If you've been following my running updates, you will know that I've only been going a mile. It's been the "just get up and do SOMETHING" mentality versus really trying to start running any significant distance.
Back in the day, our Thanksgiving family tradition usually included the Turkey Trot. The last time I did it was in 2003, and my dad and I did the 8-mile race. As previously noted, I thought I was going to die. I did it cold turkey (no pun intended) - hadn't really run in several years before we did it. The deal was that I would run the 8-mile with him before I graduated college. It was a promise to my dad, so I kept that promise. It was also a promise I wished he had forgotten about. I couldn't walk for 3 days. I did it though. By far the longest I had ever, and still HAVE ever run.
Anyways, so my recent running stint was only a mile. We were signed up for the 5K, which is a little over 3 miles. If you've ever done the Turkey Trot, you know the first 1/2 mile is pretty much walking since there are over 30,000 people there. The Dallas Morning News estimated 38,000 this year.
Long story short, this was easy. I felt good. I felt really good. I seriously contemplated going to the right for 8-mile instead of the left for the 5K. My dad did too, except we didn't have enough money in the parking meter. Plus, I'm not sure if you are supposed to do that.
It must have been the "mass crowd" affect or something. It's a lot easier to do things when you are with a bunch of other people doing it too. At about the 2.5-mile mark, Andrew started picking up the pace in a racing sort of way. I sensed he was trying to race a little, so I picked up the pace too. We were pretty much in a dead sprint by the last stretch. I cut over quickly and blocked him out with a "big, fat man" and ended up finishing first. He "claims" I blocked him out... I certainly didn't do it on purpose. The whole race was somewhat of an obstacle course because of all the people (and strollers and dogs).
Not that we were really "racing", but I did WIN among our family! hehe
I'm pretty sure that my Dad, brother, or Andrew could have "won" if they really wanted to. My dad does run 5 miles 3 times a week... pretty good for a 60-year old man!!!
I can certainly say that I like running with a group WAY better than doing it on my own. I liked that "race" factor. For some reason, running is not a sport/activity that I can really push myself on my own. I NEED someone there to beat or at least keep up with.
So, anyways, it was fun. I'm going to keep my eye out for some local 5K's or even something a little longer, like 5 miles. I'm not sure when we'll be in Dallas on Thanksgiving again, but I'd definitely like to do the 8-mile again someday. Someday when I've actually trained for it.
Oh, and we were going to bring Carson, but since he'd been under the weather, we figured it was probably best to not take him out in the cold with masses of people. THAT was a good decision. He stayed home with my mom and "helped" her prepare our Thanksgiving feast. The Turkey Trot was most definitely a BOB-fest! (Note: A BOB is an all-terrain/jogging stroller for you non-young kiddo types.)
