Chilly weather not an issue for Turkey Trot runners

By Brandon BieltzNovember 18, 2011

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FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- Some runners tried a different approach to bringing home the bird for Thanksgiving -- running a little more than three miles in the cold.

Turkeys were awarded to the top finishing man and woman in each age category of the annual Turkey Trot 5K/Fun Walk.

More than 200 competitors gathered early Saturday morning at Murphy Field House for the sixth race in the Fort Meade Run Series.

The eager runners lined up on Zimborski Avenue for the official start at 8 a.m. Several runners bundled up in sweatpants, sweatshirts, gloves and hats as they braved the cold November-morning temperatures that barely reached freezing.

Runners such as James Eberly said the preventative measures for the cold made it more difficult to run.

"For me it's the extra layers," Eberly said. "You're just not comfortable. It's not the weight so much, just having the layers feels restrictive."

Raymond Chappell, on the other hand, sported shorts for his dash through the installation and said he didn't expect the cold weather to affect his running.

"I've run in colder than this," he said.

Sean Costello, who competed in shorts and a T-shirt, said he too didn't mind running in the cold and that the brisk weather could actually help.

"It's a nice day for a run," he said. "If you stay cooler, you can run harder and not get dehydrated."

Perhaps it was the cold that helped Costello speed to the finish line with a time of 20:31 for a first-place finish. Closely behind was Brent Mager, who finished second at 20:39. Dave Webster's time of 21:06 was good enough for third place.

Costello was excited to have earned the main dish for his Thanksgiving meal.

"I'm sure my wife will be happy," he said.

Competing in her second Run Series race, Ellahe Amini was the first woman to finish Saturday's race with a time of 22:34.

Joyce Brayboy finished second with a final time of 23:58, while Lisa Garner finished a few seconds later for a third-place 24:11 time.

Amini, who didn't know she was going to earn a meal by completing the race with the fastest time, accepted the bird with mixed feelings.

"I wasn't planning on cooking, but now I guess I have to," she said.

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