Have you signed up for the Turkey Chase?

The road race, in its 28^th year, kicks off at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA and has become a Thanksgiving morning tradition in Bethesda.

Last year, over 9,000 runners participated, according to race director John Sissala. The event raised well over $100,000 for the Y and outreach programs at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club.

This year, Sissala said, about the same number of runners are expected and he hopes to raise even more money than last year.

"It's a wonderful community event that benefits the children of the Y and the Rotary Club," Sissala said.

Preparing for the race takes an executive team about three to six months of regular meetings and planning, Sissala said. It also takes about 25 team captains and about 300 volunteers, said Sissala, who had recently finished helping stuff 8,000 goody bags.

The event kicks off Thanksgiving day with a 10K run at 8:30a.m., a two-mile run-walk at 8:50a.m. and a "tot trot" 50-meter race at 9:35 a.m. The course will take runners and walkers through the streets of Bethesda along Route 355 and Old Georgetown Road.

If you haven't registered yet, you can do so on the event's website or day of. Also check the site for more details on race routes, registration and fees. When you sign up, be sure to cast a vote for your favorite local public or private school. The winning public school will receive $1,000, and the winning private school will receive $500.

As of Nov. 19, Walter Johnson High School had the lead with 732 votes. Walt Whitman High School wasn't far behind with 620. For private schools, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School were nearly neck and neck with 113 and 119 votes, respectively.

So don't forget to sign up, support local community programs, and burn off a few calories before your Thanksgiving feast. If you're not a runner, you can always donate through the site.