Photos and text by Daniel Ritz

 

Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point
Turkey Wrap(up) : 40th Annual Turkey Trot brings more than 10,000 runners to Dana Point

Approaching Thanksgiving dinners and record-setting high temperatures had no impact on the enthusiasm and performance of runners at Dana Point’s 40th annual Turkey Trot on Nov. 23.

Commencing at exactly 7 a.m., the 10K race set the day’s blistering pace as the top four runners finished in less than 30 minutes.

Harry Mulenga, from Tucson, Arizona, who finished second in the men’s 10K race, said he was thoroughly enjoying Thanksgiving in Dana Point.

“I love this course. I ran a sub-30, which I am happy about, but my goal is 28 minutes,” said Mulenga. “I look forward to trying that here next year.”

Following the 10K race was the 5K. With more than 4,000 participants, the 8:30 a.m. wave was completely sold out.

Seven of those participants were local family members of Helen Phillips from Sioux City, Iowa. At 90-years-old, Phillips participated in her first 5K with four generations of her family.

Wrapping up the afternoon was the fan-favorite “Gobble Wobble,” where three waves of children, divided by age, ran a one-mile race.

As the day wound down and the final wobblers finished the race, Katie McGann, the special events and sponsorship coordinator for the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, said the most important thing to keep in mind when organizing a large scale event is to remember why it’s happening in the first place.

“It’s hard sometimes,” McGann said, “but sometimes you have to remember that this is all in the spirit of Thanksgiving and family and friends, and we’re all here to have fun.”

 

2017 Dana Point Turkey Trot Results

Men’s 10K

1. Gebrekidan Abadi, Aurora, California. 29:22

2 Harry Mulenga, Tucson, Arizona. 29:43

3. Nicholas Hilton, Oro Valley, California. 29:52

Women’s 10K

1.Belainesh Gebre, Flagstaff, Arizona. 33:35

2.Ashlee Powers, Newport Beach, California. 34:26,

3.Grace Graham-Zamudio, Newhall, 34:34

5K Men’s Wave #1

1.Brandon Hough, DANA POINT, California. 00:15:16

2.JOSE Penaloza, Garden Grove, California. 00:15:48

3.Dale Neumann, Capistrano Beach, California. 00:16:07

Women’s 5K Wave #1

1.Ashley Bell, Irvine, California. 17:04

2.Katie Izzo, Seal Beach, California. 17:44

3.Hanna Hermansson, San Pedro, California. 17:51

Mens 5K Wave # 2

1.Luis Emilio Morales, Fountain Valley, California. 00:16:19

2. Esteban Prado, Santa Ana, California. 00:16:42

3. Andrew Brown, Costa Mesa, California. 00:17:39

Womens 5K Wave #2

1.Eileen Stressling, Huntington Beach, California. 17:47

2.Holly Hobson Gery, Lake Forest, California. 19:15

3.Summer Wilson, Irvine, California. 20:06