Turkey Trot takes off into history

Runners take off on the 5K Turkey Trot from the pavilion at Lake Leatherwood Park Thursday morning. Elliott Young of Houston, the woman in stripes, foreground left, came in first overall. At right in extreme foreground is Hank Gipson, the second 'tom' to finish.

While other people slept in or were putting the turkey in the oven, 130 people gathered at Lake Leatherwood Park pavilion at 8 a.m. Thursday morning for the third annual Don Gammie Turkey Trot.

Bill Carmichael, a plush-animal turkey in a pilgrim hat straddling his head, counted down to the start, and the runners took off on the 5K route. First over the finish line was Elliott Young of Houston, the daughter of Jane Hackley of Grassy Knob. Kate Millet was the second hen finisher. Jay Bender of Grassy Knob was the first tom to finish, followed by Hank Gipson of Harrison.

Several dozen people chose to walk the first half-mile of the trail and back, including Don Gammie, a world-record-holder masters runner for whom the run is named. The Turkey Trot is a fundraiser for the Grassy Knob Volunteer Firefighters Association.