Most Turkey Trots take place on Turkey Day themselves. However, my husband’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year, so I’m not about to drag his butt out of bed into the cold that morning! Nor am I going to leave him behind while I go for a run. Besides, why not do one a bit earlier if it’s available?
One reason why I decided to do the Dakotah Sport and Fitness Turkey Trot 5k race was that it was different. It takes place on the Mystic Lake Golf Course in Prior Lake! But one thing that I totally missed until the day before the race was this:
The Turkey Trot 5K is a scenic run on the cart paths of the Meadows at Mystic Lake Golf Course in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The rolling hills offer a challenge in this fun run.
Uh… How did I miss that? And what was I thinking?!
The Night Before…
We hosted our monthly poker tournament. At first, I wasn’t going to go out to Happy Hour. I decided I would just stay home, finish cleaning and eat some leftovers from the fridge. But after cleaning, I decided to distract myself instead and join everyone. I enjoyed one beer {Jubel Ale on tap!} and a couple of meatloaf sliders.
After a fun night of poker, people tend to leave by midnight. So I knew in advance that I wouldn’t be getting a full eight hours of sleep. Such was the case before my first 5-mile race, too, and it wasn’t a very big deal. However, I was very tired by the time everyone left, so I skipped my usual night-before-race ritual of taking a hot shower and lathering myself with lavender oil. Instead I just crawled into bed and fell right to sleep.
Race Day…
When the alarm went off, I really had trouble getting out of bed.
Has doing 5k races become routine?
Like going to work?
Or was I just too tired from the night before?
I finally got up with just ten minutes to spare. I made myself some breakfast of a Magic Smoothie with a small piece of peanut butter toast. I threw my clothes on, brushed my teeth, woke my husband and downed some water before heading out the door to get some coffee on the way to the race.
What was different about this race is that it was sponsored by a health club. Therefore, no one had to wait outside. Check-in and registration was inside the building. We didn’t have to brave the cold {although it was a pretty nice day for this time of year} until just a few minutes before the race began.
At first the rolling hills were a bit of a challenge. But then I started to forget about them… Kind of like when you are riding a bike and you kick it into high gear to get up the hill and then coast down it. It became natural. They weren’t really steep. As I look back, I realize that I didn’t focus on the scenery as much as I wish I had. Granted, there isn’t much to look at this time of year after the leaves have fallen and the grass is brown, but I wasn’t very aware of my natural surroundings. I seemed to more aware, maybe too aware, of the people around me instead. You can check out photos of the event, though, on their Facebook Page.
I felt good for much of the run, but I was working pretty hard. I still had the cough that I had been dealing with the past week or so. But strangely, I don’t cough at all when I’m running.
I can’t believe I’m smiling as I’m nearing the Finish Line! And who is that guy in the background that seems to be running down the hill? A photographer? A spectator?
And as I hit the timing mats, I was glad to finish my final 5k of the year:
My Chip Time: 37:35
After the race, I usually just try to walk around and cool off a bit and search for water. For some reason, I often have a hard time finding it and Rob has to point me in the right direction! This time, it was set up inside – in the gymnasium. I walked in and all I could think of was, “Man is it HOT in here!” I hadn’t even worn gloves or an earband during the race and I was steaming! I grabbed some grub and we sat on the floor for a bit:
Post-race goodies!
The trail-mix wasn’t tasty enough for the calories for me. But I was most excited about the mini frosted sugar-cookie! I know it’s not the best post-race fuel. However, I can’t buy a batch of those cookies in the store without eating way too many of them at once. The mini-cookie was a perfect “taste” for me. They had other types of cookies, too, but I stuck to just one.
This is the last race I had scheduled this calendar year. But don’t worry, I’m not hanging up my running shoes altogether! I’m working on some HIIT, strength training and getting ready for my spring 10k. Maybe I’ll make it a goal to do a sub-35-minute 5k by spring, too. {I really want to hit a 30-minute one, but I think that may be pushing it!}
Don’t forget that I’d like you and anyone else you know to join me on April 21st, 2013 for the Challenge Obesity 5k!
If you’ve never run a 5k before, this is the one for you. Many people Run/Walk it, too.
Here is a list of my 5k race results for my own personal comparison:
- The Event: Dakotah! Sport & Fitness 2012 Turkey Trot 5k
- The Location: The Meadows Golf Course at Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, MN
- The Date: November 17, 2012
- Night Before Dinner: Meatloaf Sliders at Burnsville Ale House with a pint of Jubel Ale
- Pre-race Breakfast: Magic Smoothie + peanut butter toast
- My Time: 37:35
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The Weather: 40’s and windy
- Attire: running pants, long sleeved Cuddl Dud shirt, lucky t-shirt
- General Feeling: Just another 5k! I wasn’t worried about not completing it, but didn’t expect to PR either.
- Uniqueness: Running the cart paths on a golf course with small hills throughout.
- Size: Approx 234
- The Goods: Long-sleeved Turkey Trot t-shirt, goodie bag: two Stay Put Hair Ties with slip-proof grip (love these!), Tiger Balm Pain Relieving Ointment sample, mini Clif Builders Mint Protein Bar
- The Grub: Gatorade G2, Red Bull, trail mix, mini Clif Bars, bananas, Thanksgiving Cookies
What are your favorite Thanksgiving Treats?
Cheers~
Carrie
Season It Already! 