Marysville fun run: 100-yard dash with 1 big bird
Published 11:46 pm Saturday, November 17, 2007
MARYSVILLE — Roxanne Trocino, 17, didn’t think she’d have any trouble running in a turkey suit.
On Saturday, she ran her fake-feathered tail off as she was chased by hordes of energetic children.
Roughly 30 kids braved the rain at Jennings Memorial Park for the Turkey Chase Fun Run, an event sponsored by Marysville Parks and Recreation.
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade took turns chasing down Trocino — a former cross-country athlete — on a course marked by flag tape and orange cones.
When the races were over, some of the kids finished a little winded. However, it was Trocino who playfully collapsed on the wet grass still wearing her large turkey suit.
“I think the kids really enjoyed it, and I think the fact the costume caught me off guard and slowed me down made them enjoy it even more,” said Trocino, a Marysville High School senior who works for parks and recreation.
After the races, a raffle was held with prizes of 10 frozen chickens and two frozen turkeys. Among the children who won a bird was 9-year-old Brianna Lawson of Marysville. Her brother, Derek Lawson, 7, also ran in the turkey chase.
“I felt like I was going to die out there,” Brianna said of the race.
The shortest race during the event was a 100-yard dash for kindergarten students. The longest race, for fourth- and fifth-graders, stretched three laps around the grassy field.
Trocino started out running hard, but she eased up as her heavy costume took its toll. Family and friends standing alongside the course cheered every time a child passed the jogging turkey.
“The kids were great,” Trocino said. “I actually thought if the kids were going to pass me up, they’d make a big deal about it, or pass me and tackle me. The first girl who passed me was really nice about it.”
When one child fell far behind, Trocino stopped and ruffled her fake feathers to give him a chance to catch up.
“Overall, it was a good and exhausting experience,” she said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
