I was away last week, so Jim Kellogg was the leader for our Wednesday walk and provided the summary below.
Best,
Dick
Last Wednesday was Thanksgiving Eve and members of our Piedmont Recreation Department’s Walking on Wednesdays group were where they always are at 10:30 AM on Wednesdays, in front of the Exedra. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and 27 walkers were there to enjoy the weather, being together, and work on their Thanksgiving dinner appetites.
However, the group was there for another reason too. They knew about 2,400 runner/walkers were going to be on this very spot the next morning for the annual Piedmont Turkey Trot, and we were there to get a head start on them. We would walk the Turkey Trot route this day before Thanksgiving and be the first across the race’s finish line.
Before we got started, thanks were given for the friendships that have come from our walking group, and some Thanksgiving race information was shared. According to “Run Signup,” Thanksgiving is the biggest US running day of the year. In 2023 920,761 people participated in 833 races across the country and raised more than $1.9 million dollars for charities.
The Piedmont Turkey Trot is conducted by a non-profit that supports local charities and organizations, the PHS Cross Country and Track and Field teams, and the PHS Athletic Boosters. This was the 23rd year for the Piedmont Turkey Trot. It started in 2001 with 300 runners. Participation was as high as 3,100 one year, but that size was considered unsafe, and the number of runners was capped. Awards are given for the top three male and female finishers in the following categories: 13 and under, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80+. Most of the walkers fell into the latter categories.
Last year's Piedmont Turkey Trot’s three overall winners and times were Jack S (15:30), Michael D (15:47), and Walter T (15:54). The walkers did not think they would challenge Jack’s time, but they would do the entire Turkey Trot 5K route, which is 3.1 miles. And the walker who finished the course first would be declared the Wednesday Walkers’ winner.
Before the group started their walk, Jim shared a sad announcement that Will Adams, one of their well-respected Wednesday Walkers, unexpectedly passed away the prior week. The group all remembers Will for his smile and his friendly and positive personality, as well as being a very talented Architect who several times guided us on tours of notable Piedmont buildings. Will is also remembered for authoring the Walking Piedmont, Observations of the Built Environment of a Beautiful City articles in the Piedmont Post. He will be missed by all.
The walkers took off from the Exedra, just up from the race start/finish line on Magnolia Avenue. It was not a fast-paced trot, but they experienced the entire route, beginning with Highland Avenue, then left on Wildwood Avenue, right on Crocker and Lafayette Avenues, and a walk east on beautiful La Salle Avenue all the way to Hampton Road and then right on Sea View Avenue. The walkers continued on, each at their own pace, up the long “Heartbreak Hill” climb on Sea View Avenue. The group then floated down Mountain Avenue to the corner of Pacific and Craig. With the enticing view of the Exedra a short distance down Pacific, the difficult decision had to make between continuing up Craig Avenue to complete the official 5K route, or take the shortcut down Pacific. Those who took the shortcut were unfortunately disqualified from winning the race.
It was a contested finish, but Jim Kellogg and Bob Wong pulled away in the home stretch to be the first Wednesday Walkers to cross the still imagined finish line. Their unofficial time was one hour thirty-two minutes and twelve seconds. All had fun, excellent exercise from their 5K trek, and good conservations with friends. They expect to be back next week, and once again next Thanksgiving Eve to be the first ones to do the Piedmont Turkey Trot route.