Earlier this year, 55-year-old Greeley resident Augustin Meza wasn’t feeling well.
His daughters and his family took Meza to see doctors, but tests came back clear and the cause of his issues remained elusive.
Finally in the spring, doctors discovered Meza had blockages in three main arteries leading to his heart. He had open-heart surgery in early April, and his daughters said doctors told them there was a 50-50 chance their father would not survive.
Meza survived. And nearly eight months later, he bundled up on Thanksgiving morning with about 2,600 runners and walkers to serve as the honorary starter at the 26th annual NCMC Turkey Trot in Greeley.
The event benefits the Banner Health CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado, which provides cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Meza, who does not speak English, said through his daughters he feels good. He said he was happy to be at the event to see his friends from the institute.
“If not for the help, he doesn’t know where he’d be,” Meza’s daughter Erika said for her father.
Heather Schminke, a quality specialist for the CardioVascular Institute and the turkey trot race director, said they want to raise at least $30,000 for the rehabilitation programs. Schminke said the trot is a “family fun run and walk” that also raises awareness of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
The turkey trot was comprised of a 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) run and a 2K (1.2 mile) fun run and walk, all beginning on 17th Avenue near NCMC and ending on 16th Street in front of the medical center.
In between, the course routes took the runners and walkers first to Glenmere Park with the routes then splitting and the shorter Gobbler Trek heading to 15th Avenue and back to 16th Street. From the park, the runners went to 21st and 22nd avenues, to Reservoir Road east to 14th Avenue and north to 16th Street.
Greeley resident Brett Naber ran the 5K in about 19 minutes and 40 seconds, meeting his goal of completing the race in under 20 minutes. The 45-year-old said he’s participated in the run at least 10 times. He was joined by several family and friends on Thursday.
“It’s a tradition for us,” Naber said. “I try to stay in shape. I see a lot of people I know. Now I’ll watch football and have a beer.”
Sixteen-year-old Eaton resident Clayton Heid ran the NCMC turkey trot for the first time. A member of the Eaton High School cross country and track and field teams, Heid said a friend of his was getting in the race. When Heid’s plans to hunt fell through, he decided to enter.
Heid, a junior at Eaton High, said he finished the 5K in about 19:40 which was well within his goal range. Heid said he hasn’t practiced a lot since the end of cross country season where the races are also 5K distances. He runs the 1-mile and 2-mile for Eaton track.
“I still did good,” Heid said. “This was a really good event and fun with so many people. I enjoyed it a lot.”
