Turkey Trot 5miler

I ran the local Turkey Trot this morning.  Last year I did the 5k and this morning decided to do the 5mile run.  Temp's were perfect - but it was a little windy.  But I felt great and had a good time.  No pic's.  I headed down to the park at about 8:30 to register this morning, got my bib and then returned home.  The park is about 5 minutes from my house and the 5k started at 10:00, while the 5mile run started at 11:00.

I was doodling around and lost track of time . . . then I realized is was 10:40, still had to gather my handheld, fill it up, and grab my ipod.  Headed out the door and got in the car and my watch read 10:48.  Drove down the street about 3 blocks - realized that I forgot my bib - turned around - ran into the house - grabbed my bib - found pins - pinned it on and was off again.  Clock now read 10:50.  As I drove I unzipped my warm up pants, so they would be ready to pull off - when I got to the stop light at 10:54 and realized it had just turned red, I figured I had time to put the car in park and took my pants off and threw them into my bag and gathered everything else up and through it in.  Light turned green - turned into the park - grabbed my bag - headed to the shelter to drop my bag - jogged to the start - arrived with 2 minutes to spare!  OK - that is cutting it a little too close for my comfort.

The run is a cross county path so I have to watch the ground the entire run, since there are twigs, tree roots and uneven footing.  Last year I actually placed 2nd in the 5k in my age - not so lucky this year - I checked the board and I was 6th in my age group - 48:44.  Although I felt great running - my time was not so great!
Oh well - it was still a fun run and I had a good time.
My lap times are as follows:
     1 - 9:24
     2 - 9:34
     3 - 10:06
     4 - 10:20
     5 - 9:20
for an average pace of 9:48.

Turkey Trot - 2nd in my age group -

This morning was the 5k Annual Turkey Trot at a park near my house.  It is a cross country style race - I debated about doing the 5Mile course - but settled on the 5k - cross country isn't something that I do very well.  I am always nervous that I will trip or twist my ankle.  The 5k started at 10 and the 5mile started at 11.  There was an option to run both of them - I did see several individuals doing just that.

This morning the temp's were cool - but I knew that it would warm up nicely and be a wonderful day for a race.  Since I only live 2 miles from the start - I didn't get there until 1/2 hours before the start.  I ran into a co-worker walking to the registration area.  I also knew that two other women from the neighborhood were running and Kerri from Running for Life! HERE -  was signed up to run the 5mile race.  

It was around 43 when I pulled up - and it was almost 50 when we finished.  I wore shorts and a light long sleeve tech shirt and my gloves - which I took off almost immediately after the race started.  I talked to my co-worker a little before the race - dumped my jacket and hat on a picnic table and was ready to race.  There is no getting into a groove with this race - you almost immediately head up a pretty steep hill.  But once up the hill - the rest of the course is slightly downhill (what goes up - must come down) and gentler rolling inclines . . . but of course you have to tackle the hill a second time - but you go up the side - which is not quite as steep . . . but then it is your second time around - so it still seems as steep.  ;-)

I saw Kerri along the way - once at the beginning, once as I came around the first loop and again as I crossed the finish line.  I think that one of the tricks to running a course like this is to be at the front of the race as much as possible.  Since much of the course travels through woods on a path - it is very difficult to pass people.  On my first mile I was definitely slower than I had wanted - but was able to pass people when we got to openings.

I finished in 28:22 (by my watch) which was second place for my age group.
My splits were:
Lap 1 - 9:31
Lap 2 - 9:05 - WOW - that is fast for me - usually my fast miles are 9:15's.
Lap 3 - 9:25
leftover - .21

I chatted with Kerri at the end - and then headed to the trailer to check the times.  In my age group there was only the 1st place person listed  and her time was 25 something - so I had no idea that I had won 2nd.  I went back to grab my jacket and hat and then got another glass of water.  I listened to the awards and then they called my name.  Yahoo!  First time I have ever placed in the top three.

I looked for my neighbors - but must have missed them.  I then headed over to the start of the 5 mile race to tell Kerri - I had to share my award with Kerri !!!!  

I stayed and took a couple of pictures at the start of the 5 mile and then around mile 2 of Kerri -

Kerri - Arms in the air!!!

This young women always has a smile on her face.  ;-)    She caught me off guard - because she pulled her yellow shirt off - but I still managed a couple of picks somewhere around mile 2.    I didn't stay to see her finish - hoping that she had a great race.  It was a beautiful day!

Enjoy and have a great weekend.  !!!!