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!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Party Snack

Sharing this great idea in case you have a Thanksgiving party or dinner to attend and don't know what to bring. So easy to make this - and, best of all, it's healthy!

A New PR!

My previous 5-mile PR was a 52:49 in 2010 running the Bill Luti 5-Miler in Concord, New Hampshire. Today, I shattered that number and managed to finish the Hermes Turkey Trot here in wonderful downtown Cleveland in 47:52!!!!! Holy crap, Batman, that's a minute faster per mile! Woohoo!

So today, not only am I grateful for a wonderful husband/kids and family, a good job with challenging work and enjoyable co-workers, fun friends, but I am also grateful for having good health and that I am able to do something I love - running.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Feeling Centered

It's only Wednesday and I am feeling relaxed and all body parts are feeling recovered. Yesterday I attended an Ashtanga yoga class. I left class feeling so centered and balanced (translation: too tired to lift my arms or get out of my chair) that I didn't even feel the slight bit stressed or frustrated sitting through a day long union contract negotiations session. Amazing. This morning I contemplated canceling my pre-paid hot powerful yoga session due to the early morning time of 6am. Glad I didn't (and glad i pre-paid!). It was challenging and exhausting, but damn if the coffee didn't taste better after a nice hard session (t.w.s.s.). Another added benefit of this morning's class is I found another instructor I really enjoy.

Even better, my Achilles is no longer feeling sore and stressed. It's been difficult not running. I've been like that dog in "Up", but instead of saying "squirrel", my family just has to say "runner" and I stop dead in my tracks and stare!

Tomorrow is my 8th consecutive Cleveland Turkey Trot. I'm only running the mile with B in the jogging stroller (she's too young to resist my co-opting skills), so I'll get a sense of how well the healing (or heeling lol) is going.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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!