RUN Wenatchee

WENATCHEE — Before sitting down to feast Thanksgiving Day, some runners and walkers in Wenatchee logged a few miles.

Well, more than just some runners and walkers.

The seventh-annual Turkey on the Run 12K, 5K and Kids Race attracted a record 1,064 participants to the city’s west side Thursday morning under cloudy skies. A year ago, 910 people took part.

Winners of the individual races included: 12K men — Taija Corso, East Wenatchee, 47 minutes and 32 seconds; 12K women — Kerri Benzenberg Badeau, Seattle, 54:17; 5K men — Sam Martin, Wenatchee, 18:50; and 5K women — Alice Loebsack, Lacey, 22:44.

For complete results, please click here.

As it has in past years, the event — presented this year by Biosports Physical Therapy — generated money and food for the Women’s Resource Center of North Central Washington.

“To have such a turnout for a community of this size is amazing,” said race director Joel Rhyner of RunWenatchee, which hold Turkey on the Run each year. “Over 1,000 people — it’s unbelievable. Everyone was in a good mood.”

Rhyner said the race went off without a hitch, adding having an extra packet pickup time at Pybus Public Market on Wednesday evening helped ease congestion the morning of the race at Rotary Park.

He also praised race volunteers and the Wenatchee Police Department, which helped with traffic safety on Western Avenue.

“Our volunteers were super supportive of the runners and walkers,” he said. “And having the Wenatchee Police Department out here was huge, too.”

Rotary Park again served as the start and finish for the event. The 12K and 5K out-and-back courses utilized parts of Western Avenue, Springwater Avenue, Woodward Street, Fifth Street, and Number One Canyon Road. The 1K Kids Race unfolded in the park itself.

Before the 12K and 5K races started Thursday morning, hundreds of people hung out in the park, chatting away with friends and family members. As is the custom, many wore costumes or sported their favorite football team’s colors.

For Wenatchee resident Jessica Beaver, and her three children Kaylee, Marie and David, it was their first Turkey on the Run.

“We wanted to be active today because we’re going to be eating so much later,” Beaver said. “Thanksgiving is going to be big at our house. And this event is for such a good cause.”

Not far away in the park, 44 girls who are part of the Girls on the Run program, along with their adult running buddies, prepared for the 5K by stretching and warming up. The program, which helps girls in the lower grades at Mission View, Lincoln, Columbia and Sunnyslope elementary schools get more fit and improve their self-esteem, had record participation this fall. More importantly, teachers have noticed girls in the program have become more self-assertive and helpful, said program coordinator Maggie Reuter.

“As a first-year coach myself, I’ve been amazed by how the program effects both the girls and the coaches,” Reuter said.

The total amount of food and money collected for the Women’s Resource Center will be tallied in coming days. A year ago, about $6,000 in food and money was generated.

Women’s Resource Center board member Sara Deason said the food collected at Turkey on the Run is used right away and is gone by the end of the holidays.

“During the seven years that the Women’s Resource Center has partnered with RunWenatchee, the amount of food donated has been incredible,” Deason said. “It has really helped us provide people in need with food through the holidays.”

“It’s nice to see the support from the community.”

— RunWenatchee.com

Men's 12K winner Taija Corso of East Wenatchee runs along Woodward Avenue on his way to the finish line in Rotary Park.