Successful 22nd Annual Thunder Chicken Race in Portsmouth

Posted by Cleo Villaflores

on Aug 24, 2014

Portsmouth Thunder Chicken Race

Complete race results at this link, look for your favorite Rotarian!

thttp ://www.millenniumrunning.com/results-2014-thunder-chicken-5k/12814

Photos by Jim Rini, don't miss the extensive slide show at:

http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=6644&jid=60973

The Portsmouth Rotary Club's 22nd annual 5K Thunder Chicken Road Race, held on Saturday, August 23, 2014, was a part of the “Run Portsmouth Road Race" series. The race is held in memory of its founders, Rotarian George Pierce and in the memory of Anna M. & Erminio A. Ricci.

The Thunder Chicken 5K road race has made history, part of the local running scene for over two decades. It has become a way to generate charitable dollars and also promote the Rotary Club of Portsmouth in the Seacoast community.

Rotary 7780 District Governor Lawrence Furbish visited the club on August 14^th, where he told members that he likes to run, bicycle and travel overseas. DG Lawrence signed up for the road race and ran the course to support the club and the community.

In the picture is the race event mascot, the Thunder Chicken, proudly portrayed by George, "the intern" at Secure Planning Inc. Shrek from the Prescott Park Arts Festival’s summer series also came for some of our younger audience members. (DG Lawrence is in the middle, in case that wasn’t clear).

The crowd was anxious for the race to begin as they gathered with their friends and family. As one runner noted, “there is a feeling you get from the run where it is just you and the pavement – it’s like no other. We have stood the test of time and want to set a foundation for the many years to come.” And then…they were off!

Our Thunder Chicken visited the club’s meeting with his costume, and then worked valiantly to cross the road and get to the other side. He is definitely part of the team and perhaps a great future Rotarian. The suit was hot but he kept on going, cheering on the crowd and the runners! Great job George!

There’s no doubt it was a great day…and a fun time was had, by all.

Above: Portsmouth Rotary honorary member Karen Pierce, wife of the late George Pierce, models last year’s t-shirt, with club director John Rice.

Race results:

Winner was Jesse Young, 24, of Rochester in 16:17. Durham's Bobby McDonough, 21 (17:49) was a distant second. Young has won four of the last five Thunder Chicken Road Races. He finished second to Marshwood High's Colby Nixon last year…Laura Buchanan, 30, Melrose, Mass., was the women's winner in 19:35 (fifth overall)…Last year's winner Melissa Murray, 19, Newfields, was second in 19:56.

Complete results here:

http://www.millenniumrunning.com/results-2014-thunder-chicken-5k/12814

Our total runner finishers was 245. Fortunately, fundraising exceeded our expectations, with an interim total of $13,375! That's the most our race has raised. The race signage, water stop and mile markers were a new addition. We also brought in local sponsors and Introduced them to Rotary. The Portsmouth Herald provided us coverage and press to our race and the Rotary Club.

We also had a new chicken costume and there were refreshments from the Juicery, fresh fruit from the Kitchen and bread from When Pigs Fly. We also had our hats! The word was everyone loved them. We are looking forward to making 2015 even bigger and better!!