Turkey Trot 5k Race Report

I’ve been whining for years that there are no Turkey Trots that are close enough for me to run and make it back in time for Thanksgiving prep, etc. That all changed this year. This race was maybe a 3 minute drive from Casa Teamarcia–what’s not to like? I’d originally planned on sandwiching the 5k with a 2 mile warmup and cool down jog there and back for a nice 7 miles total but Mother Nature had other ideas.
I heard the wind howling all night. When I got up it was raining. Give it time, I thought, it’ll subside….maybe….and if it doesn’t a 5k in rain never killed anyone.
Still debating, I let hubby and the kiddos sleep as I geared up and drove over, because parking was very limited and I wanted to avoid the whole shuttle bus routine. I snagged one of the last spots and cowered in my car as it was buffeted about by the winds, still not convinced I was gonna run. Once I finally ventured out to get my bib, etc my hat was airborne immediately. Ok, plan B then, headband. Or better yet, plan C: go the heck back home!

I opted for plan B and took refuge in the huddle of humanity at the starting line. Today’s goal: don’t fall down. Conditions suck, I’ve done no speedwork to speak of in 2 months, can’t a girl just wanna have fun? Oh and of course some calorie burn and let’s not forget that endorphin boost too.
At the sound of the gun there was a mad dash for the trails. Am I completely batty or did someone just leapfrog over my shoulders? Come on people it’s a trot! And it’s been raining for 3 days straight, how fast can you really go on slippery pavement and flooded trails?
After senselessly putting my hamstrings in jeopardy by hurdling a couple cement parking thingies I got to the path which is one very narrow, very muddy bottleneck. Ice is now pelting me from the side, making a less than festive stinging sound as it hits my jacket.

We’re darting among the prairie grass, me praying I don’t snap an ankle and muttering under my breath about how I really should be home stuffing the bird. Thankfully they salted the bridges. We make a turn hard into the icy wind, rain dripping off the tip of my nose now, and begin the slog up a long incline. Am I even moving forward anymore? I can’t be sure. But it’s a damn 5k, I can do anything for a measely 1/2 hour can’t I?

The trail crosses the road and I see my car in the distance, looking all warm and inviting. Just stop this idiocy now and go hop in, I tell myself. But I can’t let my last race of the year be a DNF so I trudged on to a dreck-for-me 25:20. AG 2nd place probably because the faster, saner women stayed home. It was a character builder for sure.