Running the Turkey Trot 2009

I had a FABULOUS run this morning!  The Turkey Trot was sooooooo much fun...

I had been worried about this race because it's 5 miles (technically 5.2 according to my running buddy, Jenny), and before I started Crossfit, I don't think I could have run even 1 mile.

I ate clean all the way up to the race, which wasn't hard, because it's every day for me now -- it's not like I made a big change in my diet to eat clean.  I also refrained from drinking even one glass of wine in the days leading up to the race.  I just didn't need to mess with it.

It was a chilly morning -- 43 degrees according to the thermostat in the car.  We planned to meet early (at 8 a.m.) at Waterloo Park. I dressed in layers, and when it was time to head to the staging area, I pulled off all of the outer layers, hoping the sun would warm me up.

I have learned the value of having music during a run, and I brought my iPod with me, freshly charged and with a whole playlist of great songs to run to.  We had to wait for a while, and I could feel my neuroma acting up.  I worried that it would give me trouble during the race, but it was fine.

I LOVED this race course.  There were a ton of walkers and people with dogs to pass, but we started out with a good steady pace -- not too fast, so we didn't exhaust ourselves.  It was also really cool to run through Hyde Park and have all those people out there cheering for us.  Thank you!. 

The hills were no problem, and I was able to stay close to Jenny and her friend Tamara, who ran with us.  I felt great through the ENTIRE race, until the last hill which was very steep, but it was so close to the end of the course, I just dug in and ran.  People were stopping to walk all around me, but I just wanted to keep up with Jenny and Tamara, and I dodged the walkers.  My friends got a little ahead of me, but I could feel myself speed up as I hit the last downhill into the finish line.

We finished the course in about 51 minutes.  I was about 20 seconds behind my friends, but only at the end.  That makes the pace about a 10 minute mile, with which I'm very happy.

I will definitely run this race again next year -- I think I found my Thanksgiving Day tradition!  And you know what?  I told Jenny I'll run the Cap 10K with her... which happens next year.  I guess it's time to add some more distance!  Who wants to join us?