By the time some of the late arrivals and walkers crossed the starting line at the 18th annual Thundercloud Turkey Trot 5-Miler on Thanksgiving morning, Bernard Manirakiza had already crossed the finish line.
Manirakiza was that fast and there were so many thousands of runners and walkers in the Turkey Trot that the field backed up on Trinity so far that it took more than 30 minutes for everyone to clear the starting line.
By the time they did, Manirakiza had won his second Turkey Trot in 24:33. Also winning her second Turkey Trot title before everyone had even started was Chris Kimbrough who cruised the hilly course in 28:43—30 seconds faster than her last victory here two years ago.
Nobody seemed to mind the jam up at the start as a record field of more than 12,000 runners and walkers and kids participated. Most were content just to get some running room once they crossed the starting line.
Race director Michelle Graham had expected about 11,000 participants which would have topped the previous high, but thousands registered at the last minute at Waterloo Park, pushing the field to an all-time high.
How many? Exact figures weren’t immediately available, but more than 10,000 ran the 5-Miler or the one-mile walk. (Another 1000 kids did the Kids K.) After separating those numbers later in the week, it is likely that the 5-Miler will top 8-9000 which would make it the biggest 5-Mile race in the country.
Biggest or not, the Thundercloud Turkey Trot is definitely one of the best. As Governor Rick Perry said after running, "That’s what Texans are all about. Coming out here and running or walking. It’s a great way to begin the Thanksgiving festivities." (Notice how the Gov—a die-hard Aggie-- didn’t mention anything about the UT-A&M game later in the evening.)
But certainly the football fans in town for the Texas Showdown swelled the the size of the field which took more than two hours to finish.
Because of the game on Thanksgiving night, Turkey Trot organizers had to come up with an entirely new course so as not to impact game preparations. And the new course was a doozy—full of hills--but most runners liked the change.
The hills, particularly those on West Lynn in the second and third miles and the climb back up to the Capitol on 12th Street in the final mile were certainly tough, but what also slowed many in the field were the warm temps and blanket of humidity which made it feel more like mid-September.
"I liked the course," said women’s winner Chris Kimbrough. "It was very hilly, but I liked the ups and downs a lot. Actually, I liked this course more than the other one."
Kimbrough, the top woman in town, had an unexpectedly difficult fight on her hands with Anita Perez of Rockport right from the first mile. Perez, 25, who finished second to Kimbrough in the IBM Uptown Classic 10-K last month, was ready to rumble and hung right with Kimbrough for the first four miles.
"Whenever I looked over," said the 39-year Kimbrough, "she was right there. She’s very good."
As the two women duked it out over the West Lynn hills, Kimbrough got a little gap. Finally, in the difficult fourth mile, along 12th Street, Perez fell back a bit more and was unable to close on Kimbrough on the run-in past the Capitol and to the downhill finish on Trinity.
Kimbrough’s winning time was 14 seconds faster than Perez’ second-place finish of 28:57. Coming in third, was 39-year-old Anne Irving who ran 29:03. Fourth was Cassie Henkiel, 38, in 30:02 and fifth was another 38-year-old—Shannon Presley—who ran 30:42.
First masters woman was 40-year-old Anne Ekern of Houston who motored to a 33:16. Becky Wells, 43, was second in 35:01 and Hannah Gordon was third in 35:58.
Joyce Prusaitis, 52, led the mature gals in 37:02 with 53-year-old Mary Faria second in 37:52 and Karen MacMurtin cruised to third in 37:59.
Bernard Manirakiza also put it on cruise control. The 29-year-old native of Burundi opened with a 5:07 mile down Trinity (the mile marker might have been long) and then west on 6th Street and only Alex Moore was close.
By the time, Manirakiza reached the West Lynn hills, he was all alone. Trailing in his wake were Moore, Joshua Keena of Pflugerville (and the U.S. Army), Vista Ridge HS stud Zachary Ornelas, Jake Perez of Rockport and triboy Patrick Evoe.
"This is a good course, but it was very warm out there," said Manirakiza after his nearly two-minute victory over Keena who finished second in 26:21. "The other course was hard, but the downhills on this course were better. My time today {24:33} was the same time when I won this race on the old course."
Ornelas, the 17-year-old phenom from Cedar Park, placed third in a super 26:32. Moore hung on for fourth in 26:47, Perez was fifth in 27:03 and Evoe finished sixth in 27:10.
First masters runner of the morning was Sebastian Villalva, 42, who snared 10th place in 27:52, one spot ahead of 46-year-old Travis Russell of Hutto who ran 28:01. Toyman Greg Thomas, 43, was third in 28:44.
First old guy was 52-year-old Mac Allen who nailed it in 30:30 with multisport marvel Tim Terwey second in 30:38 and Sergio Hernandez third in 31:07.
The really old guys were led by 57-year-old John La Claire in 32:56 with John Gonzalez, 56 of Paige, second in 33:16 and Wish, 58 in third in 34:13.
Pacing the 60-64 age group was Judge Jon Wisser, 63. who battled a painful foot injury, to run 36:33. The top 65-year-old was the Man in Black—Dick Wilkowski—who churned out a 36:21.
