There were 187 registered turkey trotters who toed the line for the 31st annual Pinedale Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. The temperature was 17 degrees at the start of the race with no wind. It was a “bluebird day” with the snowcapped Wind River Range serving up a beautiful backdrop to our original 3-mile, over the river and through the woods, course. The warming fires were still a big hit! Ellen Sheppard oversaw the hospitality garage, where she had plenty of warm coffee and cold water ready for the earlybirds.

As usual, there were all types of exercisers participating. We had participants from 8-month-old Otto Troegle to two trotters in their 70s. We had bikers, a stride bike, walkers, runners, run/walkers, trotters and baby strollers. There were people from five different states and 10 towns or cities in Wyoming. Brian Smyth came all the way from San Francisco and Tom Smyth arrived from San Jose.
There were also plenty of dogs around to help pull their owners through the course. Due to so many dogs involved, we added a new division to our awards. Sarge (Anderson’s dog) was the first dog through the course, pulling Lars along in 27:09. If we added the canines to our list of participants, we would have over 220 involved.

Even though this is a fun run/walk, we would like to recognize a few individuals. Kris Holmes of Pinedale came in first with a time of 20:12, followed by Martin Werbelow in 21:42. Jordan Quig, from Saratoga, won the women’s division for the second year in a row with a time of 21:42. Sara Domek followed her with a time of 25:27. Nine-year-old Nathan Anderson, on a bicycle, rode the course in a remarkable time of 26:00. Gavin Bohnet was the first school-aged runner to cross the finish line, with a time of 27:09. All of our hardy participants are winners for getting out and getting some exercise on such a perfect Pinedale morning.
The walking division is the hardest one to judge on whether they walked the entire course or ran and walked it and it is the largest division. Again this year, the first true walker to cross the finish line was Karen Stewart in 41:37.
This year there were a lot of school-aged participants. It is so good to see so many out doing physical activity. Many were in strollers when they first participated in this trot. Maybe someday they will be named as the winner of the Pinedale Turkey Trot. If not, just being out and pushing their limits on a beautiful Pinedale morning will be a great Thanksgiving memory.
I know there are many names not mentioned in this article, but it is fun to see so many friends, families, school alumni, former band students and visitors gathering to take in the beautiful scenery and fresh air of Pinedale. Thanks go out to the Pinedale schools for use of their tables, bull horn and cones, Pinedale Half Marathon for use of their timer and to the Pinedale newspapers and Pinedale Online for advertising. Even though Kirk Thomas of Salt Lake could not participate this year, he stopped by the weekend before and donated his special coffee for the participants to enjoy. I especially need to thank my wife, Ellen, for putting up with my many passions, of which one is hosting the Pinedale Turkey Trot.
This was the 31st running of the Pinedale Turkey Trot and with all the favorable comments, it seems to have developed into a great annual tradition for the Pinedale community and their Thanksgiving guests. Don’t forget — it is never too late to get in shape for the 32nd Annual Pinedale Turkey Trot, which will be held Thanksgiving morning 2023 at the Sheppards’ house at 9 a.m. See you then!