PINEDALE — A total of 177 registered Turkey Trotters toed the line for the 32nd annual Pinedale Turkey Trot. The temperature was 23 degrees at the start of the race with no wind. It was a beautiful day with light snow falling to bring a festive feel to our original 3-mile over the river and through the woods course. Thus, the warming fires again were a big hit! Ellen Sheppard oversaw the hospitality garage where she had plenty of warm coffee and cold water ready for the early birds.

As usual there were all types of exercisers participating. We had participants from 8-month-old Sean Pearce to 6 trotters in their 70s. We had bikers, walkers, runners, run/walkers, trotters and baby strollers. There were people from 13 different states and eight Wyoming municipalities. There were also plenty of dogs around to help pull their owners through the course. Symon Carpenter and Wyatt Cain needed no help pulling themselves across the finish line on their bikes with times of 15:21 and 15:35, respectively.

Even though this is a fun run/walk, we would like to recognize a few individuals. Mike Lutz of Pinedale came in first in the running division with a fantastic time of 18:07, followed by Pinedale High School junior Madison Antonino with a remarkable time of 20:10. Lean Breaux from Georgia came in third with a time of 21:01, while Jordan Quig of Saratoga came in fourth with a time of 21:33.

The walking division is the hardest one to judge, whether they walked the entire course or ran and walked it, and it is the largest division. Again, this year the first true walkers to finish were Karen and Dan Stewart in 39:12.

This year there were a lot of school-age participants. It is so good to see so many out engaging in 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 Roundup and Pinedale Online for advertising. A special thanks to the Bank of Jackson Hole for posting our event on their marquee. 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 32nd 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 its Thanksgiving guests. Don’t forget it is never too late to get in shape for the 33rd annual Pinedale Turkey Trot which will be held Thanksgiving morning 2024 at the Sheppards’ house at 9 a.m. See you then!