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Turkey Trot signup tops 500

Luann Welter displays a map with pinpoints showing the hometowns of this year's Turkey Trot runners.

By Bill Moss, Published: November 26, 2014

The second annual Turkey Trot is shaping up to be bigger — and warmer — than the inaugural event.

By Wednesday morning 545 runners had signed up for the Thanksgiving Day race, topping last year's number by 104. Participants are from more than 20 states and range as far west as San Francisco and Zillah, Wash., from Lewiston, Maine, to South Florida.

City Wellness Committee members Amy Knight, a paralegal, and Jacob Dinkins, a firefighter, proposed the Turkey Trot last year and the city launched the first race. Despite 19-degree cold, a big and enthusiastic crowd turned out.

"I think that's the one thing that we can say," said Luann Welter of the city Planning Department. "It's not going to be as cold as last year."

Ed WalencewiczEd Walencewicz, who is visiting from Southern California, said a friend who lives in the Skyland Hotel invited him for Thanksgiving and he decided to sign up. At 78, he's the oldest runner to have signed up. Just before the race, the city will award prizes for the oldest runner, the farthest traveling, the best costume and the most members running from one family. The winners will take home gift baskets of local goodies including baked goods and gift cards.

The city has run out of Turkey Trot T-shirts so Welter said at this point organizers are just inviting anyone who wants to run to come out and run. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall.

The forecast calls for a low of 32 overnight, a slight chance of showers on Thanksgiving morning and a warmup later to 44 under partly sunny skies. Friday should be sunny with a high of 44 and Saturday is warmer still, up to 55.