Runners burn off Thanksgiving meals at Turket Trot

Who says becoming a doctor is all work and no play?

Scott Hippe, a medical student at the University of Washington, won the 10-kilometer event at the T200 Turkey Trot on Friday in Soldotna. The Turkey Trot lured 68 runners out in temperatures in the mid-20s to burn off Thanksgiving feasts in five- or 10-kilometer runs along the Unity Trail and College Loop Road.

The run was put together by the Tustumena 200 and Tsalteshi Trails Association, and funds raised went to both organizations. Tami Murray, race director and board president for the T200, said the organizations are working on putting together a similar ski event for the winter.

Hippe traveled over the snow-covered course in 37 minutes, 7 seconds, for the win. Jake Streich was second in 39:57, while Mark Dixson was third at 46:30. Connie Best led the women in the 10K at 47:10, while Becca Satathite was second at 53:05 and Connie Ferguson was third at 56:12. Dylan Hogue was the lone youth finisher in the 10K, clocking 1:13:03.

The 5K belonged to Kenai Central senior Jordan Theisen, who cruised home in 23:08. Carl Kincaid was second at 25:30, while John Paul Dammeyer was both the third man and first youth finisher, with a time of 28:26.

The top women’s finisher in the 5K was Giuliana Houchin at 31:56, while Jane Eveland was second at 32:19 and Isabella Dammeyer was third, and the second youth, at 32:36. Emma Clare Dammeyer was the third youth across the line at 38:35.

Hippe, of Snohomish, Washington, was feeling adventurous when he chose where he would do his rotation for med school.

“I’d never been to Alaska, so I requested anywhere in Alaska,” he said.

He has been at Peninsula Internal Medicine in Soldotna for three weeks now, and has another three weeks before he returns to Washington.

“I’ve been doing some hiking and seeing the region,” he said. “It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

Hippe ticked off Lost Lake as the highlight of his exploring. He also did a cyclocross race at Tsalteshi Trails, where he was encouraged to do the Turkey Trot. Hippe said he is a recreational runner, but he did break off a 2:57:51 in the Boston Marathon in April and that fitness carried him to a decisive win Friday.

Hippe said another highlight of the trip has been riding an ATV behind another group of accomplished runners — the sled dogs of Dr. John Bramante.

“That’s what my friends back home were the most excited about,” Hippe said.

The medical student said Friday afternoon he is hoping for some more snow before he leaves so he can do some winter activities, and his wish was granted Friday evening.

He also wouldn’t remind returning in the summer.
“I’d love to see all the salmon running,” Hippe said. “Salmon is my favorite food but it is $15 a pound where I’m from.

“I’ve heard it’s abundant here, and there’s also a really cool culture around it.”

Houchin, of Kenai, won the women’s 5K even though she was pushing her son, Karter, in a stroller. It’s the first time Houchin can remember winning the women’s overall in a 5K.

“I just kind of went out there figuring, ‘OK, I’ll go burn some calories running in the snow,’” she said. “When I got to the halfway point, I was counting and there were only two girls ahead.

“I figured I could do it, and Karter was cheering the whole way. It was awesome.”

Well, except for the fact she was pushing a stroller through snow.

“There was definitely enough snow to make it difficult,” she said. “It was different, like running on sand.

“I didn’t have good footing and it felt like I was using every single muscle in my body. Pushing that thing is definitely a workout, but I’m used to pushing it around.”

She said the wide tires on the stroller help.

“It’s a sport utility stroller,” she said. “We took that thing down to Skilak Lake (on Saturday) and pushed it in 5 inches of snow. It’s a beast. You can go all-terrain with that thing.”

Theisen, a member of the Kenai Central ski team, also got his request for snow granted in the hours after the race.

With no skiing available, Theisen had kept running after finishing sixth in the Class 4A state cross country meet in early October.

He trained with fellow Kenai Central senior Allie Ostrander and thus has a role in “On The Rise: Allie Ostrander,” an Internet video done by MileSplit.com.

“I’m just the guy in the film about Allie,” he joked.

Theisen had designs in racing in the Nike Cross Nationals Northwest Regional, where Ostrander was second, but he didn’t have sufficient funds to make the trip.

So instead he put his fitness to use jogging to victory Friday.

“This race gives you a reason to go out and do something the day after Thanksgiving,” Theisen said. “I admire everyone who comes out here the day after Thanksgiving when they could be sleeping in.”

For Hogue, an 11-year-old student at K-Beach Elementary, the race served as a good opportunity to get in some training for the Walt Disney World 5K on Jan. 8 and the Walt Disney World 10K on Jan. 9.

Hogue was a regular participant in the Salmon Run Series and Salmon Cycle Series this summer at Tsalteshi Trails, part of a summer where he ran two or three times a week.

While Friday’s 10K was a good opportunity to get ready for the Disney races, there will be some differences.

Such as he probably won’t be wearing cleats on the bottom of his running shoes. And it’ll probably be a little warmer than 25 in Florida.

“I can’t stand it if it gets too hot,” Hogue said.

 

T200 Turkey Trot 2014

Saturday in Soldotna

10 kilometers

1. Scott Hippe, 37 minutes, 7 seconds (1st Men’s); 2. Jake Streich, 39:57 (2nd Men’s); 3. Mark Dixson 46:30 (3rd Men’s); 4. Connie Best 47:10 (1st Women’s); 5. Sam Satathite 50:12; 6. Jeff Helminiak 50:51; 7. Jode Sparks 51:08; 8. Jimmy Love 51:43; 9. Becca Satathite 53:05 (2nd Women’s); 10. Kurt Strausbaugh 54:24; 11. Doug Hogue 55:17; 12. Connie Ferguson 56:12 (3rd Women’s); 13. Sondra Stonecipher 56:25; 14. Morgan Aldridge 56:36; 15. Patty Moran 58:00; 16. Rashele Kimmel 59:35; 17. Haylee Donovan 59:41; 18. Lisa Renken 1:00:01; 19. Kimberly Tornow 1:02:12; 20. Maria Sweppy 1:11:04; 21. Dylan Hogue 1:13:03 (1st Youth); 22. Amy Hogue 1:13:13

Five kilometers

1. Jordan Theisen 23:08 (1st Men’s); 2. Carl Kincaid 25:30 (2nd Men’s); 3. John Paul Dammeyer 28:26 (3rd Men’s, 1st Youth); 4. Jamie Nelson 29:52 ; 5. John Roderick 30:36; 6. Giuliana Houchin 31:56 (1st Women’s); 7. Jane Eveland 32:19 (2nd Women’s); 8. Joseph Dammeyer 32:26; 9. Isabella Dammeyer 32:36 (3rd Women’s, 2nd Youth); 10. Jane Fuerstenau 32:50; 11. Regina Theisen 33:05; 12. Jonathan Dillon 33:13; 13. Maria Dammeyer 35:19; 14. Lanie Hughes 35:23; 15. Samuel Anders 37:55; 16. Julie English 38:00; 17. Melodie Epperheimer 38:01; 18. Emma Clare Dammeyer 38:35 (3rd Youth); 19. Mitch Michaud 38:38; 20. Tyler Morris 39:12; 21. Choron Ryan 39:12; 22. Savannah Lomu 41:25; 23. Isabella Lomu 41:29; 24. Adaline Lomu 41:41; 25. Liliana Lomu 41:43.

26. Angela Lomu 41:50; 27. Daniel Anders 41:52; 28. Nadia Anders 41:52; 29. Lisa Atchley 45:19; 30. Katie Tongue 45:19; 31. Annaleah Karrow 45:19; 32. Madison McDonald 48:56; 33. Dana McDonald 49:00; 34. Landen Showalter 49:11; 35. Jen Showalter 49:12; 36. Ellen Atchley 52:02; 37. Katharine Bramante 52:02; 38. Izzy Dye 52:02; 39. Leah Streich 52:55; 40. Paul Tornow 52:55; 41. Seane Oglesbee 53:25; 42. Chris Marin 53:30; 43. Mindee Morning 53:38; 44. Julia Warwick 1:01:19; 45. Alan Warwick 1:01:19; DNF Shana Butler.