Tallahassee Turkey Trot attracts more than 5,440 participants

How could I not feel a little smile break across my face?  It was storming outside and I was safe and dry under my covers.  I was very thankful, it was not raining like this the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.

Unlike in 2017, when the weather kept a number of people at home as a lot of rain fell the night and days before, this year it was perfect. A very small chance of rain and cool temperatures that kept both the volunteers and the runners happy.

Even without the impact of hurricanes, Tallahassee’s weather can be brutal. But last week, the city put on a show with nearly perfect weather.  SouthWood’s lakes, streets and trails were dressed in their best and succeeded in creating the perfect background for the Tallahassee Turkey Trot. 

And runners and walkers responded as more than 5440 participants received finish times in one of four races, including 853 in the mile, 3810 in the 5K, 544 in the 10K and 237 in the 15K.  Altogether, it was one of the top four or five largest number of finishers.

There is an amazing group of volunteers who organize and maintain this event.  Long ago, Mary Jean and I learned the event had outgrown the ability of two people to make everything happen as it is supposed to.  Of course, there are still a lot of things that don’t go the way they are supposed to, but you just hope they are not critical. 

There is also an unexplainable wave of contentment and gratitude watching the thousands of runners turn off Merchants Row and head for the finish line on Esplanade Way.  For many, this is the only race they do.

For others, like Ricardo Estremera, it was a chance to break the 5K record, running 14:47 despite having to leap over my car at one point.  Sheryl Rosen, GWTC Marathon and Half Marathon director, ran 56:45 to claim another Turkey Trot 15K title and rumor has it a personal best.

I always have a big smile on my face when I see Stanley Linton run well – 48:28, in this case, leaving everyone else far behind.

Running companion Fanxiu Zhu flew through the night from China and landed in Tallahassee just after midnight.  By the time he made it home, it was time to go to SouthWood, which he did. He finished the 15K in a time of 1:13:11. 

In February 2011, a runner in the Tallahassee Half Marathon crashed to the track with less than 300 meters to go. He probably died on the track as paramedics and others worked to keep him alive and minimize any damage. Among those who came to his aide was Alison Thumm who worked with the team that somehow brought him back from the other side.  He spent almost a week in the hospital. On Thursday, Alison won the masters competition in the 10K.

The bell to start the race was rung this year by the friends and family of Ron Nieto a member of our running and triathlon community who lost his battle to cancer and the race number 1 was dedicated to Nancy Van Vessem of Capital Health Plan and Florida State University who died in a shooting at Betton Place. Mary Goble wore the number to honor Van Vessem.

The stories could go on forever…and I hope they do.  See you next year.

David Yon is addicted to running. In his spare time, he is an attorney with the Radey Law Firm.