Turkey Trot 2010

Turkey Trot 2010

Posted on 08. Dec, 2010 by in Races

This past Thanksgiving Day I participated in what is known around these parts as the “longest running road race” in America.  That would be the Buffalo Turkey Trot.  Part race, part circus, this race has become part of this odd little social calendar that has evolved here in Buffalo over time. We have the Turkey Trot, bizarre disco parties, a Buffalo Sabres game or two, and occassionally (like this year) a Buffalo Bills home game.  It is a continuous string of get-togethers spanning the Thanksgiving holiday where people who have since left the area come home and reconnect with friends and family.  As a result, the race is HEAVILY attended every year.  As in 12,500 people heavily attended.  The race is no more “serious” than the Corporate Challenge I have begun to loathe, but for some reason it has a tone of comoraderie that is infectious.  Even in a year, like this one, where I ran alone.

This would be my second Turkey Trot.  The first being last year, three months after joining the running world.  As such, it ended up being a little bit of a time for reflection.  It helped I was running this one alone.  I had plenty of time to kill and nobody to kill it with.  From that reflection, it became clear that I had seen gains in just the last year.  Before last year’s race, I was extremely nervous about the thought of running 8km.  Five miles would be, by far, the farthest I have run in one shot.

Now, I was excited for the chance to race.  With my busy schedule, races are still far and few between.  I’ve been quite disciplined keeping up a decent training schedule, but hadn’t “checked in” on my racing progress since the Corporate Challenge in June.  On top of that, it was my first chance to get a true PR since getting serious about running.  My first repeat race in my short “career”.

Last year’s race was a cautious affair to say the least. I coasted my way to a 54 minute and change finish for the five mile race. I think that finish was more a result of apprehension than anything. Fear of the unknown.  This year was a little different.

First off, the weather was nowhere near as nice as the previous year. The morning temp was lingering in the mid to lower thirties and a light rain started shortly before the race. No matter though. Instead of cursing Mother Nature, I spent the pre race minutes inching up through the packed in crowd. Another sign of progress. Instead of hanging back as I didn’t want to be be held up by the crowds of slower runners and walkers.

So, my goal was to just coast along at my recent training pace for the first 2 1/2 – 3 miles.  By default, this is where the first mile more or less was run at.  Since there are just so many people in this race, it was tough to do more than that while weaving and dodging.  That was just fine with me.  The crowd prevented me from shooting off the start like a rocket, only to pay for it later.  However, after that first mile, things began to open up.
Just short of the two mile mark, I glanced at my watch.  A 9:30 pace.  A few minutes later.  9:00.  Hmm.  This is where I gave myself a mental pat on the back because it was clear all that track work I have been forcing myself through was paying off.  I didn’t feel winded at all holding that 9:00 pace.  I kept at this pace until I hit the four mile mark.  At this point, my relative inexperience in races shown through.  I decided to open the throttle with a mile to go.  WAY too early.  Perhaps someone a little more seasoned can start their finishing kick at that point, but for little ‘ol me it resulted in a pretty good struggle to get through the last quarter mile.  It wasn’t nearly as ugly as my half marathon finish but it certainly wasn’t textbook.
Regardless of the less than stellar finish, I ended up with a time of 45:39.  Over nine minutes better than my 2009 time.  Not bad for a year’s work.  As for the reflection I mentioned earlier, it was great to feel the validation of the hard work I have been doing.  There were many days where it was too wet, too hot, or too cold but I pushed myself out that door anyhow.  And what good is it if you don’t push?
You can learn a bit a bit of yourself on a cold, wet Thanksgiving morning.  Even if you are surrounded by people dressed as caterpillars and turkeys.  I learned I’m capable of a whole lot more than I was a year ago.  I can only think there’s alot more in there to be found.  2011 will be the year I find a bit more of it.

Related posts:

  1. In Training – Half Marathon Week 7 (AKA Attack of the Turkey)

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