they may invite parking lot neighbor Steamboat Springs Middle School to participate.

“I think it went awesome — a lot of school spirit, a lot of smiles,” Meissner said. “I think it will definitely have to happen again.”