Annual Turkey Trot is 'dash of the season'

  • Published
  • By John Turner
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Team Malmstrom flocked to the outdoor running track for the 341st Force Support Squadron's annual 5K Turkey Trot. In all, 113 people participated in the Thanksgiving-themed fun run Nov. 7.

The fast-footed fliers competed for turkey dinners they could gobble, gobble. The top prize for the first place male and female contestants was a 20-pound turkey with stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce and a pie. Second placers took home just the trimmings--no bird or dessert.

The rules were simple: complete 12 laps around the track in the shortest time possible. Trotters could sprint, jog, walk--even 'wattle.'

The Turkey Trot was a gravy run for 2nd Lt. James Walmsley, 490th Missile Squadron, who completed the event in 18 minutes, zero seconds. Tech. Sgt. Thomas Meadows, 819th RED HORSE Squadron, crossed the finish line at 18:26 to claim second place for the men.

Airman Magen Faxlanger, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, had the fastest time for the women at 24:50. 2nd Lt. Deanna Kerkhoff, 341st Contracting Squadron, closely tailed her at 25:00. Faxlanger defaulted her prize to the second place winner. Third-placer Senior Airman Stephanie Wolf, 341st Comptroller Squadron, was in turn presented the second place prize.

"I enjoyed the event because I was able to run alongside other Airmen while also supporting a base function," said Faxlanger. "I've never ran for a prize before so why start now?"

Kerkhoff ran the Turkey Trot despite being 35 weeks pregnant. She said her husband Aaron's 'fantastic support' prepared her for the event.

"He's done an amazing job encouraging me to stay active and healthy during the entire pregnancy," she said of her wingman. "It's because of him that I was even able to run the 5k this late in the game."

While the day was cool and windy, 'fowl' weather was not a concern.

"It was a little chilly," said Senior Airman Dyan Murray, 341st FSS special events coordinator, "But once you start running, you warm up and you get used to it."

Murray organized and directed this year's Turkey Trot. It was the first special event she has been in charge of here. She said she was initially a little nervous, but once the event started everything fell into place and she had fun.

"I thought it was pretty neat, getting to put together the whole thing," she said. "And everybody was outside running and having a good time."