Turkey trot a success

Published 10:31 pm Monday, November 17, 2014

George Knierbein, Kim Knierbein, Kendall Weber and Joel Weber get ready for the start of Saturday’s 2014 Turkey Trot 5K Walk and Run, at the Riverfront Swim Club. On a sunny, chilly morning, “Zoey” and “Riley” were also looking forward to joining the throng of runners.

George Knierbein, Kim Knierbein, Kendall Weber and Joel Weber get ready for the start of Saturday’s 2014 Turkey Trot 5K Walk and Run, at the Riverfront Swim Club. On a sunny, chilly morning, “Zoey” and “Riley” were also looking forward to joining the throng of runners.

Organizers of the weekend’s Turkey Trot 5K Run and Walk at the Riverfront Swim Club have reported the strongest event yet.

The 11th annual event, which also incorporated a “gobbler run” for kids, had 170 registered runners and walkers, said Pam Sweet, club manager.

“Plus, probably 50 more turned out to the support the event,” she said.

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Conditions were bright and sunny Saturday morning, but also a little chilly — though, as one competitor remarked, those are good running conditions.

The event raised $4,400 for the Suffolk Humane Society, Sweet said, which was $900 more than the next most successful year, 2013.

“We had great compliments from all runners and participants,” she said. “They loved the band, Sidetracked.”

Sweet also noted the appearances by the Chick-fil-A cow and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s Bernie the St. Bernard, the two mascots increasing the element of fun.

While the event’s human participants mingled, Sweet said, the many dogs in attendance made new friends with one another.

Sweet said she would start planning in earnest for next year’s event around mid-summer.

She urged anyone interested in volunteering to give her a call at 483-3906.