Turkey Trot raises more than $700 through the efforts of runners, couch potatoes for Alternative Breaks

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Despite the chilling 36 degrees on Sunday, Drew Heuser was determined to finish his first five kilometer race at Turkey Trot 2010.

The Beverly Hills senior said he started a “couch-to-5K” program in September designed to get him off the couch and running a five kilometer race. It was the fifth year the event has run.

“Whether it works out or not, this is the first thing like this I have done,” he said.

Heuser did not have to run the race alone, he had a cohort in friend Tony Popma.

Popma said he ran cross country in high school and that he wanted to run a 5K again.

“It’s been a while since I ran a 5K,” the Kentwood junior said, “so I wanted to get one in.”

He said another motivating factor for running the race was its beneficiary, the Alternative Breaks program.

“My older brother did a couple of them,” Popma said. “I want to, I just haven’t been able to sign up for one yet.”

The race was sponsored by Celani and Fabiano halls and Alternative Breaks, which received $10 per runner.

There were 76 preregistered runners along with several who registered the day of the race, said Alternative Breaks board member Steve Wincent.

“The race was designed for a few reasons, first, to raise money for Alternative Breaks,” the Brooklyn senior said. “Second, to promote physical fitness and also to give people who like to run 5Ks to have the chance to do so.”

Katherine Brown, an Alternative Breaks site leader, said she is glad people are coming to support the program and that she thinks alternative breaks offer something for everyone.

“It gives people the chance to travel and to volunteer all around the country,” the Canton senior said.

She said traveling is her favorite part and that she loves seeing new parts of the country.

Wincent said the bond created between volunteers is the best aspect of an alternative break and if people are interested they should sign up.

“It’s about going to a new location with a group of 12 people total, and learning about issues in different communities,” he said. “The bond you create is amazing, it’s a life-changing experience.”

The finish line

Both Popma and Houser said they finished the race faster than expected.

“It wasn’t too bad, I warmed up about five minutes in, felt really good,” Popma said.

Popma recorded a time of 20 minutes, 9 seconds while Houser finished in 35 minutes and 25 seconds.

“(The race) went well,” Houser said. “I made it all the way through Bellows then ran and walked the rest of the way.”