November 19, 2025
Before most ovens are even preheated on Thanksgiving morning, a familiar sight appears at Palatine Park District’s Turkey Trot: a bright line of reflective vests and red knit hats. It’s The Pack—The Palatine Pack TFCC (Track & Field Cross Country)—and for them, the Turkey Trot has become a tradition they wouldn’t miss!
The youth running club first ran the race in 2022, and it’s quickly become the highlight of their fall season. “We usually get around 40–50 kids to participate,” said co-founder and coach Alex Soto. “Our group has a blast doing the Turkey Trot.”
Kids from Palatine, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and nearby suburbs lace up together, from eager nine-year-olds to seasoned middle-school athletes. For many of these runners, The Pack TFCC is more than post-season training. It is community.
Nine-year-old Elli Chavez loves the calming rhythm of running and says the best part of The Pack is that “nobody is left behind.”
Ten-year-old Harper Giangreco enjoys that “every day brings a different workout.”
Thirteen-year-old Sam Pagnotto says he runs for the simple joy of being “with friends,” while fourteen-year-old Wyatt Voyles likes “running as a group with other people.”
And thirteen-year-old Mario Rodriguez boils it down to the heart of the sport: “Not giving up and hard work. I like the community of people you meet.”
That sense of community has always been at the heart of The Pack. Founded in 2021 by Chris Quick and Alex Soto with just 30 athletes, the not-for-profit club was built to be everything youth sports should be—fun, supportive, accessible, and affordable. It is not affiliated with any specific school or district. The Pack serves over 180 athletes with a dozen coaches. The group trains at Winston Campus Junior High and Palatine High School, welcoming runners of all experience levels and promising that no child is ever turned away for financial reasons.
“My role as Head Coach/Director is to organize practices and build a positive and healthy environment for kids to enjoy running outside of their middle school season,” Soto explained. The Pack breaks up into groups based on ability so all of the groups go different distances based on their age and ability.
Their coaching staff shows the same passion the kids do. Coach Emilee Baldwin explains it simply: “Most of us have a passion for getting kids healthy.”
That passion has paid off — in 2024, over 100 athletes qualified for the USATF (USA Track & Field) Junior Olympic National Meet, where the team earned multiple top-three national finishes.
Whether you’re running or walking this year’s Turkey Trot, keep an eye out for a wave of red hats—and the kids who wear them proudly. That’s The Pack, carrying their tradition forward, one stride at a time.
