Detroit Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving morning was my 4th year running the Detroit Turkey Trot.  The event offers three distances; 1 mile aka Mashed Potato Mile, 5K aka Stuffing Strut and 10K aka Turkey Trot.  I have ran the 10K each of the 4 years I've registered. 

I wasn't feeling this race at all that morning.  I was cold, I knew I would be slow and had kind of wish I had just stayed in bed.  This is unlike me.  I love races.  Lately my pace has been so slow that it has really done a number on my confidence with running.  I had registered to start in the first wave but opted to go with the 2nd.  Big mistake.  Every year I am weaving in and out of people, dodging walkers and this was no different!  I kept reminding myself that I didn't care about my time, but my legs felt fresh and strong. 

Around 3 miles in I caught up to one of my running buddies from the YMCA.  We ran the last half together.  At the end, my Garmin read 6.37 miles, 48:27 with a 7:37 pace.  Not my fastest 10K but definitely one of the fastest runs I have had since being pregnant.  Maybe those slow weekly runs are what I need to get a fast race in!

Jeff (one of my running friends) & I after the 10K, sporting our other friends running team shirts.

Official Results:
Finish Time: 48:23
Pace: 7:47 (my Garmin read 6.37 miles with a 7:37 pace)
AG Place: 27/563

Weekly Running & Exercise

Last weeks running and exercise.

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday: 5.5 mile run w/ 8 x 400's

Wednesday: 3 mile run, strength training: biceps, triceps, shoulders & core

Thursday: Detroit Turkey Trot 10K 46:59, 7:34 pace

Friday: 10 hours of being on my feet while shopping! I wish I had my garmin with me or a pedometer to see how far we walked!

Saturday: 7 mile run on treadmill (in 2 segments; 4 miles, lifted weights, 3 miles), strength training: back, shoulders, chest

Sunday: 6 miles easy run on treadmill (in 2 segments; 3 miles 25:50, strength training, 3 miles 25:36), strength training: legs & core

Total Mileage: 27.70 (my goal is to run a minimum 25-30 miles a week until marathon traning begins)

Detroit Turkey Trot 10K Results

First, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mine started off the way it has for the past few years by running the Detroit Turkey Trot. This year they implemented a new wave start due to the crowd of 17,000+ 5K and 10K runners and walkers! I was in the first wave and super excited at the fact that I would start out running without bottle necking and coming to a complete stop. Too bad that was just wishful thinking! Oh well, this is supposed to be a fun run, right? I only missed a 10K PR by 8 seconds! I wasn't expecting a PR due to the crowd. I went in just wanting to run and have fun. Which I did, but it was a nice surprise to see how close I came to a PR. My garmin measured the course at 6.3 mile. If that is the case, my pace would have been 7:28. But official results say otherwise.

Official Results:
Finish Time: 46:59
Pace: 7:34
Age Group Place: 9th out of 446
Gender Place: 91 out of 2,941
Overall: 582 out of 6,294

Here are a couple pictures from the race. Not as bad as they usually turn out. I was totally talking to the girl in front of me though!

It's like photo hunt, take a close look and find what is wrong?



Can't find it? Look at my headband!

Must be a new way Nike is is manufacturing the 'swoosh'. or, maybe I just put my headband on upside down.

Run Thru Hell 10K Race Results

What a HUGE success this event was. Thanks to all that were involved in volunteering, donating and participating my aunt and uncle will now be the proud new owners of a brand new Ford cargo van fully equipped with a hydraulic lift for a wheel chair! and 2 years of insurance will be fully paid for up front. Amazing!!

It was such a cold morning! I appreciated the weather about 1 mile into the race. I ran with my dad and like always, he was pushing me hard. I completely forgot about how hilly the course is. My goal was to finish around 45:00-45:45, which did not happen. The first mile killed us! It was so bottle necked and we were dodging people left and right. Our pace when we hit the 1 mile marker was 8:45!! Once the 10K course split off from the 5K runners, it thinned out and gave us more room to make up some ground. We ended up crossing the finish line at 46:52. This gave me a new 10K PR, beating my previous best by 1:53.

Official Results:

Finish Time 46:52
Pace 7:33
Age Group Place 6/88
Gender Place 39/619
Overall 171/1186

The only picture of me on the course and it has to look like this!



My Dad (in white), Chuck Block (the person who organized this event) and the lady of honor Dolores Hensley.



Group shots before the race

A Touching Event

I know it's months away, but I am really looking forward to running this race. All proceeds will be donated to Dolores & Harrison Hensley to purchase a wheel chair assessable minivan for Dolores.

Dolores is my aunt. My great aunt to be exact. My dad's aunt and uncle.

Unc (that is what we call him) used to run races almost every weekend, sometimes 2! Not only that, he put on the famous Run Thru Hell in Pinckney, MI which lasted many, many years. That is, until my aunt Dolores had a stroke. Now it's been 2 years since the last Run Thru Hell and it's been over a year since my Unc has ran. This is a man in his late 70's, ran numerous marathons including Boston, etc...

After 2 years of not having this famous race, someone decided to take this on and make it a one time event to help out two of some of the most dedicated people involved in the Michigan running community.

I really, really look forward to this. And I am hoping they have a turn out better then any of the Run Thru Hell races Unc put on!

http://www.runningfoundation.com/Run_Thru_Hell_Halloween.html
If you have been a runner in Michigan for the last several years then you
undoubtedly know or have seen Dolores and Harrison Hensley. They put on
the Run Thru Hell Race for many years which was a quality event that
thousand of runners competed in. They would also travel to races every
weekend and even go to mid week races. Dolores would help with
registration and work the finish chute and Harrison would take with him entry
forms from hundreds of races so runners could look through them and take
the forms home. They were very active and important people in the Michigan
running community. This all came to end in November of 2008 when Dolores
suffered a stroke. Now these once active and vibrant people are confined to
their house. They miss seeing all the runners every weekend and we miss
seeing their smiles and all the help they brought to the race.
This race is for them. This is a one time race that will not be held again. The
entire entry fee will go to the purchase of a wheelchair assessable minivan
so Dolores and Harrison can once again go to the races.

Successful 5K finish!

I PRed! I beat my previous finish time by 9 seconds for a new PR of 23:02! I really think I could have come in under 23 minutes had I not realized I ran the first mile in 6:53. That really messed with my head. I started to convince myself there is no way I could keep that pace and slowed down. I was able to pick it up at mile 2 and again when I hit mile 3. And of course, I had to pass the young guy running next to me, so I sprinted past him to the finish line.

Official Results:
23:02
7:26 pace
2nd/42 in my age group
63rd/442

Next up, the Turkey Trot 10K where I hope to PR again! Time to beat is 48:45.

I just couldn't wait...

until June 15th for my first update. I never thought I would be this excited to begin an 18 week marathon training program, but I am! I am counting down the days (10 to be exact). I know it will take extreme dedication and will be very intense, but I am so ready to take it on! I will be following Hal Higdon's Novice 1 program, per the advice of my dad. And for those that do not know this, I will be running my first marathon with my dad. Now, he is faster and a much more experienced runner than myself, but he has made the decision to run with me. and when I say with me, that means by my side the entire way. Thanks Dad. I am sure I will him/you there for support!

As a last Hurrah, I am running a 10K race on June 12th in Trenton, MI called the Refuge River Run. I ran this race last year but it was an 8K. They have made some changes to this race and it will now be a 5K & 10K race. I am hoping to PR. My current 10K PR is 48:59, 7:53 pace. I think a PR is doable. It will be a great way to kick off my training!