Chase the Turkey 5.5 Mile Mountain Run

Cold temperatures and clear skies greeted the participants of the annual Thanksgiving Day run 
that traverses an out and back course from the Claypool Hill Mall to the Tazewell County Airport 
and back to the Mall.
 
Before runners feasted on turkey and the trimmings, they were treated to a healthy portion of 
breathtaking scenery that traverses one of the toughest climbs in the Richlands area. 

Local Richlands resident and current University of Tennessee doctorial student Patrick Carmody 
charged out to an early lead and steadily distanced himself from the second place finisher, Josh 
Hess.  Hess, a local resident as well, is completing his Aerospace Engineering degree at Virginia 
Tech.  The third place finisher was Brad Thayer, veteran marathon runner and local teacher of 
ROTC at Richlands High School. 

Carmody’s time was 42:31; Hess finished at 46:01 and Thayer ran 52:17.