Here are 10 tips from a veteran ERC Turkey Trotter.

1. Pick up your packet early. REPEAT: PICK UP YOUR PACKET EARLY. You can do so tonight (Monday) or Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at garage behind the Community Blood Bank (on Parade near 26th St.). BE AWARE that the parking lot is small and congested. I'd suggest you park at the bank (on 26th & Peach) or up the street a bit and walk a bit (consider it a pre-race warm up).

2. Park legally. You WILL be ticketed and/or towed... I promise you...happens every year. So, get to the race early and park legally. There will be ERC volunteers to help you. They'll be directing 5K participants to park at the first turn in (on beach 1) and 10K participants to go down a bit and park farther down on Beach 1. There's a map here.

3. Park somewhere other than Beach 1. Consider parking at Waldameer (the after-party is at Rainbow Gardens, afterall) or at the Tom Ridge Center and hoofing it down to Beach 1 -- it's less than a mile. You can also park at one of the bayside parking lots and at Sara's because it's closed, but...word to the wise...avoid parking in the coffee shop parking lot ...I've heard that the owners are not runner-friendly.

4. Use the restroom on the way down. It's winter and the water is shut off to the restrooms at Presque Isle State Park. This means porta-potties for 2,000+ people. I always make a pit-stop on my way to the race start -- McDonald's on Peninsula Dr., usually. If the race is at Rotary (and the trot is NOT...it's at Beach 1), I always stop at the Ranger Station rest room on my way to the race start. Stash some tissues or t.p. in your car as a backup plan. One thing you can always find in abundance at PISP is wooded areas.

5. Get there early, or, at least, on time. With 2,000+ racers, there WILL be backed up traffic and long lines at the registration tables (for those who didn't pick up their packets early) and at the porta-potties (for those who didn't stop on the way down). Don't think they'll hold the race for any of them. They won't. It starts on time. 9 a.m. for the 10K, 9:10 for the 5K.

6. Look for turkey feather. Little known ERC Turkey Trot fun fact: There are various people on the course (volunteers) who will be holding turkey feathers (real honest-to-God wild turkey feathers). Ask them for the feather, carry it to the finish and YOU win a door prize.

7. Dress right. Runners should be cold at the start. If you're warm, you are overdressed and you will be sweating like a steam train by the first mile. If you're walking...you should be warm...you will get colder as you walk. Even on the coldest of days I never wear more than a long-sleeve T-shirt and windbreaker (and gloves...sometimes two pairs).

8. Stay and party. If at all possible, come to the post-race party at Rainbow Gardens. It's always a good time with a DJ, a dance floor, rows and rows of yummy breakfast goodies, hot coffee and popcorn. Some runners have been known to crack open a few frosty beverages to re-hydrate. :-)

9. Bring clothes to change into. If you're planning to stay for the party, bring warm clothes to change into. Once you stop sweating and your body cools, you'll be chilled to the bone. If you've run previous ERC Trots, it's practically a law that you bring a sweatshirt/t-shirt from a previous year's Trot to wear -- the older the better (it's all about braggin' rights).

10. Bring your wallet & your shopping list. There is always a table of ERC merchandise available for purchase. You can find some great Christmas gifts — for someone else, or for yourself. And, if they have any left, they'll be selling the famous "gobble gobble" Turkey Trot sweatpants, too.

OH...and..by the way...The Turkey Trot goes on — rain, snow, sleet (and any combination of the three). The ONLY reason it will/can be canceled is if the State Park is shut down. I've been doing this for...11 (?)...12 (?) years now and that has never happened.