The weather is always a factor for the Times Turkey Trot. Ironically, warmer temperatures, which produce slower times, attract larger crowds. The temperature for the 7:30 Wingding was a favorable 65. However, at 8:45, when the main-event 10K started, the temperature was in the low 70s and climbing rapidly under the rising sun.
One runner who competed in both events didn't seem to be adversely affected. Christy Phillips, 41, of St. Petersburg captured second in the women's division of the 5K, then warmed down by running 2 miles before toeing the starting line of the Turkey Trot 10K. Amazingly, for someone who was complaining of an injury before the race, she earned a bronze-medal finish there in 39:22, behind only winner Mary Level-Menton and Lara Shaw of Tampa.
"I felt fine," said Phillips, a Jefferson High School teacher and coach. "I just tried to stay focused and relaxed in the 10K."
EXTENDED FAMILY: More than any other area event, the Turkey Trot is a festive family affair. One Dunedin family in the Gobbler Mile spanned four generations.
Tracy Vitiello, 35, who normally runs the Wingding, ran and walked with her mother, Bonnie, 58, her daughter, Liana, 18, and her daughter, Rini, 20 months. Rini went out too fast at the start and ended up being carried to a successful conclusion on the track at Clearwater High School.
MORE FAMILIES: For the ninth time in 10 years, the Berner family of Belleair took its place on the Keene Road starting line. Mom Deborah did the 10K with dad, Jody, a gastroenterologist, running with the boys, Isaac, 9, Adam, 7, and Benjamin, 3, in the Gobbler.
"We love doing it as a family; it's a family tradition," Dr. Berner said.
AGE-GROUP HIGHLIGHTS: Lakewood High cross country coach Royston Dillon won the 50-plus 5K title for the third consecutive year. After winning the title with times of 17:52 and 17:53 in 2001 and '02, he posted an 18:04 this time. "I still feel capable of getting down in the 16-minute range," Dillon said.
The women's 50-plus age group winner was Gulfport's Karen Alexeev, a St. Pete Mad Dog triathlete, who clocked 22:43.
Ned Bennett, 82, a winter resident by way of Akron, Ohio, had a successful Wingding run in 30:30. "It would have been faster, but the starting area was very crowded," said Bennett.
Kyle Groh of St. Petersburg clicked off a 5:47 mile in the Gobbler. Not bad for a 9-year-old.
MILE WINNERS: A couple of high school runners from Pasco ran off with the top Gobbler awards.
Nick Ferrer, a senior at Mitchell High, took the men's title in 4:33. Danielle Coyle, a senior at River Ridge, prevailed among women with a 5:30 effort. "I'm very happy with how I did," said Coyle, who is considering enrolling at Florida Southern. "I had just run the 5K (11th place) and didn't expect to win."
DISAPPOINTMENT: Stephanie Rancich, 15, a student at Palm Harbor University High School, crossed the finish line in 56th place but didn't officially earn a top-100 finishers' bobblehead award.
Rancich crossed the line on the left, the men's side, and not the right, which is designated for female finishers. Separate timers are used for men and women.
"My time was 22:30; my mom has it on film, and I didn't see anyone (official) directing women to one side of the track," she said.
ALL AMERICAN: Turkey Trot winner Elias Gonzalez of the University of Tampa has a lot to be thankful for. He earned NCAA Division II all-America first-team honors based on his 16th-American finish at last week's cross country championships in Raleigh, N.C. Also, he recently received U.S. citizenship. And as a National Guardsman, he has yet to be called to active duty.
OFFICIALS: There were some 250 to 300 volunteers from a wide range of city and county organizations. The main organization is the sponsoring club, the West Florida Y Runners Club. Some volunteers, such as event director Skip Rogers, is a fixture who works part time all year on the community project. Others, such as Palm Harbor attorney Jim Callan, work just the day of the race.
"The club does a lot for us runners all year long," said Callan, 65, who competes regularly but is favoring an injury. "I feel that I don't do enough, so I'm happy to get involved today."
