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Saranac Lake

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The 11th annual Saranac Lake Turkey Trot was “without a doubt the biggest” one yet, according to Bitters and Bones co-owner and race organizer Johnny Williams, who counted approximately 500 runners who did the course from Bitters to Casa del Sol and back Thursday morning.

Dan King raises a glass as he takes off on the 11th annual Saranac Lake Turkey Trot on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The race also raised roughly $100,000 for the Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry and the school district’s student needs fund through registrations, a raffle and an auction with tons of gifts from local business owners.

This money will be split 50/50 between the organizations. Williams called both “foundational organizations” and said they provide direct help for locals, keeping people nourished, getting kids winter essentials and helping families recover from fires.

Food is expensive, Williams said. The food pantry ensures everyone has access to it.

The student needs fund provides a wide range of assistance — test preparation, tooth brushes, laundry detergent, winter jackets, boots and hats.

Williams hears the stories of where the money raised goes to and said it’s “incredible.” In the last year, several families have lost their homes to fires. The fund has helped them get new wardrobes, get new essentials and get their lives back together.

Angie Snye, left, and Christielee Geiger smile near the Tupper Lake Train Station during the 12th annual Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot in Tupper Lake. (Provided photo)

“There’s so many things that fortunate individuals take for granted,” he said.

The fund allows teachers and administrators to make sure all kids have what they need, he said.

Williams said it was humbling to see people’s generosity and it cements his pride in his community.

“There are so many local businesses that year after year step up,” Williams said.

Results of the race were not immediately available.

Elizabeth Izzo of Lake Placid smiles as she closes in on the finish line near the Lake Placid Beach House at the 16th annual Adirondack Health 5K Turkey Trot. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

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Lake Placid

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The 16th annual Adirondack Health 5k Turkey Trot was its biggest yet.

Roughly 600 trotters — including about 570 registered participants and 50 youngsters running in the kids’ race — made their way down Main Street and around Mirror Lake. Though chilly temperatures teetered in the low 30s, the top finishers said conditions for a 5K run were just about perfect.

Sam Ash, right, and Micah McCulley race in the 11th annual Saranac Lake Turkey Trot on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The overall winner and the top men’s finisher was Colin Thoman of Portland, Maine. Behind him was Aidan Fay, who graduated from Lake Placid High School last spring and is on the St. Lawrence University men’s cross country team now. The fastest women’s runner was Sarah Jonathan of College Station, Pennsylvania, who finished in third place overall.

Despite bolting across the finish line, Thoman wasn’t done for the day. After taking a 30-second-or-so break, he turned around and jogged back along the course where he met up with his mom, who was also running, and helped to pace her to the finish line. Thoman thought it was an ideal race.

“It was a blast, conditions were perfect and the energy was really good,” he said.

Looking at the forecast, Jonathan thought it might have been a bit chillier, but said things ended up feeling pretty comfortable throughout the course.

The generally flat course began near the Lake Placid Beach House. From there, it headed up Parkside Drive for a bit before runners turned right and made their way down the paved path that runs under the toboggan chute and along the beach. The course turned right onto Mirror Lake Drive, where trotters then ran down toward the Lake Placid public tennis courts and headed back up Parkside Drive.

Finn Dewyea runs in the 12th annual Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot in Tupper Lake. (Provided photo)

This time, the course continued from Parkside onto Main Street as trotters made their way through downtown Lake Placid. From there, the course continued on to Mirror Lake Drive as trotters made their way around the lake clockwise, eventually turning back on to Parkside Drive and to the finish line in front of the Lake Placid Beach House.

Held each Thanksgiving, the event has grown to become a popular tradition in Lake Placid, attracting a wide array of local residents and those visiting the village over the holiday.

The race proceeds will go toward the Fit for Life Scholarship Fund, which provides fitness programming to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it, and the Lake Placid Thrive and Thrift Food Pantry. In addition, several dozen bags of non-perishable food donations from race participants were collected for the food pantry.

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Tupper Lake

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In Tupper Lake, the 12th annual Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot ran again.

Last year, the town of Tupper Lake and the local Kiwanis Club took over the race. The race had been organized by Erin’s family for a decade previously.

Erin, a kindergarten teacher at L.P. Quinn Elementary, died unexpectedly on Sept. 24, 2014. She was 38.

Maureen Shaheen, a friend and colleague, organized the first Turkey Trot two months later to support the family. Erin’s sister Nicole Boyer took over organizing the Turkey Trot with her husband Marcel and father Mike.

The annual race previously funded a $2,500 scholarship award in Erin’s name for a senior graduating from Tupper Lake High School with plans to go into the educational field; an award for an L.P. Quinn Elementary School teacher with $200 for classroom use; a plaque at L.P. Quinn commemorating Erin; the summer reading club; the local Kiwanis Club, which she was a member of; and it keeps “Erin’s Corner” at the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library stocked with books.

Now, the event has been successful enough to keep all these funds sustainable. Mike estimated they’d raised more than $100,000 over the years.

The new organizers now raise money for town events, to put them on and to make sure local children can attend all the ski classes, soccer games and day camps the town offers.

Bob Gerken smiles while running down Lake Placid’s Main Street during the 16th annual Adirondack Health 5K Turkey Trot. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Dakin Henderson races down River Road in the 11th annual Saranac Lake Turkey Trot on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Jon and Vaeda Bigness wave during the 12th annual Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot in Tupper Lake. (Provided photo)

Gianna Fleming, Michelle Pappalardo, Ayden Fleming, Bryce Pappalardo, Charles Pappalardo, Roseanne Fleming and Brooke Pappalardo smile near the start line of the 16th annual Adirondack Health 5K Turkey Trot near the Lake Placid Beach House. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Natalie Miller, Angie Mose and Debbi Schmidt were decked out in turkey plumage for the 11th annual Saranac Lake Turkey Trot on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Samantha Davies runs in the 12th annual Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot in Tupper Lake. (Provided photo)