Turkey Trot with Friends

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! A quick update on this morning’s turkey trot and then I’m off to spend time with family and feast.

I awoke to cold, gray, drizzle – not the most fun race weather. I ate my standard pre-run breakfast of almond butter and banana on toast with black coffee and then headed out to meet up with these girls pre-race.

Kelly, Nicole and Jen were also running the turkey trot. Races are so much more fun with friends! We chatted and whined about how cold it was for a bit and then it was time to line up. The starting area was pretty chaotic (there were around 8,000 participants total for today’s races) but we wiggled our way up towards the front. The next thing we knew the gun went off and it was time to run.

My goal for this race (it was an 8K, that’s 4.98 miles) was to maintain an 8:45 pace. Well…

I totally exceeded my own expectations! I maintained an average 8:00 pace for the duration of the race. I knocked out mile one in around 7:45 and thought to myself that there was no way I could sustain that pace. Somehow the miles kept ticking by and my legs were still rocking. When I got to the finish line area I realized that I had a shot at breaking 40 minutes. I took off in a full sprint and came in with 4 seconds to spare. I don’t have my chip time yet but hopefully it’s in line with my Garmin time! I will cry if it’s not. 😉

I felt like I was going to be sick for a good 60 seconds after I stopped running but I just kept walking through the chute and got it together. I spotted Jen who had just finished her race in 36 minutes – 7:20 pace. Amazing!

I waited at the finish to see Sarah and Katherine but somehow missed them. Sarah ran her very first race today and rocked it! I’m so proud. Several months ago she was a self-proclaimed running hater but she started running to mix up her workout routine before her wedding and admits that she actually enjoys it now. I’m so impressed by her fast progress.

Luckily, I ran into them on the walk back to my car!

I loved this race and can’t think of any better way to kick off Thanksgiving than with a great run with friends!

I’ve been cooking nonstop since I got home and I’m about to pack up all of my goods and head over to my in law’s house. I hope you are all having a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!