Turkey Trot

View from Cobo: Ren Cen in dense fog and rain

I did something yesterday that I am very proud of.  Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I got up at 5:30am, quickly got dressed and drove to Cobo Hall for the annual Turkey Trot, which is the 5K/10K before the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I did the 5K, which is actually considered the "Stuffing Strut".  I was accompanied by approximately 6,000 others.

There were a lot of reasons why I could have allowed myself an excuse to not do this.  First of all, that is pretty early to get up!  Also significantly, it was rainy and cold out! I think it was about forty degrees when I rolled into Cobo.  And finally, it's several miles (3.1 to be exact!) and I haven't exactly trained like an Olympic athlete in the weeks leading up to the race.

I was kind of on the fence leading up to the race.  I didn't bother registering in advance, however my friend from St. Louis did.  She called me a few days before and told me that she wasn't coming home after all, so she couldn't do the race with me.  But she said that I could be her impostor and run under her number, which is what I ended up doing. 

But I didn't actually decide to run the race until the night before around approximately 10pm.  After my husband went to bed, I thought that I should actually look into the details of the race to decide if I should do it.  The first place I looked was weather.com: rain all morning.  Almost logged off right after that, but went to the Trot website and almost magically it got me motivated to just do it!  I figured "why not?" and "what do I have to lose besides a little sleep?"  So I printed out the important stuff I'd need, gathered my running clothes, iPod and other essentials and set my alarm for early o'clock.

It was really neat being there among all of these other half-asleep pseudo-athletes.  I checked in and got my shirt (which was pretty cool, by the way) and just kind of milled, figuring out the course and other things.  I watched the start of the one-mile race, called the Mashed Potato Mile.  That was really cute--there were all sorts of kids doing that one.  I should also mention that just before this race, the rain abruptly stopped--amazing!

I had to walk a mile or so to the start of the main race.  It was very confusing, but somehow I figured it out.  I made friends with a fellow "fun" category runner (for those doing the 5K that are 10 min/mile and up), and we just kinda went with the flow.  It started out very congested... I couldn't run for maybe the first three minutes or so because it was so packed.  It was really exciting being among that many people doing the same thing, though.  And then running down Woodward Ave was amazing.  Everything looked so clean and new and promising. 

I made it to the finish line in 34:45, which I am happy with, considering that I couldn't even run for the first few minutes due to the large crowds.  Also, of the approximately 6,000 participants, I was around the middle of the pack.  And more importantly, I did it! 

While I did go home and shower, I proudly wore my race shirt all day.  Everyone else was dressed nicely for Thanksgiving, but I felt it was my right to wear that shirt.  I will definitely make this an annual tradition (running AND wearing the shirt!).  The best part is that all those Thanksgiving calories were guilt-free.  Gobble, gobble!

Deciding to be thankful

There are a lot of reasons why I could be cranky this year.  I was laid off from my very stressful job at the beginning of the month.  In preparing mentally for Thanksgiving, I originally was very un-thankful.  I decided to skip hosting the holiday at my home this year, even though I have more time than ever to prepare for it.

But it just occurred to me that while my life has adjusted and taken a different turn, I am indeed blessed.

I have worked my entire life.  My first official job was at the age of 15.  I didn't have a job my first semester of college and there were a few days in 2000 when I didn't have a job, but I quickly panicked and got a job waitressing because the (imagined) financial stress of not working was simply too much for me to take.  Life is a lot different for me now.  I am more financially stable, I have plenty to keep me busy while unemployed, and I think that just maybe I've mellowed out a little.  I think being a mom helps you realize that things don't always go as you expect, but you just have to roll with it and have as much fun as possible in the process.

That's what I'm doing: having AS MUCH FUN as I can!  While I am looking for a paying job, I am savoring each moment as my two-year old's full-time mom.  Sloppy kisses, requests for piggy back rides, listening to the "music" that he makes, hide-and-seek, playing, reading, and having the most unbelievable conversations that you could imagine with someone so little.  The fun doubles when we pick big brother up from the bus stop and I get to see the two of them playing, wrestling and yes, even sometimes fighting together.  I have time to cook healthy dinners and shopping and errands can be done during the week instead of taking up all of my family "play time" on weekends.

This year while I am a little poorer financially, I am rich with moments.  That's why I am thankful for the gift of time this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving!