2008 Pinedale Turkey Trot draws record participants
Record 226 runners, walkers, trotters and bikers for annual Thanksgiving Day fun walk/run
by Craig Sheppard
December 2, 2008
The 18th running of the Pinedale 5K Turkey Trot drew a record 226 runners, walkers, trotters and bikers. Everyone was treated to a beautiful (20 degrees) morning with no wind, ice or snow. The Wind River Mountains stood out in the background as all involved prepared for their three-mile journey through the outskirts of town, around Boyd Skinner Park, over Pine Creek and back to the Sheppard’s house.
This event increased in size tremendously by doubling last year’s attendance record. There were participants from 16 different states and trotters from the age of 14 months (Cale Dauwen) to a 73-year young man (Dan Moran) from Princeton, MN. We had large families all walking together, young bikers, a bicycle built for two, Mike Davis riding a bike pulling his kids (Grace and Reagan) in a buggy (we are waiting to see if in a few years if they will be pulling him), and we were especially happy to have Dave Harper rolling in at a time of 42:00 and that was even after he had to retrace the route looking for one of his dogs who got spooked by the size of the crowd.
There were seven people this year that participated in the very first turkey Pinedale Turkey Trot back in 1990. They were Terry Cain, Dale Hill, Ken Konicek, Julie Konicek, John Mortenson, Jar Mortenson and Craig Sheppard.
This is not a competition, but we do like to recognize some of the participants times. Because of this year’s gigantic crowd, the organizers hope they got most of these times, names and places correct. Head Turkey Sheppard was told by his second in command (only on this morning) that next year he needs to run/walk the race before everyone arrives so that he can be around to help. It seems that he is getting farther down in the pack and most people are in before he can start his recording duties.
We always have some young bikers that finish first and this year Isaac Lofthus (age 8) was the first in at 17:15, followed by Tyler Moritsch (age 10) 19:15 and Mitchell Pape (age 6) 19:18.
The Running Division always seems to be the most competitive with fourteen-year old Aunders Hallsten winning in a time of 19:50. He was followed by Ken Konicek in a time of 20:29 and Cody Gion in 20:59. Other results in the running division are as follows.
High School Boys
Aunders Hallsten (19:50)
Gus Holz (21:06)
Lucas Corwin (21:51)
Adult Men
Cody Gion (Big Piney) 20:59
Ben Laster (Kalispell, MT) 21:38
Kane Hudson (Jackson Hole) 21:42
Mike Richey (Gothenburg, Nebraska) 23:21
Masters Men
Ken Konicek 20:29
Kirk Thomas (Salt Lake) 21:49
Don Jackson (Iowa City, Iowa) 27:23
Craig Sheppard 31:33.
The Pre-Teen Boys was won by 6th grader David Rule 27:33, followed by his classmate Kaylum Thayne 34:04.
The Ladies Division had a tie with Terry Cain and Amber Robbins coming in at a time of 25:49, followed by May Rose Huntley and Eva Harrower also in a tie at 26:18.
The Girls 18 and Under was won by Liz Jackson of Fort Collins, Colorado (25:30), followed by Shanna Corwin (27:50), Ashley Transtrum (27:51) and Amy David (30:00).
By far the largest division (over 200 participants this year) is the Walking Division. It is the hardest to determine who just walked or who walked and ran, etc. Besides they all come in in packs, but this year’s winners were JJ Huntley and Karen Stewart who tied in a time of 39:25.
The Sheppard’s would like to thank all that make this trot such a special morning. We are sure that the nice weather had a lot to do with the record turnout, but we also need to acknowledge the people that helped get the word out about this event. We started with 22 participants 18 years ago and now it has turned into a great Pinedale tradition on Thanksgiving morning. We would also like to thank the Pinedale schools for advertising in school and use of their cones, the Pinedale Half Marathon Committee for use of their timing system, the Pinedale Roundup, Sublette Examiner and Pinedale Online for advertising us, the Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of Sublette County for putting us on their marquees, and Jim Huntley for putting us in his Thanksgiving article. Lastly, I cannot forget my behind-the-scenes race coordinators, my wife Ellen (t-shirt seller, coffee preparer, registration manager, etc), son Wyatt (official timer) and step son Ralph Shamas who traveled all the way from New Mexico to participate and help out.
Remember it is not too early to start getting in shape for 19th Annual Pinedale Turkey Trot to be held Thanksgiving morning 2009 at 9AM in front of the Sheppard’s house.
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