East County's Robert Larson was asked why he liked volunteering on Thanksgiving morning for the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
"It's great to be alive," he said with a big smile.
Larson said the day before, Nov. 22, was the 35th anniversary of him falling 75 feet off the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
"I was an iron worker," he said. "I was working on a platform, and the plank snapped. I hit wires on the way down, and I landed in a debris net."
While he couldn't run in the event, he was happy he could volunteer at a park he loves.
"I have a plate here," he said, pointing at his shoulder. "And a plate in my neck. And I broke just about everything, all my ribs. It's great to be alive."
He was all smiles as he was about to hand out bananas to runners finishing the race.
He was working with fellow volunteer Kelly Paulina, who drove from her home in Tampa to "give back" to Nathan Benderson Park.
She said she loves watching all the families have a great Thanksgiving morning at the park.
One person having a great time was Donna Krusenoski of the Meadows. She paddles for the all-cancer survivors team at Nathan Benderson Park and wanted to support the park.
"It's such an amazing facility," she said.
She noted that she has run in all six races.
"I have all my medals hanging up at home," she said.
The overall race winner was former Penn State cross country runner Colin Waters in 14:57.
Parks Robinson of Fit2Run, which has managed the race all six of its years, said this year's event set a new record with more than 4,000 runners.
Venice's Adam Pennell celebrates like a pilgrim at the finish line of the Florida Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at Nathan Benderson Park. Pennell, who weighs 215 pounds, says he is thankful he has lost 175 pounds.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sterling Howard of Indianapolis made the most of her Thanksgiving trip to see her grandparents in Lakewood Ranch. The 9-year-old ran the 5K in an impressive 19 minutes.
Photo by Jay Heater
Ellenton 9-year-old Charlie Holleran decided to run the Florida Turkey Trot with a turkey on his head.
Photo by Jay Heater
Former Penn State cross country runner Colin Waters crushes the field to win the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park in 14:57.
Photo by Jay Heater
Colin Waters, a former Penn State cross country runner, cruises past the finish line to win the Florida Turkey Trot in 14:57 on Thanksgiving morning at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
Photo by Jay Heater
An event record 4,000 runners lined up for the start of the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
Photo by Jay Heater
It was still dark when 5-year-old Misha McKee of Palmetto arrived at Nathan Benderson Park to run in the sixth Florida Turkey Trot.
Photo by Jay Heater
Nathan Benderson Park volunteers Kelly Paulina of Tampa and Robert Larson of East County hand out bananas to the runners at the Florida Turkey Trot.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Carol Linker, 80, worked as a volunteer at the Florida Turkey Trot to support Nathan Benderson Park. Why doesn't Linker, who rows at the park, run in the race? "Because I am 80," she said with a laugh.
Photo by Jay Heater
Tallahassee's Zach DeVeau, a former Riverview High runner, poses with his wife, Katie Sherron, after she won the women's division of the Florida Turkey Trot. "I finished second last year," she said. " I didn't want that to happen again."
Photo by Jay Heater
Parks Robinson and his son Blaise (farm right), get ready for the start of the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park. Robinson's Fit2Run has run the race all six of its years.
Photo by Jay Heater
Amelia Rusch and McKenzie Rusch, 16-year-old Braden River High cross country runners, are all business as they finish the last few yards of the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
McKenzie Rusch and Amelia Rusch, 16-year-old Braden River High cross country runners, are all smiles after they finished the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
More than 4,000 medals were awaiting the runners as they crossed the finish line of the Florida Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Runners are stuffed together in the front row as they get ready for the start of the Florida Turkey Trot.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Courtney Rayne and Cindy Weiss wear knitted turkey hats made by Rayne's aunt, Cathy Williams.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Donna Krusenoski has run in all six Florida Turkey Trots at Nathan Benderson Park, but this is the first she ran with a turkey on her head. The day after last year's race, she ordered the hat, along with turkey leg socks.
Photo by Jay Heater
Donna Krusenoski of the Meadows in Sarasota said the runners who dressed up in last year's Florida Turkey Trot were having so much fun she decided to order a turkey hat and turkey leg socks after the race. She wore them this year.
Photo by Jay Heater
Addyson Kurg of Dover, Pennsylvania, dressed for the occasion to run in the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Before the start of the Florida Turkey Trot, four kids races were held for the 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11 age groups.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Alona Prine has a little fun before the start of the 5K on Thanksgiving morning.
Photo by Jay Heater
Runners take their first strides at the start of the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Runners pour out at the start of the sixth annual Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park on Thanksgiving morning.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
