Turkey, dressing, plenty of dessert and a five-mile run. That will be on the Thanksgiving Day menu for the runners and racewalkers competing in the Freehold Area Running Club's 24th annual Born to Run 5-mile run on Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Start time is 11 a.m.

The race that winds through the streets of Freehold Borough and Freehold Township will provide those who have had a little too much stuffing the day before with the opportunity to burn off those added calories.

If that's not enough incentive, prize money for the top three men and women is bringing some of the area's top runners to the event. The winning male and female will earn $100, with $75 for second and $50 for third. There is an added bonus of $100 for a course record, so it could be a $200 day for a swift winner.

Ex-Freehold Borough High School star Kevin Kelly set the current course record of 24:45 back in 1997. The women's record was set in 2006 by Michele Lilenthal at 27:59.

Among some of the runners committed to the race are former champion Tim Mulligan and Mike Mykytok, former New Jersey High School and University of Florida star.

Last year's winners were Holmdel's Alex Emanel (27:50.9) and former Colts Neck High School standout Ashley Higginson, who is now running for Princeton University (31:43).

If running to burn calories or prize money isn't enough, the race benefits the Open Door Food Pantry and Lake Topanemus Park.

Over the years, the Born to Run has been one of the most popular races on the road race calendar. Thanksgiving brings families together, and that is what the race does. Many parents run with their children in this race. The timing is right for college runners as well. They are back home following their cross country seasons and can get one last race in outdoors before the indoor track season gets started.

The course begins and ends on Court Street by the Hall of Records in Freehold Borough. While taking runners around the two towns, one of the highlights is the tour of Lake Topanemus. The runners will do a 1.6-mile loop through the park and exit on Pond Road, where they will hit the hill section of the course on the way to the finish line.

It may look like a human rush hour during the race, with several hundred runners clogging the streets, but don't fret. Traffic control will be in the hands of the Cpl. Reynolds Detachment, Marine Corps League.

Race day registration ($25) will start at 9 a.m. at the Freehold Firehouse, 49 West Main St.

For additional information on the race, call 732-431-2627 or visit www.farcnj.com.

The Freehold Area Running Club's annual Winter Race Series is set to start on Jan. 4, 2009. The 5K races will be run Sundays through Feb. 1 in Michael Tighe Park, Georgia Road, Freehold Township. This is the 26th edition of the winter series.