Eyes on the pies

MONTROSE — They came with babies bundled up and dogs raring to go; hard-core runners mixing with casual walkers for the San Juan Mountain Runners’ annual Turkey Trot fun run.

There was even a turkey: Ben Gaddis, whose mom, Stephanie Porter, fitted him out in a costume, replete with yellow feathers. (She promised him $10 for wearing it, she said).

Some participants came with their eye on the prize — a turkey for the first man and first woman to cross the finish line in the 4-mile run. Others came with an eye on Thanksgiving pies needing burned off in advance.

“It was a nice course,” said Fabian Hightower of Olathe. The Olathe High track and cross country athlete was the male winner in the Turkey Trot’s 2-mile race. “This is what I love to do, is run.”

Hightower finished with a time of 13 minutes, 21 seconds. According to timekeeper records, Alicia Martin was the winning female with a time of 14 minutes, 10 seconds. They were given pies for their accomplishment.

The Turkey Trot also featured a 4-mile course for runners. In that race, Western State runner Lisa Thomas blew the competition away with a time of 26 minutes, 47 seconds. Michael Wallendorff was the first man to cross the finish line in that race, finishing a few minutes behind Thomas’ time.

“We try to make it a really family-oriented event,” said Kjersten Davis, a local veterinarian. Davis organized the Turkey Trot this year with fellow San Juan Mountain Runners member, Kylee Smith, a retired PE teacher. “It’s not geared as a race. For the vast majority of participants, it’s just a fun family event before they eat turkey.”

Davis spoke to the Daily Press Wednesday, in advance of the race.

“We wanted to have a great start for half the family, so we would be hungry later,” Porter, a member of the runners’ club, said Thursday. She wasn’t interested in the prize. “I’ve already won the turkey,” she said, hugging her son.

Frank and Tiff Maple said the Turkey Trot was something of a tradition in their family. The Durango couple comes to Montrose most Thanksgivings to visit their grandmother and makes a point of running in the race. This year was also their young daughter Teagan’s third time for the Turkey Trot.

“I guess it’s earning our meal,” said Frank, who eventually finished 10th in the 4-mile run with the family dog, Cinder.

Not everyone participating in the Turkey Trot ran or walked. Scout, a sweater-sporting Shih-tzu, sat huddled in the basket of his owner’s lime green classic bike.

“I tried to tell my mom it was a trot, not a bike race,” Sloan Tucker, a sixth-grader at Centennial Middle School, joked. She’d hoped to see other people on bikes, but no luck. “I think I’m a loner.”

Davis said it takes coordination and effort by many to pull off the Turkey Trot. She thanked the race sponsors, including Loony Bean Coffee and Anytime Fitness, which donated door prizes.

“We’re lucky in that San Juan Mountain Runners is a great group of volunteers. Everyone kind of steps up for this event,” Davis said.