Area runners and walkers had the chance to burn off a few pre-Thanksgiving calories Thursday morning at the Turkey Trot 5K, sponsored by Polson Running.

A total of 154 finishers raised $650 for the Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, a sum that will be matched by the Town Pump’s November donation drive.

“We had such a great turnout for the Turkey Trot,” organizer Tyana Smith said. “The weather was definitely on our side and several participants surpassed the registration fee of $5 and gave generous donations.”

The bargain $5 registration fee is a rarity among running events, but Smith said the group wants to make its races accessible to as many people as they can.

“We appreciate the community’s enthusiasm for these events,” Smith said. “Our goal is to provide fun and fitness for the whole family to enjoy and we definitely accomplished this, with evidence of a group of women serenading the finishers with the theme song from “Chariots of Fire.”

The top finishers were extremely fast. Polson’s Jimmy Bjorge, age 17, came in first with a time of 15:58, followed closely by 16-year-old Paden Alexander, from St. Ignatius, in 16:06. The top female finisher was Jessica Johnson, 30, with a finishing time of 16:58.

“Thank you to everyone who was there and for helping out the food bank this season,” Smith said.

Polson Running’s next race will be a 5K and 10K at our March Meltdown. Check the website www.polsonrunning.com for more information and see www.leaderadvertiser.com for more photos from the event.

Results can be viewed at http://onthebleachers.blogspot.com/2011/11/polson-turkey-trot-5k.html