Nearly 1,000 runners race the turkey Saturday at Crystal Beach 5K
October 12, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Tom D. Turkey outran 615 competitors at the Crystal Beach 5K on Saturday, but 80 runners beat the costumed bird and won an extra prize.
Tom D. Turkey of Pelham crosses the finish line in 21 minutes and 40 seconds, a time only 80 runners beat to win the race’s Beat the Turkey prize. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie RadioCo-organizer Phil Smith said nearly 1,000 people took part in the 5K and kids race this year, up from more than 600 last year, a record for the Thanksgiving weekend race he co-founded to bring visitors to Crystal Beach after the summer tourism season.
“I’ve always said to myself, if we really did this right, if we really started early and executed all the ideas we had, we might be able to get this thing to 1,000,” Smith told Fort Erie Radio after running the 5K with his family. “It seemed like a pipe dream, but we did a lot of those things and here we are.”
Rob Lapensee of St. Catharines, who won the Crystal Beach 5K in 2015, and Thorold’s Landon Schoonings, a runner more than 30 years his junior, finish three seconds apart at 15th and 16th place respectively. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie RadioThe race committee asked each runner and walker to bring a non-perishable food item for Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE) intended to help residents who rely on it this Thanksgiving.
Logan Martineau, the 2017, 2022 and 2024 champion, won his fourth Crystal Beach 5K title with a time of 15 minutes and 32 seconds–more than any other runner in the race’s history. Fort Erie’s Chloe Nolet was the first woman to cross the finish line, in 19 minutes and 18 seconds.
Chloe Nolet of Fort Erie finishes first out of 398 women who participated in the Crystal Beach 5K. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie Radio“The bulk of our participants are not the elite runners,” Smith said. “They’re here to have fun, they’re here to get outside, they’re here to spend a holiday weekend with their friends.”
In September, Smith told Fort Erie Radio more people over 70 were entering the race, so runners 70 and older would be split into smaller age groups this year and more of them could win awards.
Thorold’s Liam Boucher and Welland’s Alain Deschamps catch their breath with Alex McEachern of Kitchener behind them after the three finished within one second of each other. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie RadioFour generations of one family have run the race, Smith said, and many participants grew up running it every Thanksgiving weekend.
Smith said he wants to keep growing the race until it attracts runners from across the province.
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About The Author
Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
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