For 50 years, the Turkey Trot races have been a local Thanksgiving tradition. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving thousands have toed the line over the years in a spirit of comraderie and competition. It was no different this year, on the event’s golden anniversary.
Two Creek Road Runners doubled their pleasure, running both the 10K and the 5K, and taking age-group honors in so doing.
CRR Dan Weile celebrated his first year in a new age group by winning the 50-54 division in 46:26 in the 10K and placed third in his division in the 5K with a time of 24:09. Ever ready to take on both races was CRR Doug Repetti, who took first place among his peers in each race, topping the 70+ division with a 56:02 10K and the 70-74 division with a 28:11 5K.
Repetti and CRR Bruce Hubbard and CRR April Anderson were each quoted in the Newark Post story about the event.
Hubbard and Anderson, both in their upper 70s, walked the 5K course, continuing their own tradition of participation in this local moving celebration. Hubbard placed 3rd among the 75-79s, and had there been a parallel division for women in the 5K, the 78-year-old Anderson would have won. As it was, she finished 4th in the 70+ women’s division.
Chilly, but calm, conditions provided a near ideal day for the 47th Annual Turkey Trot 10K and 5K races here in Newark. There were several notables among the Creek Road Runners, as several took age-group awards.
In the 10K, CRR Clark Ridge of College Park, Md., placed 4th overall (out of the 195 finishers) and took 1st among the 35-39 men in a fast 36:38. (Yes, the photo at left is one from his college days.)
In the 5K, CRR Mark Deshon led the Creek Road Runners, placing 39th overall (out of 541 finishers) and turning in an inspired 7-min./mile pacing at 21:42, taking 1st place in the 60-64 age group. This is Deshon’s 10th consecutive age-group win, dating back four years to the 2015 Turkey Trot. OK, the jinx is now on!
It started in 1999, right after the late CRR Scott Mackler was diagnosed with ALS. It’s probably the toughest road 5K in Delaware. Runners are rewarded, though, with a full buffet after the run. Awards for top finishers—both runners and walkers.
In the 10K, CRR Christina Parsons won the 50-54 age group, finishing 40th overall out of 178 runners in 48:36. Parsons margin of victory in her age group was more than seven minutes! CRR Steve Tague, who finished 24th overall, ran a solid 44:37 and took second in the 55-59 age group.
CreekRoadRunners.org 