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Turkey Trot tops 500 runners
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TOPSAIL VOICE
Hampstead Kiwanis Park was hopping last Saturday with more than 500 runners at their 4th Annual Turkey Trot 8K Run, 2 Mile Run and 1/2 Mile Kids’ Sprint. People aged 3-76 flocked in from all over the state and even from neighboring states to participate in the park’s largest annual fundraiser.
The event started with a t-shirt contest back in October. There were hundreds of entries from all three local elementary schools. The entries were narrowed down to six winners whose running turkey drawings were depicted on this year’s race t-shirt.
The winners from South Topsail Elementary were Adrienne Connors, David Li and Sarah Mazurek. The artists from Topsail Elementary were Caroline Clemmer and Madi Jacquot. From North Topsail Elementary Lily Dodgens’ running turkey was chosen.
On race day, the crowd enjoyed perfect weather, great music, Zumba dancers, jump roping and hula-hooping before hearing the Topsail High Chorus sing our national anthem at the opening ceremonies. Then at 9 a.m., the more than 220, 8K runners and almost 200 two-mile runners lined up at the starting lines. The two-milers circled the soccer fields and fitness trail twice. The 8K runners followed the pace truck along a new out and back route leaving the park through nearby neighborhoods and finished back at the park with the two-milers. The kids under nine years old then ran their half mile race around the paved path leading to Santa who provided all of them with turkey shaped cookies donated by Sea Salt Bakery.
Winners from each race received a variety of prizes for all age groups. Overall winners for the 8K were both from Hampstead. First male Steve Schmid aged 48 finished with a time of 26:54 and first female Marcy Waters aged 46 crossed the line at 31:53. The two-mile overall winners were Matthew Recker aged 25 from Sneads Ferry, time was 13:04 and Laura Orr aged 19 from Topsail Beach 14:24.
The race is sponsored by many local businesses and is organized by members of the Kiwanis Club of Hampstead and local volunteers. The race is a benefit for the park’s fitness trail. The goal is to pave more mileage of the trail around the soccer fields and also to add a playground in the future.
The race rose over an estimated $7,000 profit that will to go directly toward the trail fund. Platinum sponsors Hampstead and Sneads Ferry Physical Therapy with Bankers Life and Casualty Company were appreciated on shirts, banners and prizes. Gold Sponsors ThreadFx, Harris Teeter Surf City, Bojangles, Indian Spring Water, Coldwell Banker SeaCoast Realty, Pierpan Family Dentistry, Topsail Voice and TrySports helped to provide food, advertising, drinks, shirts, prizes and goodie bags for racers. The race also received so many other generous contributions all helping to make this event the biggest yet.
Of course, the race could not be successful without the support of Pender County Parks and Recreation department, Sheriff, EMS and Sloop Point Loop Fire Department all keeping the runners safe from traffic and injuries.
The race has grown from just under 150 runners in 2008 to well over 500 this year.
Race director Dale DePue said the growth is due “to the support of the Kiwanis Club of Hampstead, the spirit of this wonderful community and the dedicated volunteers who make the event happen.
“We want people to be excited about exercising and also want to feel like they can make a difference at their park,” DePue added. “Next year’s race is already scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17, so mark your calendars and start training.”
The event started with a t-shirt contest back in October. There were hundreds of entries from all three local elementary schools. The entries were narrowed down to six winners whose running turkey drawings were depicted on this year’s race t-shirt.
The winners from South Topsail Elementary were Adrienne Connors, David Li and Sarah Mazurek. The artists from Topsail Elementary were Caroline Clemmer and Madi Jacquot. From North Topsail Elementary Lily Dodgens’ running turkey was chosen.
On race day, the crowd enjoyed perfect weather, great music, Zumba dancers, jump roping and hula-hooping before hearing the Topsail High Chorus sing our national anthem at the opening ceremonies. Then at 9 a.m., the more than 220, 8K runners and almost 200 two-mile runners lined up at the starting lines. The two-milers circled the soccer fields and fitness trail twice. The 8K runners followed the pace truck along a new out and back route leaving the park through nearby neighborhoods and finished back at the park with the two-milers. The kids under nine years old then ran their half mile race around the paved path leading to Santa who provided all of them with turkey shaped cookies donated by Sea Salt Bakery.
Winners from each race received a variety of prizes for all age groups. Overall winners for the 8K were both from Hampstead. First male Steve Schmid aged 48 finished with a time of 26:54 and first female Marcy Waters aged 46 crossed the line at 31:53. The two-mile overall winners were Matthew Recker aged 25 from Sneads Ferry, time was 13:04 and Laura Orr aged 19 from Topsail Beach 14:24.
The race is sponsored by many local businesses and is organized by members of the Kiwanis Club of Hampstead and local volunteers. The race is a benefit for the park’s fitness trail. The goal is to pave more mileage of the trail around the soccer fields and also to add a playground in the future.
The race rose over an estimated $7,000 profit that will to go directly toward the trail fund. Platinum sponsors Hampstead and Sneads Ferry Physical Therapy with Bankers Life and Casualty Company were appreciated on shirts, banners and prizes. Gold Sponsors ThreadFx, Harris Teeter Surf City, Bojangles, Indian Spring Water, Coldwell Banker SeaCoast Realty, Pierpan Family Dentistry, Topsail Voice and TrySports helped to provide food, advertising, drinks, shirts, prizes and goodie bags for racers. The race also received so many other generous contributions all helping to make this event the biggest yet.
Of course, the race could not be successful without the support of Pender County Parks and Recreation department, Sheriff, EMS and Sloop Point Loop Fire Department all keeping the runners safe from traffic and injuries.
The race has grown from just under 150 runners in 2008 to well over 500 this year.
Race director Dale DePue said the growth is due “to the support of the Kiwanis Club of Hampstead, the spirit of this wonderful community and the dedicated volunteers who make the event happen.
“We want people to be excited about exercising and also want to feel like they can make a difference at their park,” DePue added. “Next year’s race is already scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17, so mark your calendars and start training.”
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