In the interest of full disclosure, I must mention that I have entered the sweepstakes for entry into the NYC 2016 marathon. Which is different from the lottery for entry into the same marathon, which I will likely enter if I don’t a) win the sweepstakes or b) come to my senses by the time the lottery opens in January. It’s up to you, universe. Be kind.
For now, it appears that this column’s name will remain “Dry Martini.” I find that quasi-ironic given how wet it’s been here lately. During my six miles last week, the skies opened at mile three and closed again about ten minutes after I squished my way home. My helpful husband pointed out that the whole drenching could have been avoided if I’d looked at the radar but he doesn’t understand my need to live on the edge. And, frankly, how little I care about getting soaked. As long as my phone stays dry, it’s all good.
I can’t say that any of my runs have been super exciting this week. I did some fartleks — I giggle every I hear, see, or type this word because I’m ten — last week. Coach told me to toss 6-8 30-second intervals of speedy-fast running into an easy 3 miles. Coach pointed out afterwards that I actually did ten of them, which meant I must have been feeling great. Because I’m all about relentless honesty, I confessed that, no, I’m not a badass. I just lost count after the first four.
Still, they were the zippiest fartleks I’ve ever farted so I’m thinking that the fitness I worked so hard to gain for Wineglass hasn’t abandoned me. Plus, now that my late-fall dread illness has passed, I can routinely bang out 12:30 miles without working too hard. Which for me is amazing.
I did feel like a badass after this morning’s run, which was five miles with the middle three at half marathon race pace. I’d been dreading it all week, for no explainable reason other than it seemed hard and it’s cold in the mornings. Once I got out the door, though, it went really well (if hard), which just goes to show you some life-affirming lesson about getting your inner wuss to be quiet. I’d explain what that lesson was if my brain weren’t so mushy after pushing through the last mile.
Perhaps the best run was the one I went on this past weekend. See, there’s a knitting retreat that I go to every year. And every year Lisa, another mother runner who turns up on this very blog from time to time, and I carve out some running time on Saturday afternoon. Rather than stick to our standard route — it’s lovely, mind, but who doesn’t love a new path to explore? — I found out that the Ontario Pathways rail trail started less than a mile from our hotel door. Off we went.
The day was as cold as you’d expect in November in Western New York. The trail was sheltered from the wind, at least, and neither of us stayed too chilly once we got moving. There’d been a big pack of Boy Scouts and their leaders in the parking lot when we’d started. We ran into them on the path on our home stretch and they formed a tunnel of high-fives and encouraging cheers. If all runs could end that way, I reckon there would be a lot more runners.
Two things are coming up on my race calendar: the local Turkey Trot, where it will probably snow because that’s how it usually goes, and the Austin half marathon in February 2016, where it probably won’t snow because it’s Texas. The Trot’s just for fun and to get out of the house for a little bit. I might try to PR, unless I don’t. I find it hard to really predict how I’ll feel on Thanksgiving morning, you know?
Austin, however, might lend itself to another stab at a 2:30 half. While my flatlander friend with whom I am running keep bemoaning the hills, they look significantly less daunting than what I face on a regular basis around here. As long as Voldesun doesn’t make an appearance, which is unlikely because, again, it’s Texas, I should be OK.
Worst that happens is that I walk the race and comfort myself with margaritas. And when that is the worst that can happen, well, it is a good day, indeed.
So how many of you are running a turkey trot? Does it have a cool name? And how many of your trots give away an actual bird?
I am running the famous Manchester Road Race, no idea about turkeys, but I know there will be a lot of famous runners who will likely be finished before I even start.
I am also doing the Austin half, adding to the number of BAMRS. If nothing else, it will help my brain (& bum) get me through yet another New England winter! Plus margaritas always win out!
Our Turkey Trot cross country race has gotten so popular I am opting out. It’s crazy crowded-and I much prefer these days to go on a longer run or hike (or mountain bike ride) w/my hubby. He won a turkey one year while stationed in Germany. I don’t mind getting rained on either. I love running in the rain. I went to watch some friends complete Ironman Arizona last weekend and stood around in the rain for over 12 hours. That was not fun!
I’m opting out of the Turkey Trot here due to cars already in use and no way to get to the park and home in a timely manner. Hate doing it as it benefits the local running club’s scholarship program. Of course, it is subject to a day of registration if I find a ride or decide I can cycle out and back and still get dinner on the table.
No turkey trot for me, since we travel that morning. I ran the Austin full a few years ago. The hills are not bad as long as you train on them. I train in Pittsburgh, so I was definitely more than ready for them. It is a great race- you will love it. And you will especially love going to Austin in February!
I’m doing a moustache run the Saturday after thanksgiving, for Mo-vember. First thanksgiving alone, so will figure out that day when it happens. I suspect sleeping in, turkey and football will be a huge part of it. Love your posts, you never fail to 1) make me smile 2) make me feel normal.
We have a prediction run this weekend called the Hobble Gobble, which does give out turkeys as prizes. On Thanksgiving Day we have the Gobble Gallop. The best T’day run I ever did was in Hudson MA, sponsored by Plymouth Brewery (they were ahead of the time in craft beer brewing and went out of business). You got a T-shirt, pint glass, growler of beer and a Table-top pie.
I’ve never done a Turkey trot. But I just wanted to say to Lisa, you should open an Etsy store and sell your reflective knitted hats! Awesome idea, and so cute!
I, too, threw my name into the sweepstakes. Then I realized that I already have a cheap Carnival cruise booked that weekend. Oops.
I did our local Turkey Trot once. It’s an 8K. I was a newish runner (had only run 5Ks up until that point), and I was super speedy. I think if I did it now, I would be way slower. I might “let” my husband run it this year b/c he’s never run it. Dang family had to go out of town, so we have no one (free) to come sit with the kids while we go off and run it “together but not together.”
They don’t give out anything at this race, but I did a Pie Run 10K last year where everyone got a homemade pie from a local bakery. We had two, and they were both apple. I would’ve preferred lemon or blueberry. haha
I am running the Turkey Trail Trot near my house, choose the 2.5 mile course so the kids can come too. It’s 2.5 miles on the trails near my house, will be a fun morning.
My favorite Turkey Trot name is the Feaster Five, it’s in MA and we run it every other year when visiting family. They give away a pie at the finish line.
For the first year in a long time, I am not running the local Thanksgiving 5k. I will try to focus on how grateful I am that 3 of my kids have fully embraced the tradition and are running it, instead of how ungrateful I feel that my over 40 and overweight body decided to fight back against my running with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. On the other hand, maybe I’ll take extra ibuprofen and walk it. And run a little. Well see.
This will be my 4th year in a row running our “local” turkey trot 5k with my sister. We’ve been running it every year since my youngest was born. This year we even talked our brother into joining us! No turkey at the end of this one but pretty great prizes. The local half (The Thankful Thirteen) gives out turkeys and pies! Maybe next year we’ll up our distance together.
I took up running in 1981 and I took up knitting in 2013 and I love them both so mucccchhhhhh!
I hope you decide to go for that PR! It’s your race to enjoy however you want, though. My family all gets together to run the local Turkey Day 5k and somehow there is usually the first cold front in Central FL that day. It’s so much fun, but no turkeys, just bananas and the like, which is great!
Thanksgiving morning I volunteer for registration at the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services’ Run to Feed the Hungry. I get to deal with everyone that changed their mind at the last minute or somehow forgot about the race. (really? how do you forget about waking up at 6am on Thanksgiving morning to go run a race?!?!? I register every year to race it and I can’t even do the race!) My favorite memories are of the fraternity boys who looked/smelled like they just got back to the dorm from bar hopping and changed into shorts (it was pouring rain that year) and the family that decided at 7pm the night before to drive down from Oregon or someplace to do our race instead of the one in their home town. ♥
Friday morning I head back down (with Dolly) and run the course in my race t-shirt and bib. LOVE the looks/comments from the people on the route!
Adrienne, I love your blog posts. What I love most is the humor/sarcasm and also your running pace. Oh, how I wish we were neighbors. I LIKE your pace……I LOVE your pace……..I love that you do not post blog reports saying you had 7:30 minute miles for 13 miles. I feel like I am reading “me” when I read your posts!!! I am going to try a turkey trot this year for the first time because we are celebrating our big feast day on Friday. Life is complicated and fun!!!! However 6 months of plantar fasciitis only allow for intervals of walk a minute run a minute. That keeps my feet happy. So here’s to a fun turkey trot and thank YOU for connecting with me, a stranger, and making my running world a bit better.
I’ll be running 3 Turkey Trots with my family! 2 of them are on Thanksgiving. The first on Thanksgiving is a fun one arranged in our neighborhood. It will be my family’s first year involved in it, but it sounds like a blast. After that, my family has it’s own run in the park so we can justify eating *all* day long.
The other Turkey Trot is this weekend. It’s a prediction run and you can win a turkey by predicting your race finish time the most correct. No watches allowed. Also fun, and it’s interesting to see just how far off we are!!
“The zippiest fartleks I’ve ever farted”, lol. And this is why we get along because I am also 10.
We are going to be out of the country so we can’t do our local “Trot Off Your Turkey” 5K which is the day after Thanksgivng. No turkey prizes but a cute turkey medal. Last year we ran it after we got a foot of snow, had lost power, and have moved into my sister’s house for the holiday. Still, a fun race!
Margaritas are my go-to post half marathon treat so there will definitely be some consumed after Austin. Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!
I am doing the GIVE AND GOBBLE 10K this Thanksgiving morning. All proceeds help the Oregon Food Bank. It is a great run in Sherwood, OR. Along the way are cheering folks and signs about what people are grateful for. :) Fun family time.
Such a fun sounding tradition which has not crossed the 49th parallel. I am taking two 9 year old boys to run a Santa Shuffle on the 5th, I am sure there will be many farts (fart jokes, armpit farts, real farts) and no fartleks.
I organize our local Turkey Trot. Our local running community got tired of traveling at least an hour to do a TT, as I call it. Therefore, we decided it would be best for us to do one in our own community. Each year, it is determined whom will benefit from the race proceeds. I have been blessed to give money to the local fire department, local Christian school, a breast cancer fighter, who subsequently lost her battle the day after our Turkey Trot in her honor, and this year, a local man who is battling liver disease. It is a privilege to be able to do this for our community!