Long before most turkeys found their ways into the oven, runners and walkers of all ages gathered at Mountain View High School this morning for its 15th annual Turkey Trot. Mountain View High alumni Nicholas Trepanier and Olivia Backholm won the men and women’s races, respectively; both currently compete as collegiate athletes in California. For most participants, however, the event was less about speed and more about embracing the holiday spirit.
“It sort of justifies some of the eating I’m going to do later,” Mountain View High Assistant Principal Marti McGuirk said.
Participants could walk or run the five-kilometer route and had the option to race the Spartan mile. There were also kids’ races for the 60-yard and 400-yard dash.
“You can tell that everyone’s a bit competitive and people want to go, but at the same time, it’s all fun and games,” Backholm said.
Photos by Carter Nishi
This year, the 5k course changed slightly towards the end of the route due to concerns about the width of the path.
“I really like that [the Turkey Trot] is all about and for the MVHS community,” McGuirk said. “It’s homegrown. 15 years ago it was the brainchild of a small group of people and it’s grown into something that is a fun thing for people of all ages.”
In preparation for the race, Turkey Trot Director Helen Cittadino gathered teams for marketing, race packet pick-up and official timing. At least 100 student and parent volunteers also came together to raise funds for their sports teams or clubs, according to former Turkey Trot Director Ally Bocchieri.
“I hope 15 or 20 years from now, it’s still going strong and even bigger than it is right now,” McGuirk said.
