Essex Turkey Trot 5K

The Essex Turkey Trot was a well known tough 8K on the North Shore for a number of years. Woodman’s was the famous home base yards away fromthe start and finish. Hot clam chowder awaits all finishers. The course changed to a 5K last year and retained the tough hills of Apple Street. I signed up during the week with thoughts that I could win my age group and get a turkey. The pressure was on as we did not buy one this week with Thanksgiving this coming Thursday.

I have some history here. Still have some 100% long sleeve cotton tees in storage. I won this race at least four times since 1996 (my college days). A couple of 2^nd place races in there too. I had to go deep into the archives to find the last time I ran the course: 9 years ago in 2009, taking 2^nd, 27:27 (8K then) where Patrick won in 26:03. Paul Young ran 29:44. My last win was 19 years ago in 1999, I think it was a touch shorter than an 8K, with a time of 26:10. Joe Shairs ran 26:46 for 2^nd. 

Gearing up

With the eventual winner Dan O’Flynn long gone after the start today, 2^nd place was up to Rebecca O’Hanley of Rockport (2:58at the Maine Marathon this year) and I. I did not catch up to her until after the mile, climbing the hills. She was tough. I could barely get by on the downhills on the 2^nd half of the race. I had a step lead on her exiting Apple Street. She caught me once it flattened out and we were "all in" for the last 800 meters before I got a step into the driveway finish line edging Rebecca by 2 seconds. 19:36 and 2^nd place. Dan won the race breaking the course record by a minute in 17:37. I ran a half mile back to Woodman’s with Greg Rich and Rebecca.

Some warm clothes, two cups of clam chowder later, I was given a 21lb turkey for winning my age group. I ended up trading down to a 18lb bird with another age group winners. Krissy and I got a treat as we were leaving Essex. I stopped by a house where I saw a 1983 Jetta several months ago when running with Nick Taormina. I  got lucky and met Pete the owner. He saw mine out front and we caught up on similar stories of rescuing these Volkswagens from the 80's. Hope to see more of his car next Spring as ours are going away into storage for the winter.

**editors note** I forgot to mention that GPS measurements were consistent from 3.28 to 3.3 miles on this one from several runners. I measured 3.29. Mile splits were 5:59, 6:05, 5:58, and 5:27 pace for the last 0.29. This created a lot of discussion once runners finished or were sour on the slow pace on the results that were posted at Woodman's.

Splits and course map. Start and finish are about 0.30 miles apart.

Shows the elevation and my pacing throughout the course

2018 Essex Turkey Trot Race Results

		1	1	MOPEN	17:37	5:41	Dan	O'Flynn	24	M	Ipswich	MA
		2	1	M4049	19:36	6:19	James	Pawlicki	44	M	Lynn	MA
		3	1	FOPEN	19:38	6:20	Rebecca	O'Hanley	28	F	Rockport	MA
		4	1	M1519	19:54	6:25	Elias	Heanue	15	M	Manchester	MA
		5	2	M4049	20:02	6:27	Jay	Frontierro	44	M	Hamilton	MA
		6	1	M6069	20:17	6:32	Matthew	Curran	61	M	Gloucester	MA

21lbs was too heavy