By MIKE JAMES
RUSSELL — A record 260 runners and walkers jogged and strolled through the streets of downtown Russell Thanksgiving morning in the annual Turkey Trot fun run, according to organizer Ruthie Lynd, who cheered them all on from the start and at the finish line.
“It far exceeds what we’ve ever had,” Lynd said after the race. “It just means more food for Helping Hands.”
It was the second record year in a row. The 2008 run drew about 150 runners and walkers.
The run, which started in the 1970s, has always been about fun and food — food to donate, that is.
The entry fee for every participant is a can of food.
In recent years the food has gone to Helping Hands of Greenup County. “It’s awesome that people took time out of their day to share a little hope with others,” said Helping Hands director Scarlet Grubb.
Entire families put on their sweats and assemble downtown for the run. The Dehoff family, for instance, including Michelle Dehoff and her sons Tyler, 20, Drake, 18, Logan, 16 and Madison, 12, all showed up. The Dehoffs brought along their cousin Mitchell, 16, who is visiting from Cleveland.
It’s their first trot, Michelle Dehoff said. The kids came along in part “because she promised to buy us breakfast afterward,” joked Tyler. “It’s a good cause and a good way to start Thanksgiving,” he added.
Lyndsey Burke, 11, ran with her brother Johnathan, 14. Lyndsey runs “so I can eat what I want in the afternoon.”
Johnathan, who was running in the Trot for the first time, said he wants to stay in shape for baseball season.
Tony Carr came along with his family, mainly to watch them because a bum knee kept him from running.
He cheered on his wife Amy, daughter-in-law Leah Carr, son Zak, daughter Krissie Bentley and her husband Nathan.
Being a fun run, finish times don’t count for anything, but that doesn’t keep the serious runners from wanting to know. So for the record, Scott McClain of Louisville was first in the 5K event at 17:58. His girlfriend Kat Alcorn was second overall and the fastest woman at 18:37.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.
