• Thanksgiving Day is known for food, but it’s also a great day to get outside with the family
• If early morning is your style, join one of several 5K options

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year that celebrates eating like no other.

It’s like we all have a government-issued green card to do nothing but eat. The house smells like food, and there are plans for multiple meals followed by that glorious late-night sesh of dragging out all the leftovers and microwaving a plate.

But just because the day consists of lots of eating — after all, that’s what the Pilgrims and Indians did — that doesn’t mean you can’t get outside for a little fresh air and heart rate escalation. Maybe after breakfast but before lunch number one, you and some of the fam could embark on a little hike. Or after lunch number two, but before the Big Game, you could head to the nearest park for a brisk walk.

For you early birds who like to exercise before breakfast number one, there are multiple 5Ks and fun runs/walks happening across Middle Tennessee on Thanksgiving Day.

Here are a few options in and around Nashville for ways to burn a little fat and — who are we kidding? Make room for more food.

1. Percy and Edwin Warner Parks (Nashville)

Percy and Edwin Warner Parks offer more than 60 miles of trails for a bike ride, hike, horseback ride, walk or stroll with your fur baby. So whatever your preferred mode of outdoor transportation might be, take advantage of some scenic trails without having to leave Nashville.

The parks website has maps detailing which trails are multi-use and which are dedicated for, say, trail running, as well as distances and difficulty levels. There are shorter, easy loops and longer, more moderately difficult ones, too. So you really have no excuse not to get out and enjoy the nature right in Nashville’s backyard.

2. Thanksgiving Day 5K

If you need to commit to something in order to actually get out and do it, get online and search for a Thanksgiving Day 5K near you. There are a handful that happen all across Middle Tennessee, and in addition to getting out first thing with a gaggle of others who want to earn their day of nonstop eating, many of these events support local charities.