Thankful Thanksgiving

I apologize for being late with my update from my last running adventure, the Tryptophan Half Marathon.  As I mentioned in my last post, I wasn't ready for it.  I didn't run any training runs leading up to it, since the Halloween Half.  I mentally prepared for not having that PR or an outstanding performance, and settled to just completing and not hurting afterwards.

I was told that we would be travelling to my wife's family south of Atlanta (hour drive) after I returned from the run.  Then I was told that the family had requested my Rosemary Bread and Lemon Chess pie.  So two days before, I began baking.  My daugher, Katie, and I made the requested items along with pumpkin and apple pies.  Just the thought of the desserts and my mother-in-law's pasta dinner, made me thankful that I would be burning some calories before the feast.   My wife, Susan, comes from a close knit, large Chicago Italian family, who moved to Georgia when she was a teen.  Her mom can cook!

The big day arrived.  My sister was running with me and met me early to ride together.  I stepped out into the brisk 39 degree morning air.  I was thankful that it wasn't as cold as the year before at 19 degrees.  My family has acquired a tradition of visiting Dutch Monkey Doughnuts around the holidays.  Since I began running events in Cumming, just down the street from Dutch Monkey on Thanksgiving, it was expected that I bring some home for Susan and the girls.  I thought I'd be smart and pick some up when I went to packet pickup the day before, but they were sold out.  I was asked by my girls if I placed an order.  I thought I was too late and would disappoint them.  I sent the request the day before and was told that I would have my doughnuts ready for me to pickup on Thanksgiving, but told that they would close by noon.  I was thankful again for not disappointing my girls.  So, before the run, my sister and I ventured to pick them up.  The past couple of running events we attended in Cumming, they were sold out after the run.  We arrived early and found them fully stocked!

We headed over to Fowler Park and the Big Creek Greenway to gather for the run.  The wind had picked up and I believe the temperature had dropped.  Still, the morning seemed promising.  Those running the Half Marathon and the 10k started first and were followed by the 5k group.

The Big Creek Greenway is a great place to run.  Wide paths, boardwalk, and for the most part, flat except for the bridges over Big Creek (Vickery Creek).  It stretches 26.5 miles, from Forsyth, down to the Chattahoochee River in Roswell.  Every time I run here, I always get a big smile each time I pass the Self Check Speed Zones for bicyclists.  For the math challenged, that 22 feet per second equates to 15 miles per hour.  I don't have to worry about violating that rule.

 I saw the clouds lifting and thought it would warm up.  I was doing well until mile 4, when I got too hot in my hooded sweatshirt.  I slowed to shed it.  After reaching the northern turn around, the wind picked up.  At mile 5.5, I was putting the sweatshirt back on.  It was around this point, that my sister passed me, and I was able to pace with her for a while.  I stopped to help a young lady who had fallen with leg cramp.  I always carry bandages and bio-freeze sample in my running belt, for those 'just in case times'.  I let her have the bio-freeze and made sure she didn't need the bandages.

view from one bridge over Big Creek

I was debating taking off the sweatshirt again when I got to an area where the trees blocked the wind.  I decided to keep it on and the temp seemed to drop more.  Around mile 9, I was pelted by brief shower of frozen ice pellets.  I was thankful that it was brief!  For the first few miles, I soared with a 11:22 pace.  First mile was 10:50.  Way too fast for me.  I slowed on the last half to a 12:30-13:40 pace.  I thought I was doing great till the last 5k portion.  I wasn't having leg or knee pains, but my lower back was starting to hurt. I kept the slower pace to prevent a later injury. I was so glad to get that last mile done.

My Sister Robin, dressed for the cold

  As I approached the finish line, I noticed the photographer.  We received an e-mail that this year's event photos would be free from True Speed Photo.  Another reason to be thankful for a great race event, free photo to remember! Last July, the photographer caught me running on air, and this finish with a smile.  I had finished and I wasn't cramping up with dehydration or poor fueling.

I had finished around 2:53;38.  I didn't PR or finish below 2:40:00, but I had fun and wasn't hurting afterwards, despite not training for a month. This is a race I would recommend and would love to see more attend.   

My sister wanted to wait for some friends to finish.  While waiting, other late finishers stopped to thank me for encouraging them to keep going and finish, and the young lady I stopped to help, gave me a hug at the end.  Sometimes it's not about getting that PR, receiving that big beautiful medal, but enjoying the run and encouraging others around you as go.  I'm thankful that I didn't pass up the run for lack of training, and I ran.  I met some incredible people completing their first Half Marathon.

At home, I was welcomed by open arms, not for running a half marathon, but for the doughnuts.  I handed them over and was told I needed a shower.  After cleaning up, we headed south.  Mid-way through Atlanta traffic, a massive hamstring cramp in my left leg reminded me that I didn't stretch after the run.  I'm surprised I didn't set a land speed record in a Honda Odyssey van.  A couple of prayers later and I was able to move again; thankful I hadn't wrecked or pulled over for speeding.  Another lesson learned was to make time to stretch afterwards.  

With all the extended families present, we had a wonder thanksgiving feast, thankfully reflecting on the blessings we had been provided for the past year.  I want to give a belated Thank you for the encouragement and motivation to my fellow runners from Run Disney group, Idiot Running Club, Adventure runners, my local running group Team Awesome, and Frank Pizarro.  I've learned that just taking that first step and trying, you can do almost anything. 

As I finish this, I have been challenged again by Frank to answer some random questions that give readers insight to who we are.  I have accepted the challenge and will post soon.