In 2003, Tim Holmes' son challenged him to run a marathon with him. The elder Holmes, who owned Holmes Chiropractic, accepted the challenge and put up the first Gig Harbor Turkey Trot that year. In its first year, on Thanksgiving morning, after inviting his friends and patients, about 15 people showed up. In the second year, there were 20 people who showed up. Now, Tim Holmes says, the Thanksgiving morning event has become something of a family tradition for a lot of people. By its 5th year in 2008, 1,600 people from as far as Ohio and India participated in the new tradition.

The event raises money and collects food for Peninsula FISH food bank. All participants to the Gig Harbor Turkey Trot are encouraged to drop off their donations at the designated locations. In addition to supporting the food bank, the event has created scholarships for both Peninsula and Gig Harbor high schools.