Old and new in windy Turkey Trot

Keith Longuski, left, and Kaylee Heath head to the finish line of yesterday’s 35th Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Run. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

The harsh winds and intermittent showers left over by Tropical Storm Kammuri did not prevent more than 100 runners from participating in the island’s traditional Thanksgiving Day event—the Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Run.

Despite the challenging weather conditions yesterday, 120-plus runners completed the 4.2-mile course from Lower Base to the highest peak on Saipan with three-peat champion Keith Longuski and the debuting Kaylee Heath leading the finishers list. Longuski timed in at 39 minutes to take the men’s overall top honors, while Heath submitted 44:52 to rule the women’s field.

Both winners enjoyed the uphill climb despite the tough race conditions.

“It was a great event, we have a great community out here, and it was just a great way to start off Turkey Day. The challenge, I think for everyone today, was that it was very windy and it was pretty in your face, especially going up those hills. It would be much more fun going down,” Longuski said.

Longuski has participated in five Turkey Trot and won all five. He started in 2014, took a break in 2016 and then resumed in 2017.

“I start preparation usually in August or September, I run to the top of Mt. Tapochao as many times as I can,” he shared.

Heath, who has participated in Turkey Trot her whole life in the U.S. mainland, but debuted in the Saipan event, said that despite the challenge of climbing Mt. Tapochao in the harsh winds, it was a lot of fun.

“The run was challenging, most races I do are flat so this one was hard. I’d say the first three miles were pretty easy for me, like they were challenging, but not too hard, but the last mile was brutal. It was windy and straight uphill; my legs were super heavy,” she said.

“I’ve been doing Turkey Trot since I was little, my whole family runs. From the time I could run, my family would enter me. My brother actually started the Turkey Trot in my hometown so for me it brings me back to when I was a kid and my brother started this really cool tradition with our community in Washington. So it’s more about feeling connected to my family even though I’m so far away from them now,” Heath added.

Meanwhile, Ray Tebuteb, president of the organizing Northern Marianas Athletics, said that they continued the run despite the rough conditions in spirit of healthy living, community, and Thanksgiving. He added that the weather conditions aren’t new at this time of year.

“It was actually clearer today. This isn’t the first time we’ve done this when the weather was like this, it’s expected at this time of year,” Tebuteb said.

In other results, Miao Zhou topped in the girls U12 division, while Peter Peng ruled the boys category.

Ken Song and Anika Snyder prevailed in the U17 division, while Heather Taylor and Charlie Sendin led the finishers in the 30 and over age group. For the 40 and over division, Ayana Braxton and Chris Nelson were the top finishers, while Kimiko McKagan and Jun Hashimoto reigned supreme in the 50 and over category.

Participants and organizers of the 35th Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Run pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the event. (Kimberly A. Bautista)