Turkey Trot 2007
(L to R) Shanna Corwin, Logan Pape, Angela Ritschel, Kristin Corwin and Sydney Pape
dressed up like pilgrims, Indian and Turkeys right before this year's Turkey Trot 5000 in Pinedale on Thanksgiving morning. Photo by Anna Corwin.
|
|
Pinedale Turkey Trot Draws 105 Contestants
by Craig Sheppard
November 26, 2007
Despite the 5 degree start time temperature, 105 hardy turkey trotters toed the line for the 17th running of the Pinedale Turkey Trot 5000. When race director Sheppard was putting out the cones it was 1 degree below zero, and he feared that no one was going to show up this year. But he remembered the famous saying, “build a turkey trot course and they will come,” and sure enough they did.
This year’s contestants came from six different states. (Minnesota, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming). The contestants ranged in age from 2 to 72, and we even had 5 teenage girls dress up as turkeys, pilgrims and an Indian to celebrate our race in Thanksgiving fashion. The pilgrims were Shanna Corwin and Logan Pape, the Indian was Angela Ritschel and the turkeys were Kristin Corwin and Sydney Pape. They really added to the festivities with their costumes. Thanks girls!!!!
Over the years the Turkey Trot has followed the same familiar course and during the last few years there was a youngster that watched from her home as all the competitors turned into the park on the loop around the course. This year she talked her dad into taking her to the Turkey Trot. The young girl was four year old Gracy Davis, and her dad is Mike Davis. They not only entered, but were the first through the course with Mike riding a bike and Gracy riding in the bike carrier behind. We thank Gracy for talking her dad into joining us this year.
The most competitive race this year was between Aunders Hallsten and Lucas Corwin. These two 13-year-olds ran an amazing 20:12 on the 3-mile course with Lucas edging out Aunders at the end to be the first overall runner to finish the course. They dropped their times by almost three minutes from last year when they finished 2nd and 3rd. Lucas has been steadily moving himself up in the standings – participating since he was 8-years old. Ten-year old Riley McCarthy, from Fort Collins, Colorado finished in a great time of 33:34.
The adult men’s running division was won by Will Davenport (22:22), followed by Scott Corwin (24:06) and Mark Pape (25:07). The women’s running division was won by Laura Vasquez (24:53) for the third year in a row, followed by Terry Cain (25:22) and Sue Holz (25:31). The Scenic View Subdivision running race was won by Pastor Jim Silvey in a time of 29:28, followed by Craig Sheppard (30:15). Funny how there is always a special category for head turkey Sheppard to participate in. He would of caught Jim, but he needed to stop and tie his shoes!
The high school boys running division was won by Wes Werbelow (23:09), followed by Luke Johnston (23:55) and Dylan Strike (28:09). The girl’s high school division was won by the girls in costume in a time of 32:00.
There was a group of three young bikers that roared passed the finish line in a time of 24:37 in the middle of all the runners, when asked if the official timer got their names he said, no, they just kept on riding. Sorry we did not get their names, but we do appreciate their enthusiasm.
Always the biggest contingent is of the walkers and walker/joggers. In this category it is hard to tell who actually came in first but this years true walkers (walked the entire distance-no jogging) to first cross the finish line were Pinedale’s Dan and Karen Stewart in a time of 39:25.
Our youngest competitor was 2-year-old Sydney Glenn Wise carried by her dad, Ward. She did need to be warmed up by the fireplace in the house after the race though.
Many thanks go out to the Pinedale School Transportation director, Doug Northrup, for the use of their fluorescent cones and the Pinedale Half Marathon Committee and Ken Konicek for the use of their electronic timer. A special thanks go out to my son Wyatt for taking finish times down so I could participate, and we welcomed back our chief warming hut supervisor, my wife Ellen, for keeping us all in line in registration, getting t-shirt orders and making the coffee. We tried to get her to walk the Turkey Trot, but she has yet to get acclimated to our Pinedale temperatures after three years down in New Mexico, and she still thinks it is cold here!
There were a lot of youngsters, entire families, exercise enthusiasts, and even two over the age of 70 participating this year trying to burn off a few calories before the big Thanksgiving meal. What a great way to start the morning off with the beautiful Wind River Mountains in the background while they traversed the scenic course. Remember the 18th running of the Pinedale Turkey Trot will be held again Thanksgiving morning 2008 at 9AM at the Sheppard’s house. It is not too early to start getting in shape for next year’s annual trek.
|
