The running phase of my adult life was jump-started at a Run to the Far Side post-Thanksgiving 5K run years ago. It consisted of my office spouse dragging my sorry, stuffy, creaky self along a course of merrimakers dressed as cows, cavemen, and fish. That was my first run race of any kind, a novelty that sounded like a good idea given the usual Thanksgiving pork out. Gasping at the end, I realized that sometime after the endorphins kick in, all this suffering is really fun. Being in the midst of a healthy and chipper crowd that cheers everyone on, was fabulous.
Since then, some kind of Turkey Trot has become a staple of our holiday. When I lived in Cupertino, W & I could enjoy Wildcat Canyon Hikes on Thanksgiving morning, but alas, that is a commute away now. Last year we joined the Silicon Valley Turkey trot, which actually takes place on Thanksgiving Day. P came along as moral support, grumbling about what kind of fool would wake up extra early on a holiday to go run. We were all astounded by the size of the crowd- literally thousands of people. They sold out of race slots, ran out of T-shirts. They also held a wonderful canned food drive for the less fortunate.
Yesterday, P & I met up with friends of Team Calamba for a tiny, local turkey trot. We decided on this 5K because it’s a distance P is comfortable with there’s no need to drive to San Jose or San Francisco like the other 2 runs we considered.
Team Calamba (as I have dubbed them) consists of my former colleague, her spouse (my triathlon training buddy), and their two remarkably sociable and beautiful little athletes in training. Daddy C ran the 5K pushing both boys in a jog chariot (and STILL left us in his dust). Granddaddy C, by the way, ran the San Jose half-marathon with us just last month- so clearly these boys have some seriously kickin’ run genes in them!
The run was lovely, taking place in this freakishly sunny November, through grass and misty trees, onto Chavez middle school track, back through grass, up a rocky scramble, onto the creek trail where we oft bike, back down the trail and through the park, finally to the finish chute marked by sloppily arranged orange tape (so that half the runners, admittedly including myself, almost ran past, rather than into, the chute. Until screaming teenaged recreation staff hollered us into averting course to the proper timing area.)
We milled about post-race, congratulating ourselves on getting up and exercising early on a Sunday. Played around with the Team Calamba cuties, marveled at the way each hot-bodied athlete was visibly steaming as warm body met brisk, cold air.
This small race had no advertising outside of the city, and the turn out was fairly small, comprised primarily of Logan High School track team teens built like gazelles. Us slow folks with double their body mass contented ourselves with “participant” ribbons.
We ate Cliff bars and chattered away until the prizes and announcements were being blared through megaphone. Suddenly one of friends was asked to go get a medal. Her response: ” Are you SERIOUS?!” For after all, she had literally walked the 5K.
Suddenly, we realized that there was only a handful in our (old) age cohort of women at this race. Haha we said. We might actually win something. Next thing you know, I am being given a silver medal for 2nd place in my (OLD) age group. Then, they announce that “P…last name unpronounceable wins 1st place for women aged 30-39, is P here?”
“Uh, yes I’m here- but I’m NOT a woman!”
oops! the registration girl is very embarassed and apologizes.
I am asked to return because now I am the default 1st place winner! We are all on a delirious laughing jag, and suddenly a young man hands me a huge parcel in a plastic Safeway bag. Apparently my prize is a 14 lb. frozen turkey!! Heck, we had no idea there were gonna be any prizes for this run. Normally the local runs only feature donated coffee from Paddy’s and boxes of Krispy Kreme.
Mom had already ordered a Honeybaked Ham for Thanksgiving, and I was pondering buying a roast duck. Was not sure if I felt up to taking on a whole turkey yet again this year-but alas, I ran my way into owning a turkey. Thus, the dinner table this year will again feature H’s herb/oil/wine infused turkey.
Be Thankful y’all. I surely am.
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Thank you Helen. I LOVE these stories, and this one just might inspire me to start running (for the first time since High School, when it was compulsory!).
Tad 11.24.08 @ 2:43 pm