Cool temperatures and sunny skies greeted the 8,000+ participants of the 41st Annual Mile High United Way Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. Held at Washington Park in Denver, runners and walkers took on a 4 mile course around the park that provided a flat and fast course for all. There was also a quarter mile Family Fun Run for kids and families. What’s more, the start and finish villages set the perfect scene for pre-Thanksgiving festivities for participants of all ages.
The men’s 4 mile race saw a stacked field of competitors toe the line. 2013 2nd place finisher Tyler McCandless was back for blood, setting a blistering pace off the bat and grabbing the win in 19:39. Second place belonged to 22-year old Ryan Poland in 20:18, with Sean Brown of Aurora coming in a close third in 20:25.
In the women’s race, a tight pack of females set the pace early on, with the top five finishers crossing the line within a minute of one another. Longmont’s Kristin Johansen took top honors in 23:24. Katherine Ward of Colorado Springs was second in 23:30 and 30-year old Ashley Luna rounded out the top three in 23:39. A notable fourth place finish went to 10-year old Alayna Szuch of Evergreen in 23:42.
Participation in the Turkey Trot helps Mile High United Way build the community by improving childhood literacy, increasing high school graduation rates and ensuring economic self-sufficiency for adults and families.