Thanksgiving event benefits regional food pantries
By Jason Arndt
Editor
Running is a privilege for Burlington native Cory Harris.
Harris, who ran track and cross country during his Burlington High School days, nearly lost his favorite recreational pastime 15 years ago when he experienced a serious injury stemming from an accident involving a semi-truck while commuting from Marquette University.
However, despite the initial prognosis from doctors stating he wouldn’t run again, Harris underwent physical therapy and soon regained his passion.
Since then, Harris, now of Gurnee, Illinois, has ran in multiple national, regional and local races, including the Burlington Turkey Trot 5K run/walk presented by Thrivent Financial and Love, Inc. on Thanksgiving and finished in first place for the first time in several tries.
Harris was one of 1,146 total competitors who showed up to set a new attendance record for the Burlington Turkey Trot. He flexed his muscles as he crossed the finish line with a registered time of 16 minutes, 10.4 seconds.
“I am just turning 36 this year and this is my first time winning it,” said Harris. “It is just awesome.”
Harris, a 2007 Burlington High School graduate, has been an annual participant of the Turkey Trot since the event began.
Although he lives in Illinois, Harris always feels compelled to come out for the event, especially since he is already in Burlington for Thanksgiving with his family.
“Burlington is always something that is special to me. I walked through these hallways, I ran through the streets, so it always brings back memories of when I was a kid,” Harris said. “It is good to see all of the familiar faces, so it makes me feel like a kid again.”
Harris’ journey to win the Burlington Turkey Trot came with severe turbulence.
On Sept. 28, 2009, when Harris was a 21-year-old attending Marquette University, the trailer of a semi truck got whipped into Harris’ car during a high wind advisory and caused several injuries.
At the time, Harris said physicians delivered a sobering prognosis.
“The doctor said I would never be able to run,” he said. “I actually have a steel rod in my left leg and I had to go through physical therapy.
“I am just privileged to be able to run,” Harris added.
Harris also participated in the team race, where his squad called Bad Bois 4 Life finished fourth. The team was comprised of Shane Harris, Zachary Walls, Cord Harris and Shannon Harris.
Kerry Gordon, 28, of West Allis, won the women’s race for the second consecutive year at the Burlington Turkey Trot.
Gordon, originally from upstate New York, where she achieved multiple high school accolades, completed the race in 19:18.2.
She decided to join the Burlington Turkey Trot following positive reviews from her friends.
“My friends ran the Turkey Trot a few years back and they spoke highly of it, so we have been doing it for the past three years,” Gordon said. “It is just a great Turkey Trot. It is super fun and has great community support.”
Gordon, like Harris, also participated in the team race, with her team dubbed Jelly Filled Joggers winning the competition.
Gordon’s teammates included Peter Morris, Grady Morris, Garrett Patterson, Nate Hecker, Joey Heinrichs, Neil Rasmussen, Julie Heinrichs, Ted Shue, Don Schoberg and Catherine Schafer.
The team competition calculates the top three times.
Community collaboration
Race coordinator Jen Grimme, of Thrivent, said Burlington Turkey Trot proceeds benefited Love, Inc., the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank along with the Sharing Center, of Trevor, in Kenosha County.
Grimme, meanwhile, noted the annual event saw record attendance for 2024.
“We had 1,178 participants registered and 1,146 showed up, so we had 97% come, which is pretty amazing. Every year, we keep growing and growing and this is a record.”
Grimme believes the growing popularity is largely attributed to word of mouth, community amenities, and families simply seeking a new tradition on Thanksgiving.
“I think the trails are amazing going through Burlington,” she said. “It is just a great location for it because we have the space.”
The Burlington Turkey Trot received support from several business sponsors spanning multiple counties including Archives Bar and Grill, Astec, Bubba’s Brickyard, Burlington Family Chiropractic, Burn Boot Camp, Daniels Family Funeral Homes, DM Ketterhagen Builders, Echo Lake Foods, Fait Companies, Faust Investments, H.J. Faust, Inc., Kokodynski D.D.S, Lake Geneva Country Meats, Lavelle Industries, Lynch and Associates, Lynch Family of Dealerships, Maas and Sons, Napoli Restaurant and Pizzeria, Shannon Souther from Shorewest Realtors, and the Runaway Micropub and Nanobrewery.
Grimme commended all sponsors for their willingness to support a worthy cause.
“They just want to support the community and come together,” Grimme said.
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