Turkey Trot draws from all over

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Runners, walkers and more than a few canines lined up for Thursday's Turkey Trot on the Swan River Nature Trail, ready to preempt their Thanksgiving gluttony.

Despite temperatures in the 20's and a bit of ice on the trail, folks from as far away as Idaho Falls participated in the loosely organized event.

Garin Spaulding and his father Bruce were in Polson visiting his brother-in-law Adam Smith and thought the race sounded like a good idea.

"I ran 12.5 miles last week to train for these three," joked Garin, a recreation runner who occasionally competes in half-marathons.

The route took runners and walkers to the end of the Swan River Nature Trail and back, a distance closer to four or five miles, according to Debbie Ploeger of Bigfork, who also participated in the race.

But out-of-town runners couldn't run away with the victory; that belonged to Flathead High school freshman Hannah Anderson, 14, who finished with a self-kept time of 36:06, besting Smith by a few strides.

Anderson ran cross country this fall for the Bravettes and qualified for the state meet in her first season of competition. She said she's looking forward to participating in distance events during this spring's track and field season.

The race ended without much fanfare — most of the Turkey-Trotters were still far out on the course due to a leisurely pace, a late arrival or both.

Those who had already crossed the line got in their cars quickly. It was time to earn back all those early-morning calories they burned.