5k Turkey Trot on Bainbridge Island

It's my favorite day of the year again, THANKSGIVING!!! I mean how can it not be a self-proclaimed fat kid's favorite day when it's all about the food....and being thankful. This day is also when the recently established 5k Turkey Trot occurs at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. I just had to participate because not only do I like festivities, I have been running for a bit now and just couldn't miss out on an actual race.

I had participated in the 2nd annual Turkey Trot, which was in 2011, and had a time of 32:36. Not too bad for someone who had taken a break from running and just wanted to do a fun run. This year things were different. Initially I wasn't planning on racing but a few days before I thought, 'why not'. My training runs had me comfortably doing 45 - 60 minutes, and involved one steep hill. The Turkey Trot, like most fun runs, is a flat course and a shorter distance, so I decided to test myself. My plan was to go for a PR (my first one).

There wasn't much time to warm-up since I still had to register, but I did get a few stretches in. The gunshot rang and off I went at what felt like a faster pace as my breathing was harder and I felt tired by mile one. However, I wasn't exhausted, I still had energy so I kept my pace and pushed through. There was a little bit of a mental game going on because even though I knew my pace was faster from what my body was telling me, I thought I was going pretty slow. Half-way through I thought I'd come in around the same time as I did in 2011, so imagine my surprise when my time was 29:47. That's under thirty! I've never done 10 minute miles, and this was less!

So why did I think I was going slow? Well only because everyone was passing me the entire time, and they were not all young folk. No, I was passed by men and women in their 40's, 50's, and a father pushing a stroller. Only on Bainbridge will the young most likely be beat by the older generation. It's pretty inspiring but not that fun when it's happening. In the end, I am very happy and the Turkey Trot has given me a good mental boost. I should have known my favorite day wouldn't let me down.

                         Happy Thanksgiving!