Turkey Trot 2014

A tradition I simply won’t miss.  My first TT was Thanksgiving 2003.  This would be my 11^th.  Some Turkey Trots I ran with Greg, some alone, a few with B in the jogging stroller, I even ran during the pregnancy (only the 1-miler), and most recently, a few with Megan completing the 5-mile distance with me.  Whether she understands it or not, she’s locked in from here going forward.  Her reward is a calorie free day of eating and a venti Starbucks post-race.  Hello, Thanksgiving Day tradition!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Brrr! It was cold and icy!

Her First Turkey Trot

Freezing temperatures, but Megan hung in there and ran her first 5-miler Turkey Trot.  This was my 11th year and her first "long distance" race - and hopefully, she'll be joining me for many more! Special thanks for Meg's friend, Kim, who joined us for the last 2 miles in her Pilgrim costume and provided the perfect entertainment!

 

Turkey Trot - Are You Registered?

This may be one of the most exciting races for me.  I first raced in 2003, my first year in Cleveland.  This year will be my 11th! Holy crap, I've been in Cleveland for 11 years...how is that possible?

I usually race the 5-mile distance, but downsized to the 1-mile fun run while pregnant with B.  A couple years in between, the girls, Greg and I have walked, jogged, and ran the 1-mile fun run together.  But this year, I'll go back to the 5-mile distance solo.  I don't think I'll best my time of 47:52 from 2011, but I'll damn well try.

So don't be a couch potato.  Get out there and run on Thanksgiving! It's my way of justifying the debauchery of food that will follow.

My 10th Turkey Trot!

One of the things I love most about living in a big city is the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. This year marked my 10th consecutive race! Such a cool milestone! Most years I've run by myself. My favorite year was running the 1-miler while 6 months pregnant. We joked that it was Bridget's first race! Last year I ran with Greg; other years I've ran with Megan and Greg with Bridget in the jogging stroller. One year the weather was painful sleet; this year it was in the 50s any sunny. Great family fun and, in my mind, it offsets the afternoon of pure gluttony that befalls us.

Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed some special turkey day traditions!

Working on Year 9

2011 will be my 9th Turkey Trot here in Cleveland. I just love this race. Last year, it was just me and the girls. The rain was so heavy that I finished the short 1-mile race sans jogging stroller. Since having Bridget, I've been running the 1-mile race with Greg and Megan while pushing Bridget in the jogging stroller. This year, I convinced Greg to join me in the 5-mile race. Can't wait! This is one tradition I love keeping up!

Turkey Trot 2010

Fun morning in spite of the downpour. The game plan was to take B in the jogging stroller, while Meg snapped action shots, but Mother Nature caused our plans to change at the last minute. With the rain not letting up, I went solo for the mile run. If I knew I was going to be solo, I would have gladly run the 5 miles in the rain - seriously! Nonetheless, I was given the thumbs up/good luck by my girls and off I went to get wet for a whole mile. Cue dramatic music! I finished in a blazing 8:05 (blazing for me). I didn't even feel like I was pushing, but I must have subconsciously wanted to get out of the rain! 8th consecutive turkey trot and the coffee with B and Meg was just a wonderful bonus afterwards (as was the polar bear sugar cookie!).

Happy Thanksgiving!

The 7th turkey trot was a smashing success for this family. Best of all, we all crossed the finish line together! We saw some creative costumes - our favorites were the gorilla chasing the banana, the two ODOT orange barrels, someone dressed like Will Ferrell in Elf, lots of pilgrims and indians, bumble bee, a chicken, someone dressed like a cranberry sauce with even the nutritional information on the costume, and Bridget loved the sparkle turkey! Afterwards, we stopped at Erie Island Coffee Company on East 4th. Great coffee with breakfast paninis. Wonderful morning - now it's time to put the turkey in the oven and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Turkey Trot Time: Are You Registered?

It's that time of the year again! Time to eat turkey, enjoy the carbs and load up on desserts. What better way to mitigate the damage than to sign up for a Thanksgiving Day run. Our tradition in this household is to run the Hermes Cleveland Turkey Trot. Since moving here in 2003, I have not missed a T-Day race. Thursday's race will mark my 7th year of running! Some years I've tackled the 5-miler, and while pregnant with Bridget in 2006, I ran the 1-mile family fun run. Last year all four of us participated and Megan even got her picture taken with the Couch Potatoes Running Group. It was great fun! Now, we all know that a one mile run is NOT going to offset having two different potatoes and a dessert being served, but it's quality (and healthy) time with my family. So this year, I will be thankful that Greg, Meg and B indulge their mom with a morning run. So what are you waiting for? Get registered!