The Richardson Gobble Hobble

Information for this article provided by RPD Assistant Chief of Police Coby Pewitt, who is currently serving as president of the Richardson’s Boys & Girls Club Advisory Council.

For the past 19 years, a Richardson pre-Thanksgiving race known as the Gobble Hobble has welcomed runners donning turkey hats or turkey attire, dressed as pilgrims, pushing strollers, walking dogs, or wearing balloons on their heads. A festive blend of competitive runners and casual walkers of all ages and abilities come out to enjoy this beloved annual tradition.

A Bit of History

Back in 2006, local chiropractor Dr. Cameron Laboret partnered with the Richardson Police Department to create a fundraising benefit. They chose to establish a 5K event. RPD Assistant Chief of Police Coby Pewitt, an avid runner, has been involved since the race’s inception. They decided to call the race the Gobble Hobble because of its proximity to Thanksgiving Day. The Gobble Hobble became Richardson’s first participant charity 5K, meaning that all of the race proceeds go to charity and participants essentially become individual donors.

Proceeds from the first race paid for an employee awards banquet for RPD. After the City began fully funding the banquet, Gobble Hobble leaders then partnered with local nonprofit The Counseling Place as their new fundraising beneficiary. But in 2016, the Counseling Place chose a different fundraising program, so the Gobble Hobble switched gears yet again.

At the time, then RPD Chief Jimmy Spivey and Assistant Chief of Police Coby Pewitt were both serving on the Advisory Council for the Boys and Girls Club of Richardson. Their involvement with the two organizations created a symbiotic connection which continues to this day. In fact, Assistant Chief Pewitt is currently serving as the president of the Boys and Girls Club of Richardson’s Advisory Council.

What to Expect on Race Day

The Gobble Hobble prides itself on always being the first Saturday before Thanksgiving. Says Pewitt, “Participants get to burn off calories before gorging!” The Gobble Hobble is not only a race, but also a family-friendly place with a kid’s zone, balloon artist, photo booth, mascots and street games. Three turkey mascots, TEMOC from UT Dallas, Chase from Paw Patrol, McGruff the Crime Dog, and BlueBear from BlueCrossBlueShield all join in the festivities.

The race’s most notable celebrity to have crossed the finish line is former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. And last year, the race saw its first wheelchair participant. Gobble Hobblers, as they are known, are a loyal bunch and many have raced every year. And because Richardson is the home of the Miss Texas organization, each year the reigning Miss Texas helps give out awards and takes pictures with race participants. Says Pewitt, “Gobble Hobble has a small-town race feel in a beautiful, natural Texas environment. While the original participants ran through Richardson’s city streets, we moved the race into the Spring Creek Nature Area as local businesses began operating on Saturdays.”

Richardson’s Gobble Hobble has no paid staff; it’s run by Richardson Boys & Girls Club Advisory Council volunteers. In addition, the City is a major sponsor with the Mayor and City Council helping to start the race each year. The Gobble Hobble starts and ends at Galatyn Plaza, near DART’s Galatyn Station and the Renaissance Hotel. The festivities are open to the public and citizens are encouraged to come out and cheer on the race participants while enjoying all the fun

Changes to this Year’s Race

In previous years, the number of race participants was capped at 500 people, with the event selling out the past two years. For this year’s race, the limit has been raised to 750.

This year the race is USATF certified. The certification ensures that the road race distances are measured accurately. Running on a USATF certified course is important for runners so they can compare their performances across different courses and establish personal bests. Furthermore, road running performances completed on USATF-certified courses are eligible to be nationally ranked or accepted as records.

Methodist Richardson Medical Center is the race’s presenting sponsor for 2024. Other sponsors are listed on the Gobble Hobble website. Future Gobble Hobblers and businesses interested in sponsoring future Gobble Hobble races can find out more information by visiting http://gobblehobble.com. It’s never too late to move from the couch to a 5K!