Turkey Trot 2009!!!

Buffalo host's the annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day every year. Apparently we were the first to have a road-race, and this was the race! We started this (like I had any part but the big WE!) 114 years ago (see I totally wasn't around then!). So this year, my first year was the 114th! I was pretty impressed to find out that there were 18,000 people signed up to run. (mostly cuz I thought 18,000 people cant all run faster than me, right!? some are bound to walk!!!).

So I was aware that people dressed up for this race and it was a bit of a spectacle but I was lucky enough to have my own personal cameraman (Kevin) taking some photos a few of the entertainers.



A few running penguins (I mean its Buffalo, we were lucky it wasnt Antarctica cold that day but in the past it has been!)



A green caterpillar (these people actually attach themselves to each other and run as a team,, I'm totally impressed but exhausted by the mere thought!)




Apparently using a shopping cart is acceptable forms of transportation. Other years they'd have the person inside be like Santa or something, but it makes me wonder if these two rotated turns pushing and riding. Hmm.

And finally,,,,


(me). I'm wearing these special dri-warmth something or other training clothes underneath my sweats and free turkeytrot t-shirt (can you see pink!) as instructed by my friend Becky, and she helped me get better socks too!. Seriously changed and saved my life/feet! I was so warm and cosy and even hot at times (you may be able to see my winter hat choking me cuz it got too warm with it on!).

I was blessed to have my colleague at work, AB lend me her ipod full of 'hot beats',,, 76 songs on a playlist she made just for me to run to... which was super fun to wonder what was coming next and occasionally be shocked by the words being pumped into my custom-molded ipod ears! (you may be able to see the armband holding it in place and keeping it out of my way on my right arm).

I finished in 1 hr and 20 minutes. I actually crossed a few minutes after that but because I didnt get over the starting line for a few minutes (see first picture of where I was in relation to where the start was), it was about 1 hr 20. Which for an 8k,,, is about 16 minutes per mile, which is not half bad for someone that's only been training for a few months. (and is NOT a runner,,, yet!).

Afterward I was totally dehydrated and seriously pounded some vitamin water and H20 and Kevin and I went about our Turkey day festivities. I was surprised that I wasn't in as much pain as I thought I would be for the weekend. I was totally tired and my feet hurt by sheer pavement pounding but that stopped in the course of a few hours.
I was entirely convinced that running/walking this thing would end up with me with a broken leg/ankle/shin something.. So that's super awesome.

I ran approximately 40% of the whole thing, which leads me to believe if I can continue to prepare for 5k races more in the coming months that next year I might be able to run the whole thing next year and therefore decrease my time a bit? Its a thought but I'm mostly stoked that I started, finished and didn't hurt myself so overall its a victory!!!!

So supposedly there are many 5k's and so we're setting our overall sights lower than 8k but hopefully possible!@:)