If gorging yourself before falling asleep in front of the TV seems like a strange way of showing thankfulness, why not start a new Thanksgiving tradition?

With proceeds benefiting organizations that serve homeless people, the annual Thanksgiving Day Boulevard Bolt is a perfect way to put your gratitude into action.

And what's good for you is also very good for the community. Debbie Maxwell of Immanuel Baptist Church, one of the event organizers, says, "Over the last 12 years, we've given away right at $750,000. It's really amazing. Last year we raised $115,000. Every year we've given away more than the year before."

The 13th annual Boulevard Bolt will be Thursday, Nov. 23.

Starting at 8 a.m., the five-mile run/walk down Belle Meade Boulevard "is a great way to start Thanksgiving Day since Thanksgiving is for giving thanks for the blessings in your life," Maxwell says. "Before you sit down with friends and family, it's a nice way to give something back."

Last year about 7,000 people participated, and there are often celebrities cruising for the cause. "Senator Frist runs it nearly every year. The governor and his family have run it for as long as I can remember," Maxwell says. "We have every year had more participants than the year before, so I would expect us to be over 7,000 this year."

Those numbers have added up to big help for area agencies that benefit the homeless population.

And the registration fee won't hurt your Christmas shopping budget either. Register online at http://www.active.com/ by Nov. 17 for $18 for an individual or $46 for a family (any group of three).

If you don't register online, before Nov. 13 an individual registration is $20 and a family fee is $50. From Nov. 14-22, individuals cost $25 and families $60, and on race day, the fees are $30 and $75, respectively.

All area locations of the Athlete's House, Sport Seasons and the YMCA have registration forms. Maxwell suggests that participants drop off their registration forms at Immanuel Baptist in person after Nov. 14 instead of mailing them. T-shirts will be available only to the first 6,500 registrants.

Aside from the intrinsic reward of doing a good thing, there will be first-, second- and third-place prizes for age groups 14 and under, 70 and over, and in five-year increments between 15 and 69. There is also a wheelchair category. No strollers, pets, roller blades or bikes are allowed.

The Boulevard Bolt is organized by three Belle Meade congregations: Immanuel Baptist Church, St. George's Episcopal Church and The Temple, all of which provide about 300 volunteers to staff the event. Major sponsors include HCA/Tri Star, Pilkinton Eye Center, Regions/Morgan Keegan, and Elam, Elam, Vaughan & Fleming Dentistry.

2006 Boulevard Bolt Beneficiaries

Campus for Human
Development

Davidson County Mental Health Court Projects

Dismas House

Downtown Ministry

East Nashville Cooperative

Family Faith Medical

Habitat for Humanity

Luke 14:12

MANNA

Nashville Safe Haven Family Shelter

Nashville's Table

Park Center

Renewal House

Roof Top

St. Luke's Community House

West Nashville Partnership