Trot Article

Champions Are Thankful at Oceanside Turkey Trot

OCEANSIDE, CA, November 27, 2008 - The champions, as well as the rest of the record field of more than 4,100, had plenty to be thankful about as heavy rains avoided downtown Oceanside long enough to allow the third annual Oceanside Turkey Trot to go off in ideal Southern California conditions.

Many in the holiday races that help support the Move Your Feet Before Your Eat Foundation, came dressed in costume, including two entrants who maneuvered a 12-foot long slice of pumpkin pie around the course. But the race also had more than its share of fast runners.

With ideal running prevailing despite heavy rains in nearby towns, fast times were needed to win the day's feature race - the Local's Only 5K Run/Walk.

Steve Albanese, a volunteer cross country coach at nearby Vista High School, broke away late in the race to win in 16:00, seven seconds ahead of David Kloz and another second better than third-place Jeffrey Wilson. All three are Oceanside residents.

"I'm thankful for the running community here," said Albanese, who recently moved to Southern California from Chicago. "They are like a second family to me, and there were a lot of runners from Vista in the field, along with another volunteer coach, and I was glad to show them how it's done."

The Locals Only 5K champion was Jessica Sandoval, who ran for Oceanside High School as a prep and recently completed her collegiate cross country season at nearby Cal State San Marcos. Her time of 17:56 was 11 seconds faster than her time here last year and more than two minutes better than runner-up Kelly Bieraugel of Alexandria, Virginia.

Winning the wheelchair title was a beaming Sandra Rush.

"I'm thankful that I can just do this ... have this chance to compete," said Rush, who has been in her chair for 22 years.

The rest of the article here.