Turkey Trot across two continents
Every so often I have a stroke of genius. At least, that’s what I believe it to be, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I walked in my first Turkey Trot in 2012 at the suggestion of then co-worker Cecelia Jo Record. That first “Trot” had a near-disastrous start when we were about a mile or so from my home when I realized our race bibs were safely tucked away at the house.
But, we recovered to have a nice, productive walk and a fun time with a lot of folks.
This year, Cecelia Jo is on active duty with the Army in Europe, a convenient excuse to avoid participating in her third Turkey Trot. Or, so she thought.
Enter stroke of genius. I’ve seen “virtual” or “shadow” races listed on the number of sites I receive emails from and thought she could virtually compete, me at 9:02 a.m., Cecelia Jo at 15:02 (3:02 p.m.)
Great idea. She was on board, but, alas, her work schedule changed and was on the job at 1500 hours. But, to her credit, after her long shift she donned her running attire, found someone to accompany her around her 5K course, and completed her European Turkey Trot in the dark around 2000 hours (8 p.m.)
Nearly 1,000 runners and walkers coursed through and around Uniontown in unseasonably warm temperatures under sunny skies, approaching 65 degrees by the end of the race.
CJ’s conditions weren’t so favorable.
Her run was “in the rain. And cold. After working all day in full battle rattle,” Record said via Facebook Messenger.
I sent her a picture of her Turkey Trot race bib and she contrived a not-so-exact rendition. While mine was held on with the traditional safety pins, CJ did not have any pins, so she used a couple clothespins, which kinda did the trick.
“I only lost my bib twice,” Record said with a chuckle.
Running by herself, she completed her three-lap 5K course on base in a decent time, 31:36, which would’ve placed her in 372nd overall. But, her course was far more difficult because of the “big hills.” (Enter eye roll and a sarcastic yeah, yeah, yeah.)
“The course has three decent-sized hills, one every mile. No matter where you run on this base you always end on a hill,” explained Record, adding of her experience, “(It’s) not really (the same). It was a lot different than what I’m used to from back home. I ran alone, it was dark. It was cold though, which is normal! Plus my hills are way bigger than the ones there.”
But, the Turkey Trot is a shared social event for families and friends, and though the two-continent plan had a snag or two, it was wonderful to share the experience.
As for the big race at home that benefited the Salvation Army, there were lots of smiles and camaraderie and fun had by all.
Youth was served in the men’s run, especially, with the average age of the top 10 at 21.7 years old.
Connellsville assistant cross country coach Nick Miller led the coach’s contingent to the finish line in sixth place with a time of 18 minutes. Uniontown’s Matt Girod was 15th in 19:04. Former California and Waynesburg Central football coach Joe Kuhns crossed the finish line in 29th place with a time of 20:47. Connellsville’s cross country coach Pat Mullaney (68, 22:42), California’s cross country coach Matt Loomis (92, 23:58), Penn State Fayette’s Joe Carei (114, 24:25), and Laurel Highlands’ Bob Costello (245, 27:47) were some of the other coaches I saw running around the streets of Uniontown.
I noticed more than a few friendly faces in the crowd. Geibel Catholic High School classmate Charlie Wortman showed his son Grant he still has some zip in his legs, easily finishing ahead of his son in 109th with a time of 24:20. Grant, who plays baseball at Penn State Fayette, was 171st in 25:52.
I also have to give a big shout out to the folks at SERJ Timing for their patience and desire to (eventually) get things right. The athletes were there for fun (and maybe glory), while the SERJ folks were on the job on Thanksgiving. (I’m attributing to some of the post-race issues with a random cyber attack by a foreign power. Sounds more impressive.)
As for me, it’s nice to know my aging legs, hips, lungs and other joints can hang together long enough to complete a 5K walk in a decent time. I was eighth overall with a time of 34:07. I was sixth overall until Uniontown grads Julie Friend and Katie Burgess, members of Cal U’s NCAA Championship-qualifying cross country team, came walking past me with just over ¼-mile to go. That’s not fair!
So, on the day set aside for Americans far and wide to count their blessings, I’m thankful for folks who were on the job, getting the race results in order, watching intersections so disgruntled drivers didn’t run me down, soldiers protecting my freedoms and those of others around the world so we can run through the streets free and unencumbered (well, except for that gravity thing), volunteer firefighters who left their festivities to fight a blaze Thanksgiving morning, and even the Pennsylvania State policeman who was perched alongside 119 South to keep drivers in check (and the one who had an unfortunate motorist pulled over on my way home).
Mike Rowe had a successful series with folks who do “Dirty Jobs,” every day of the year, including Thanksgiving. Thank you for getting the job done.
Hope you enjoyed the day. You shoppers be careful out there today. Perhaps you’ll encounter myself and nephew Brian out shopping, if you’re out around noon, that is.