the Trek of Turkey

...or we say en Francaise, "le Trek du Turquoi".

It is understood that my idea of a "fun Thanksgiving" may have evolved somewhat since I started down the triathlon path. There may have been a time that my idea of a "fun Thanksgiving" would have involved me eating enough food for 6, followed with a nap, followed with a trip to the movies.

May have. Can't remember.

Can't think straight, brain clouded with endorphins.

Naturally, I enrolled the entire family in one of the local races on Thanksgiving morning, the Turkey Trek. The family roster included me, my husband, my People, and my mother. I had to recruit my dad and his wife to come hang with the little people while the grown-ups raced - I think even they'll be doing it next year.

There were about 400 jillion people there for the same race. Wow. There are a lot of crazy people around here! Fellow crazy people included Geek Girl, Sweet Baboo, and their Person (Jonster). It came as no surprise that they ran out of t-shirts as we arrived. They had enough for the People, but none for us grown-ups. They'll come up with them later... They'd better, I say!

The grown-up 5K course was a straightforward out (uphill)-and-back (downhill), followed with a loop around the high school track. Beloved and I handed the people over the care of my Dad, stood in the potty queue, and warmed up. It was a bit frosty at first.

We made a last-second decision to start at the front of the pressing mass of 400 jillion. I know why he thought it was a good idea, but it was mentally challenging for me to get PASSED by everyone throughout the course.

My beloved did the 5K in 20:50. Boy can he run!

I managed 27:30, and worked hard to get that.

Did I mention that everyone PASSED me? Let's not speak of this anymore...

My mother was just there to walk it. She wandered up to us after her race, but had forgotten to walk through the finish line to hand over her number. We sent her back down and around the track to finish properly (d'oh!).

Well, there's priorities, and then there's priorities, eh?

Then it was time for the People's race. Grandpa had warmed them up good and stuffed them full of cookies. I had coached them and told them they didn't have to run the whole thing if they didn't want to. I told them, just follow the people in front of you. They could speedwalk. They could walk. They could do whatever they wanted. It's their race.

Grandpa told them if they got tired, they could sit down and Mommy would come carry them. Thanks Dad!

Beloved shuttled them off to the starting line and disappeared into the crowd of kids. The age range was roughly 4 to mid-40's...a tough crowd. I watched from the sidelines as they found some friends to line up with, and off they went.

I had expected some early sprinting followed with some walking, followed by perhaps a mild tantrum. I was prepared to go pace them. I was prepared for not finishing (I wouldn't have been happy about it, but the possibility was there).

I was blown away when they both ran the entire. course. Start to Finish. They picked a good pace and went with it.

And they looked strong!

Well done, my People! Big hugs, more cookies, more bagels. And a finisher's ribbon...And now they've earned that t-shirt.

Plus a turkey dinner with pie!

*epilogue*
I feel like a real mensch because it's Thanksgiving, and I forgot to state the obvious...

I am thankful for many things in my life, I'll list a few here:

• My People. My pink-cheeked and irrepressible People. There are not enough adjectives to describe their nature, and they smell good.
• A smart, athletic and beautiful husband.
• A gorgeous and talented mother.
• A really smart and good-natured dad.
• Excellent friends - so many, and so wonderful, some of you are reading this now - I'm talking about you!
• Two arms, two legs, and a love of oxygen.
• A higher power that never ceases to amaze me and gives me a pretty cool life.

thanks.

(oh - and those sweet potatoes? Un. Believable.)