The YMCA's Turkey Trot 5K served up another record for participation this year as more than 3,700 runners took to the streets in Briargate on Thursday.
Joe Driskell, the executive director at the Briargate YMCA, stayed busy herding runners here and there, but managed to spare a minute to talk about the big turnout.
"Right now I think we have somewhere between 3,790 and 3,800," he said. "That's a jump of 700. We're really surprised."
The runners enjoyed a new course that followed wide Briargate Parkway. Driskell said the course, which is certified by USA Track and Field, was probably the reason for the increase in participation.
The weather helped, as well, with temperatures in the 30s and splashes of sunshine spreading from the high plains to Pikes Peak.
Vegard Olstad, a Western State College runner who recently finished second in the NCCA Division II Cross Country Championships, won the race with a time of 15 minutes, 29 seconds. Shannon Payne, who runs for the Boulder Running Company/Adidas team, captured the top spot in the women's race in 18:08. It was Payne's second win in the Turkey Trot. She was the champion in 2011.