BRANDON — On a crisp, chilly Thanksgiving morning, 65 brave and energetic souls met early at Brandon’s Neshobe Golf Course to run and/or walk in the town recreation department’s revived the Neshobe Pie Gobbler Fun Run & Walk. Over the 5K course, which followed the golf cart tracks over hill and dale, the hardy crew were intent on earning the calories they were sure to consume later in the day with family and friends.
With temps hovering in the high 20s at 8 a.m., the gun sounded and off dashed at least some of the runners of all ages — the youngest was 9 and the oldest, 84.
Abigail Bradish of Rutland was the female winner of the day. Photo by Sue Hoxie
For prizes, the Rec. Department had a dozen pies donated by local residents and businesses. The first male and female won pies, and then every sixth runner thereafter won a pie. There was some fun juggling the pies and prizes at the finish line.
The winning male was Jonah Yaffe, 19, of Dallas, Texas. (The family has a second home in Brandon). The race was self-timed, and he finished in about 17:00.
The winning female was Abigail Bradish, 27, Rutland, who finished in 23:49 (also self-timed.)
Jonah Yaffe of Dallas was the male winner. Photo by Sue Hoxie
Race Director Sue Hoxie said the majority of the runners were locals, but said there “was also our family from Texas and a few runners from Maine, Georgia, Maryland and New York.”
As for next year, take notice: the town’s Turkey Day Fun Run is not only a great way to start your Thanksgiving holiday, but makes all that turkey and stuffing taste that much better later on.
