Winter weather greets runners on Thanksgiving morning

POLSON - Only the hardiest Montanans made it out to the Polson Running Club's third annual Turkey Trot 5K last Thursday amid the falling snow for an event perhaps more suited for skis than sneakers.

With 73 run-ners registered, less than that actually toed the line Thanksgiving Day.

"I think the cold weather really affected our turnout today," race organizer Tyana Smith said. "We had some true die-hards come out and newbies who didn't let the cold keep them inside."

The event was in support of the local food bank, Polson Loaves and Fishes, and according to Smith's calculations, $503 were raised on its behalf. Many people even contributed on top of their entry fee. What's more, since the Town Pump is matching donations this month, the food bank will receive an additional $500.

Taking off from the Century 21 building on US Highway 35, this year's course headed east along the bike path and turned into Mission Bay.

"The response about the new course was really positive," Smith said.

Leading the way with rosy cheeks and frozen hair were two boys used to running at the head of the pack. Jimmy Bjorge and Alex Nystrom, two of the top runners for Polson High School's cross country team crossed the finish line side-by-side in 18:52, a pretty impressive outing considering it was a one step forward, two steps back kind of day.

"It's like spinning the tires," Nystrom said of the course's slick condi-tions.

Bjorge, on the other hand, came prepared for the icy stuff, wearing YakTrax traction cleats around his shoes.

"They worked pretty good," he said.

Polson's Deanna McElwee placed first for the women, finishing with her husband, Chris, in a time of 23:49.

"Without a doubt, if the community did not support us we would never have any success," Smith said. "Thank you so much to everyone who braved 2010the cold weather and the snow-packed trail to kick off a great holiday tradition!"

The next Polson Running Club event is the Jingle Bell Jog slated for Jan. 8. Check the website www.polsonrunning.com for a list of scheduled events from now until next No-vember.

"Any event that wants to post is welcome to," Smith said.

TURKEY TROT 2010 RESULTS

1. 18:52 - Alex Nystrom - 16 - Ronan

2. 18:52 - James Bjorge - 16 - Polson

3. 19:24 - Erick Stedje - 22 - Ronan

4. 20:22 - Jon DePuy - 36 - Polson

5. 20:52 - Skyler Perry - 28 - Miles City

6. 20:54 - Dave Lake - Polson

7. 21:47 - Tel Motichka - 14 - Polson

8. 22:07 - Vince River - 49 - Polson

9. 22:23 - Trevor Motichka - 39 - Polson

10. 23:14 - Jean Albertson - 14 - Sandpoint

11. 23:18 - Connor Young - 10 - Polson

12. 23:43 - Bruce Genzel - 27 - Ronan

13. 23:49 - Deanna McElwee - 36 - Polson

14. 23:49 - Chris McElwee - 36 - Polson

15. 25:05 - Carlo Pati - 45 - Sandpoint

16. 25:06 - Wendy Sitter - 37 - Polson

17. 25:06 - Matt Sitter - 11 - Polson

18. 25:10 - Josey Motichka - 12 - Polson

19. 25:49 - Rodney Stedje - 58 - Ronan

20. 25:51 - Les Lundeen - 57 - Polson

21. 26:38 - Nichole Lake - 13 - Polson

22. 27:03 - Russell Smith - 10 - Polson

23. 27:14 - Elijah Richards - 8 - Polson

24. 27:14 - Lois Richards - 37 - Polson

25. 27:15 - Rich Forbis - 55 - Polson

26. 27:25 - Dale Gillespie - Polson

27. 27:33 - Carlos Larios - 37 - Ronan

28. 27:36 - Cindy Templer - Polson

29. 27:38 - Charity Cheff - 36 - Charlo

30. 28:02 - Pat Bristol - 60 - Charlo

31. 28:03 - Pam Owen - 54 - Polson

32. 28:39 - Joelle Traynor - 41 - Spokane

33. 28:45 - Quinn Motichka - 10 - Polson

34. 28:50 - Tristan McClure - 18 - Polson

35. 28:53 - Marcie Motichka - 40 - Polson

36. 30:09 - Suzanne Huguenin - 37 - Sandpoint

37. 30:21 - Sarah Hartsoch - 33 - Polson

38. 30:40 - Jennifer Wyman - 31 - Polson

39. 31:03 - Taryn Harrison - 33 - Polson

40. 33:56 - Davis Smith - 9 - Polson

41. 33:58 - Bob Bristol - 64 - Charlo

42. 34:22 - Adam Smith - 35 - Polson

43. 34:28 - Michael Smith - 7 - Polson

44. 35:50 - Leigh Huffine - 28 - Polson

45. 35:52 - Laurel Torgerson - 58 - Polson

46. 36:03 - Melissa Bahr - 34 - Polson

47. 37:23 - Lynne Tait - 63 - Polson

48. 38:22 - Molly Ricketts - 17 - Polson

49. 38:23 - Bob Ricketts - 57 - Polson

50. 38:34 - Scott Stuart - 56 - Polson

51. 38:50 - Jim Corbett - 64 - Columbia Falls

52. 39:39 - Madison Straub - 8 - Polson

53. 39:41 - Kevin Straub - 36 - Polson

54. 43:57 - Sarah Allred - 25 - Polson

55. 44:36 - Maddie Albertson - Sandpoint

56. 44:37 - Megan Gran - 31 - Polson

57. 44:54 - Ardell Hern - 77 - Polson

58. 45:33 - Madeline Forbis - 23 - Polson

59. 45:43 - Sarah Smith - 41 - Polson

60. 45:45 - MacKenzie Forbis - 20 - Polson

61. 45:52 - Roxanne HovenKotter - 47 - Polson

62. 46:22 - Pattie Ekness - 55 - Polson

63. 46:29 - Ray Ekness - 49 - Polson

64. 47:04 - Jackie Gran - 62 - Polson

65. 54:02 - John Harrity - 58 - Polson

66. 54:05 - Dennis DeVries - 62 - Polson

67. 54:06 - Pat DeVries - 60 - Polson

68. 54:08 - Katherine Orr - 32 - Polson

69. 58:09 - James Bauer - Polson

70. 58:10 - Christie Memmel - 39 - Polson

71. 68:50 - Amy Anderson - 49 - Hot Springs

72. 68:52 - Eion Estill - 8 - Hot Springs

73. 68:54 - Mandy Estill - 37 - Hot Springs