I’ll be back tomorrow with an exciting (?) Thanksgiving recap (hint- there was an emergency trip to the store!) but since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m joining Marcia as she opens her runfessional.
On this Black Friday, I have to “runfess” that I almost didn’t run my Turkey Trot yesterday. The last few days have been crazy, and by Wednesday I was exhausted. As we crawled into bed on Wednesday night, my husband said “Couldn’t we just sleep in tomorrow?”
It was tempting. I haven’t been doing any speedwork, so it’s not like I was going to crush this race. Why would I voluntarily get up at 5:30 am on a holiday, instead of getting a good night’s sleep?
Then I thought about how I would feel if I didn’t run it. I could roll out of bed mid-morning feeling… groggy and awful. I told my husband we should run, but after the race we would re-evaluate the situation and decide if we want to do it next year.
Thanksgiving morning dawned, hot and muggy! Will it EVER COOL DOWN HERE??? The race started at 7:30, and it was 75 degrees at that time. Ugh! Well, good thing I wasn’t shooting for a PR. I decided to just run and not stress about the heat, or my time, and simply have fun.
Of course there was the obligatory young child dashing past me at the finish, but my favorite was this:
Yes, a guy dressed in a full-body turkey costume beat me. By a lot. I asked him afterwards what his time was- 21 minutes. I give up!
I heard someone say there were 1.700 runners at this race. There’s something touching about the fact that all these people- most of whom probably aren’t serious runners- got up early on Thanksgiving to be there. As we were walking back to the car afterwards my husband said “Well? Are we running it next year?” Oh…. I guess so.
Did you run a race yesterday? – I may not have had the fastest time, but I think we won for “hottest Thanksgiving ever.”
#nablopomo2022
37 Responses
That is one great turkey costume and kudos to you for getting up and at it! We actually had gorgeously mild trotting weather this year, which almost never happens.
Yeah, that guy deserves a lot of credit! It makes the race more fun to have people dress up like that.
Those kids are definitely speedy! Unfortunately I can’t do turkey trots because they’re running about the time we’re leaving to hit the road. Maybe it is fortunate? It is nice to relax a bit, not gonna lie.
I think it’s great that your husband also runs it! my husband hasn’t never even seen a turkey trot — there was a short period, when I hosted Thanksgiving, LOL, when I did run them.
Yes, it definitely makes it more fun that my husband and I do it together.
There were over 6000 at my race. But most did the 5k. I ran the 10k because it was earlier. Yes I got up at 5:30. Felt like crap but I’m happy I did it. My time might have been a pw for this race. But I had fun. That’s more important and a great way to start the day.
Yes, it really was a great way to start the day.
My TT had over 3500 runners! I’ve done it many times but I’ve never seen it so big. They did a great job with crowd management. My son, his friend, and I ran it together. Being the good rugby players they are, they stayed with me and pushed me to a respectable finish! We had perfect weather so no complaints!
Yes, your race looked really fun! That’s a lot of runners.
Wow – that is a lot of “trotters.”
I really appreciate how you thought ahead to “future Jenny” and how she’d feel about having skipped the race. I’m glad you did it and it sounds like it was a great time.
When I read the first line of your post I saw the word emergency and my heart started racing a bit. My mind automatically filled things in as the “emergency room.” Thankfully, I re-read the sentence quickly enough to realize it was a food emergency, not a medical one. Phew.
Looking forward to hearing more about your Thanksgiving.
Yes, maybe “emergency” was a bit strong. But I think my family would consider the lack of cranberry sauce an emergency.
That is some turkey costume! Especially in 75 degrees – yikes!
Nice that your husband ran with you.
Yes, I can’t get my kids to run with me, but it is nice that my husband does.
LOL same thing happened to me one year w the guy in the turkey suit and he was pushing a stroller! LOL hope you had fun anyway
Ha ha… even better. There were plenty of stroller pushers who beat me as well.
Hah! I’ve never done a turkey trot because I’m always getting an early start on the cooking (that pie, you know), but it does sound like fun — especially if people dress up for it.
Yes, it’s definitely a festive atmosphere!
They told me the Des Moines trot usually sells out, and they cap it at 6500 (I think). Our local Trot had over 100 people, but it’s hard to get an accurate headcount with all the busyness of it. Yes, it’s ALWAYS so nice to see all the people who willingly bypass a sleep-in to come out and trot with us! I love the “huffin’ & puffin’ for that gravy and stuffin’ “;-)
Yes, the shirt had a good motto this year- last year it was something like “running the race before stuffing my face.” I didn’t like that one as much.
21 minutes! For that, I need a track, tailwind and cool weather. I’m sure that guy can usually run it in 17 minutes or something ridiculous like that. Amazing!
Well done for getting out of bed! Kai has a half-marathon tomorrow for which we need to get up at 4am. It starts at 5.50am in another town. Runners are crazy.
Yes, my kids would agree with that- runners are crazy.
I’ve never done a turkey trot, so I admire you for sticking to your plan and getting up early to do it! Nicely done. Your perseverance is admirable!
Thank you!
I love a good Turkey Trot! One year I registered for Big Deal Big City race an hour away from home and when I got up that morning I was just like “nah”. Between the distance and the cold it just wasn’t worth it in the moment. After that I did a much closer race and it was always a blast.
Well, I didn’t have distance or cold as an excuse. So I did it.
Good job doing the race, even with the peer pressure from your husband, haha. It must have been so tempting to sleep in!
I am not a fan of how hot it’s been lately, especially after a nice week of cooler weather. I wore shorts and a tank top today. In late November! Unacceptable.
Yes, and I’m surprised it’s that hot where you are- you’re a little farther north than us. But not much.
I love that there is a guy in a turkey costume. I had a friend who ran a few races at Disneyworld – can’t remember what – and she and her daughter dressed up as Disney princesses for the run!
I’m very impressed by these people who wear elaborate costumes. I doubt I’ll ever do it, but it looks fun.
I love that costume! San Francisco has a race each year in May that is cold ‘Bay to Breakers’ and a lot of people are dressed up. I never went but saw so many pictures online – it seems like fun. Your post makes me want to check out what is available in our area next year. I am not much of a runner but I can manage 5k. Maybe convince the family to join me? We will see.
Meike, you could definitely do it. There are people who walk the whole thing. I think it would be fun for you to do it with your family!
Nice work! I also did a race – a 10k drumstick dash. There was also a 5k and a kids 1 mile run. The 10k was capped at 850 and sold out. It was at 8 and was super close to my house so I did not have to get up early. But we do not have to worry about the heat here. 😉 It was a really nice morning for Minnesota – in the low 30s!
Well, I’m impressed that you chose the 10K option! Ours only had a 5K.
The people that run in costume always impress me. My husband was happy that he just beat the guy in the suit at the Chicago marathon this year.
Ha ha, well that’s good! I wonder if he would be mad to get beaten by someone in a turkey costume.
I am sorry to say I had to laugh hearing that turkey beat you in the race. For me you are an excellent athlete so what was his deal? did he. start 200 meters before the end? Or is he an olympian in disguise? Anyway you can be proud doing a run in these condition – and at this time of day. Wow.
Ha ha… his wife told me he ran track in college, AHA!
Haha, the costumes are always fun. I am glad you ran. I had the same contemplations the night before Thanksgiving (but didn’t need to leave the house until 7:30) and it was freakin’ cold when I got up, but I am so glad I ran. It was a good race. 🙂