YMCA Turkey Trot 6 Miler

ORN: There was a distance guessing game at the end of the race, so they deliberately didn't make it a standard distance. My gear told me it was 5.78 miles, which I ran in 56'29". I was pretty proud of that time since I was on pace for a PR in the 10K, had the distance gone on another 4/10ths of a mile or so. I could have continued on and ran that extra piece, but I was anxious to get in the car and continue with my day.

I woke up wide awake more than an hour and a half before race-time. I tried sleeping a little longer, until my alarm was supposed to go off, but it was no use. I rose and dressed, packing a Gu gel and a granola bar for breakfast. I got to the YMCA nearly a full hour before the gun time, so I sat there, inside the Y, and waited. Most other people where there with family or friends. I was alone with my granola bar. Don't feel sorry for me, though -- they had coffee!

So I sipped some bad coffee and waited and waited. The place slowly began to fill up with people with Starbucks cups and better cold-weather gear than I seeking relief from the morning cold. [It was 27° outside according to the digital wall thermometer.] As I sat against a wall sipping, the crowd swelled and bulged closer. When clueless dads and uncles began to get so close to me that I was staring at wall-to-wall man-ass, I stood up and got in line for the bathroom.

After a quick tinkle, I sucked down my orange Gu gel and had a little water to wash it down. At 15 minutes before race time, the place was packed tight with runners, and the YMCA staff was yelling over bullhorns to keep the walkways clear. The noise was harshing my mellow, so I began to elbow my way outside.

Outside, it was damned cold. The day was sub-freezing and slowly growing brighter; at least it wasn't windy. I had dressed appropriately for running six miles in this weather, but I was under-dressed for standing around waiting. I hopped around and walked around and bounced, trying to keep warm until the gun went off.

Precisely on time, they started the race. Even though we all had timing chips, I noticed there was no starting mat. Everyone had the same start time. We all shuffled forward several steps, and then we were off.

The course was surprisingly flat throughout. The first mile, I was struggling to get warmed up. We ran through the neighborhoods surrounding the YMCA, and the home owners, warm and cozy in their bed clothes and steaming coffee cups, waved at us through their picture windows. Some kids wearing coats over their pajamas waved from front porches. I waved back because, in spite of the coldness, I felt great.

The course wended through neighborhoods and got boring fast. The twists and turns up and down suburban streets did little to keep things interesting. I regretted not having my iPod. But the volunteers were great. They stood at the many turning points and cheered us on. They cheerfully handed us water, despite the bitter cold. We all thanked them when we saw them.

By the fourth or fifth mile I had that moment when I felt like I could run all day. I guess the Gu kicked in or something. So with the race drawing to a close, I began to pick up the pace. I was huffing and puffing hard. Still, my legs had something left in them, and I wished, as I said before, that there was a little more distance to run. Alas, they cut the race short this year.

I didn't stay for any festivities. I didn't even get any water or a banana afterward. I jumped in my car and raced home because we were on a tight schedule for the rest of the day. I was anxious to get our Thanksgiving over with and get on the road for our mini-vacation in Indianapolis. I'd spend most of the balance of Thanksgiving day in the car with my two most important people -- Wifey and Little One. It was a good day.