The annual Turkey Trot, now in its eighth year and sponsored by Anytime Fitness in Glennville, will be held this Saturday, November 9, 2024, with the 1-mile at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K (3.1-mile) at 8 a.m. Get your running shoes ready and have an early morning of exercise while raising money for Promise of Hope-Tattnall, who will be presented the proceeds from the Turkey Trot. Anytime Fitness is a member of the Tattnall Trio owned by Zuber Malek; other businesses are DQ in Glennville and Reidsville and Marco's Pizza in Glennville, with Captain D's in Glennville added over a year ago.
"The runners have a really good time, and this time of the year is usually a little cooler for running. They are a competitive group, however, so the race is entertaining as well," said Malek.
Last year's run provided $2523 in funds for Promise of Hope (POH)-Tattnall, and in 2022, the amount raised was $2022.
Tristan Lynn, age 24, won the 2023 5K race with a time of 18:37.6, and Eli Debevec, age 15, won the 1-mile with 5:40.6, both commendable times. For the females, 15-year-old Macey Higgason was the female winner in both races, with her time of 6:35.6 in the 1-mile and 21:41.2 in the 5K, with this time fourth overall just behind the third-place finisher, Rusty Higgason, her father.
In addition to registration fees for the runners, sponsors help boost the amount for POH, with Hope level of $300, Bleed Purple level of $250, and Running Man level of $200.
This year's Turkey Trot sponsors are as follows:
- Hope level: Armstrong’s Cricket Farm and Botanical Sciences
- Bleed Purple level: Liquor Depot
- Running Man level: GB Bank Group, South Georgia Bank, and Rotary Corporation, as well as several anonymous sponsors.
"We thank these sponsors, several who have consistently served as supporters year after year. They love to run and to help an organization such as Promise of Hope at the same time," said Malek.
In 2022, 14-year-old Cash Driggers of Tarrytown, Georgia, won the 5K race with a time of 19:48.2, followed by 40-year-old Bryan Kenner of Hinesville and a time of 20:33.4; third-place finisher was Reidsville's Eli Debevec, age 14, with his time of 20:49.1. However, Eli had already placed first in the 1-mile run with his time of 6:12.9. The second-place finisher in the 1-mile was 13-year-old Maddy Williams of Reidsville with her time of 6:41.5, also placing first among the females. Josh Williams, age 37, of Reidsville placed third a few seconds behind Williams, with his time of 6:45.9.
In 2020, Mason "Mohawk" Smith of Collins won the 5K Turkey Trot with his time of 18:18.4; Mason also won the 2019 Turkey Trot. Second place finisher was Dylan Dixon of Alma, age 15, with a time of 20:33.2. Third place went to Brendon Scott of Ludowici, with a time of 23:07.9. For the females, 13-year-old Landrie Winship of Glennville placed first with her time of 25:36.8, which also placed her fifth overall.
In the 2020 1-mile race, Dylan Dixon won it with a time of 5:43. Top female winner in the 1-mile was 12-year-old Julia Thompson with a time of 9:22.
In 2020, the Tattnall Kiwanis Club partnered with Anytime Fitness for the fourth annual Turkey Trot, and the registration fee was $25 or bring a gift of a $25 value toy. The Kiwanis Club collected the toys that were donated, and these were placed in their annual "Christmas at Home" project, which provides Christmas presents for local needy children who might not have had a very bright Christmas otherwise.
In the 2019 Turkey Trot, coming in second with a time of 21 minutes after Mason Smith was Jose Becerril, who is now 69 and has placed almost every year at the annual Glennville Sweet Onion Festival run. Justin Thompson, 37, placed third in 2019, with a time of under 22 minutes. The first female in the 5K that year was Abigail Brown, age 29, with her time of 26.32.
In 2018, with its name that year of Glow in the Dark Turkey Trot 5K, 26-year-old Kristopher Harper placed first with a time of 19:14.4; Nir Patel, age 15, came in second with a time of 27:32.3; and Paul Peterson, 23, was third place winner with a time of 27:51.2. For the females, 39-year-old Michelle Meadows placed first with her time of 28:11.4.
In 2017, Doug Firely, age 32, was the overall 5K winner with a time of 22:17.1. Garret Sydnor, age 16, placed second with a time of 23:53.3. Third place went to Thomas DeLoach, 15, and a time of 26:06.3. For the females, Michelle Meadows was first with her time of 28:15.9. Ashleigh Holland was behind her in second place and a time of 29:29.7. A few seconds later, Katie Durrence, age 23, placed third.
The 2017 race was the first Turkey Trot race sponsored by Anytime Fitness-Glennville, and the entry fee that first year was an unopened, unwrapped toy, valued at $20, for a boy or girl. The toys that year were donated to the Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce for their Christmas at Home project for needy families, which, in recent years, has been adopted by the dynamic Tattnall Kiwanis Club.
"We have many good memories during these past seven years and hope to have many more. This is a season of thankfulness and giving. We just weathered Hurricane Helene that devastated other areas. However, Tattnall sustained extensive tree and roof and home damage, but no loss of life that has occurred elsewhere. Thanks are extended to our previous runners, and we look forward to a banner year in 2024," said Malek, who is always responsive to needs in the communities he serves.
"Come turkey trot with us this Saturday in Glennville," said Malek. Runners meet at the parking lot of Anytime Fitness-Glennville. Call 912-822-1348 for more information or register online at runsignup.com.
