After a multi-year pandemic hiatus, the Food Basket celebrated its 5th annual Turkey Trot 5K on Saturday with picture-perfect conditions at the beautiful Plantation Estate on the grounds of the Fairmont Orchid.
The race was established in 2016 to benefit the Hawaii Island Food Bank whose mission is to end hunger in Hawaii County with all race proceeds going to The Food Basket.
“This is my first year organizing it as last year I was a co-organizer, and previous to that I was just a volunteer,” said Celeste Tremblay, who is the Director of Catering and Conference Services for Fairmont Orchid and race director. “All proceeds go to the Food Basket and their mission is to stop hunger on the Big Island. They have two food basket locations, one in Hilo and one in Kona, so we are all here to support the great cause.”
Tremblay added that the last time the race was held in 2019, a total of 89 runners participated. Thirty-minutes before the start of the event, she was already seeing that it was going to be a larger turnout.
“We are still anticipating to get more walk-ins,” Tremblay said as participants continued to stroll onto the grassy lawn to register for the 5K and Keiki Trot. “We were really starting to gain momentum in 2019 and unfortunately COVID put us a little back, but we are also working with JTL timing. We are going to make sure that we are a little ahead of ourselves next year getting the race dates out and the website up earlier, just encouraging the runners that want to train and want to get the Trot on their calendar.”
Along with a mouth-watering, post-race buffet waiting for participants at the finish line from sponsors Ocean Vodka, Suisan, and Hawaiian Coffee, up for grabs were two grand prizes sponsored by Alaska Airlines for a round-trip fare valued at $1400. Race organizers announced that the grand prizes would be awarded to the top male and female finishers.
The 5K race started fast and furious with California’s Mark Ofosu, Holualoa’s Laura and Adam Ankrum, and Clair McGowan from Bend, Oregon charging to the front. The paved 5K course of undulating hills witnessed Ofosu take early command of the race with a hard-fought battle between Laura Ankrum and McGowan for second place developing behind.
In the end, Ofosu crossed the finish line in first in a time of 18 minutes and 36 seconds to claim his first Food Basket Turkey Trot win.
“I’m here on a vacation with my family and funny enough, I only heard of it last night so I only had 12-hours to prepare,” said Ofosu. “I thought it sounded fun so after contemplating whether or not to do it, I decided to because I am training for a marathon and I was scheduled for a 50-minute run today.”
The 30-year old said he is gearing for the upcoming California International Marathon scheduled for December 4th, and also competes with the National Ghana Triathlon Team.
“I am originally from Ghana and I am an elite triathlete from Ghana. I do sprint and Olympic distance,” he said. “(The course) was nice. I like the rolling terrain, so you push a little bit but then you get to rest on the descents. I can do faster, but I’m training for a marathon so I didn’t want to push it.”
Second overall and first in the women’s division was Claire McGowan from Bend, Oregon who finished in a speedy time of 19:12. Like Ofosu, the 42-year old mother of three boys happened to be on vacation with her family when she found out about the Food Basket’s Turkey Trot.
“We have a place down the street and have been looking for a Turkey Trot as we have done our own DIY Turkey Trot the last couple of years during COVID,” McGowan said.
“I am a triathlete and running is my first love. I have done all distances, but in most recent years it’s been half-Ironman distances.
“It was super fun! The gal (Laura Ankrum) who finished second took it out harder so I just hung behind her for the first mile or so and then took over.”
Finishing in third overall and in second place for the women’s division was Ankrum in a time of 19:31. Katie Lubbe from Spokane, Washington, rounded out the women’s top three in 19:58.
Following Ofosu in the men’s division were Adam Ankrum (20:05) and Gunnar Hillert (20:21).
Tremblay would like to see the event grow in the years to come.
“The more the participants we have the more money we can raise for the Food Basket. So, the more people we have out here and the more publicity we get then we are being able to create more awareness for such a great cause.”
If you have never done the Food Basket’s Turkey Trot 5K at the Fairmont Orchid, then be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s event. The Turkey Trot also happened to be my first running event in nearly three years and it certainly did not disappoint.
From the moment I stepped foot onto the beautifully manicured grounds of the Fairmont Orchid till the time I left with a belly full of delicious fruit, sweet Danish pastries, and Hawaiian coffee, I couldn’t help but think what a wonderfully organized event it was and a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some quality family time. The best part? It was all for a good cause — the Hawaii Island’s Food Basket!
