SOUTHWICK — Nick Pratt ate a big Thanksgiving meal to “fuel up” for a new race in Southwick last Friday. His strategy worked. The Westfield resident gobbled up the course to become one of the top finishers in the Golden Turkey walk-run event.

Pratt said the hills on the 8-kilometer course were “tough,” but he still had a good race. “It was one of my best races – 31.10.”

He was among nearly 50 people who participated — about a dozen virtually – in either the 4K Gobble Wobble or the more challenging 8K Golden Turkey. The event was organized by Run Walk Southwick, a nonprofit organization founded in 2018 to raise money for local causes through walking and running events.

Run Walk Southwick hosts a race every spring at Whalley Park. Last year, the organization’s director, Trish Labieniec, an avid runner for 25 years, came up with the idea to start an event for the morning after Thanksgiving.

The first Golden Turkey event was supposed to take place in November 2020, but was canceled because of COVID-19. Labieniec had to wait until this November to host her first Golden Turkey event.

Not sure of how the pandemic would continue to impact outdoor events, she didn’t start planning the event until three months ago.

“Usually, we raise money for the Police Department in town, but our turnout wasn’t great this year,” said Labieniec, who lives in Southwick.

The low turnout means Run Walk Southwick will just about break even once it covers the $1,500 cost for T-shirts, water bottles, medals, supplies and other items needed for the event. “COVID has really affected many things, but we’re hoping 2022 will be better. I love bringing people together, and I appreciate the people who showed up in person — despite the weather. I hope they will join us for future events.”

A steady, cold rain didn’t deter Ross and Christina Vincent. Runners for well over a decade, they’ve participated in races in Hartford and New York City. The couple, who live in Irvington, N.Y., were visiting Christina’s family in Westfield for Thanksgiving. They decided to run in the Golden Turkey to get some miles in over the holiday.

“I’m used to this kind of weather — I’m originally from England,” said Ross Vincent. Added his wife, “You can’t predict the weather on race day.”

Amy Brown of Westfield, a new runner looking for a race close to home, said she prefers running in the rain: “Once you start running, you’re going to get wet anyway.”

For Allison Kingsley and her daughters, Kim, 15, and Samantha, 12, joining others who walked in the 4K Gobble Wobble was a way to support their town and to get out of the house.

“We can’t walk where we live on College Highway, so this was a chance to get some exercise together. It also was a bonding time – outside and away from all the electronic stuff.”

Added Samantha, “I’m a person who stays inside a lot, so it was good for me to get outside.” Allison liked the easy-to-follow route, but the best part of the race came after she crossed the finish line to get “one of those nice shiny medals.”

Girl Scout troop leader Domenica Nooney of Southwick came to the run-walk with Lauren Kiefer of Westfield, who has been in her troop since she was a kindergartner. For them, it was an opportunity to have fun together.

“I like events that are close in town – and it was very cool to do my first in-person race,” said Nooney. She described her style as a “woggle” – “a combination of a walk and a run.” For Lauren, 14, a regular runner, this was her first opportunity to run a race since the summer.

Participants in the 4K walk-run paid a $30 entrance fee, while 8K participants paid $40. All participants received a custom finisher medal and “goodie” bag that included an adult beer token from Connecticut Valley Brewing and an ice cream token for kids.

Additionally, all who registered got a $15 coupon for the Crepes Tea House restaurant that was printed on their race bibs. Santa Claus was also on hand to greet and meet with kids.

Virtual races can be run or walked from any location. Golden Turkey virtual participants had the option to run, jog or walk on the road, on a treadmill, on a track, or on a trail between Nov. 24 and Nov. 28. Run Walk Southwick also offered some suggested courses.

With a small number of participants, walkers and runners could start the race individually or in small groups at different times during the morning, rather than as one large group at a specific time.

The course took participants from the Crepes Tea House on Feeding Hills Road to Powder Mill Road. Gobble Wobble runners and walkers went as far as the service area near Woodland School and came back. Golden Turkey participants continued to South Longyard Road, then returned to the start-finish line.

Even though Jeff Frost – a Westfield native who now lives in Medford, in Eastern Massachusetts – was still getting over an injury, he power-walked most of the course to become the first runner across the finish line. His time was 28:16.

“It feels good to win,” he said. “I don’t win that many races.”

Frost said this event was much different than his last race, in Chicago, where he competed against 35,000 other runners.

“This was an amazing race,” he said. “The course was well-marked, there was little traffic, and lots of hills. I welcomed the challenge.”

Another top finisher, Tiffany Woodger, was also happy with the course. The Granville resident said she learned a little bit more about Southwick during her run, and added that it was “much more fun to do this in person than as a virtual race.”

She called it “a great race” for her, adding that the cold weather wasn’t a problem because she warmed up as she ran.

“As the mother of two kids under the age of 7, I felt good about clocking a 9-minute mile – especially on only four hours of sleep.”

Jessie Pratt said she hadn’t run in a while, so the race was “a little rough” for her. But the Westfield resident said having other people around, including her brother Nick, helped to motivate her. Her run time was 37.11.

“That’s pretty good. I’m glad I did it,” Pratt said.

Race results have been emailed to all participants and posted at runsouthwick.com.