Holiday 'FUN' Runs

Happy Holidays everyone. I was going to make this another race review but I thought I would talk about Holiday races, AKA Turkey Trots, Jingle Runs, etc. etc.

   Since 2013 I have taken part in the Thanksgiving Turkey Run 5 Miler hosted by the YMCA in Southern West Virginia. We go there every year and stay with the in-laws and it has become a tradition of mine that when we're up I take part in this race. Every year there's a cold snap that lasts Thanksgiving day but still I go and so do a lot of others. The one thing I like about this race is people come to race. They have trophies for age group winner and overall top 3 male and female runners. They even have a separate walking category.
   A lot of people say that Turkey Trots are for having fun with your friends and shouldn't be about competition. The fact is I have fun when I'm competing against others, most people do. If you want to run along and enjoy it, by all means go for it. I will be right there cheering you to the finish like I do at other races.
   I think the holidays are pretty crazy with the traffic, family you don't really see and shopping that goes on, that reminds me I need to start shopping myself. If you want to race, go race. If you want to have fun, go have fun. A holiday run is what you make of it.

As for my results, I placed 3rd this year and broke a 4 year old PR! #gettingbetterwithage

Richmond Marathon Recap

This was my third year running the Richmond marathon and it was the best one yet. Once again I was a pacer but moved up to the 4:45 group from 5:30. I have to say it felt a lot better pacing closer to my normal pace and look forward to doing it again.

  After my health scare I decided that I was done running fulls after this year but finishing at 4:46 just gives me the desire to run one for me. So it comes as no surprise that I'm getting back in the game.  I'm thinking something in the Spring would be a good choice. 

 Anyway back to the marathon. As I was saying I was the 4:45 pacer and started with 3 people running with me until mile 9 or so. Two of the pacers started in the wrong corral so we didn't catch them until about mile 4 but we ran together for awhile until they stopped at a water stop to long. I stopped long enough for the runners I was with to get a drink and we pressed on. Soon I was down to one person running with me, a woman named Carrie that had never broke 5 hours at a full and really wanted to. Since she was the last runner with me I was determined to get her across the line and make her goal. We had some time banked but she started to get leg cramps around mile 23 so we started to walk/run the rest of the way. 

 Her husband and children were at mile 26 waiting for us and I have never seen a look of determination like I did on Carrie. We rounded the corner and ran all the way to the finish. After thank you and hugs and a finisher photo together, I realized I'm not done with the marathon. I've still got miles in me and goals I need to make. And that is my Richmond Marathon recap.

P.S. It really is a lovely race, the neighborhoods and town really get behind it and there are people cheering almost every step of the way. If your looking for a fall event, give it a try.