Saturday, November 8, 2014

Because There IS a First Time for Everything

We woke up early like you do on race day. The kids had to be pried out of bed, as usual. I’m pretty sure I slept a lot as a teenager, but now that I’m a parent, the amount of sleep these teens seem to crave and  require is ridiculous to me.

Antoni, our Spanish exchange student, grabbed his typical breakfast of toast with olive oil and lots of salt. Then I did the motherly ritual that my kids have grown to know so well..I pinned his race bib on his shirt. To him, it was just a necessity. To me it felt like a rite of passage.

There was nothing routine about this race for Antoni as this was his first race ever. I got to explain the timing chip that was part of his bib, the fact that there would be water on the course for him, and the certainty that there would be  lots of food after. I got to observe him as he took in the crazy race day energy that is a turkey trot in a small town.

I loved that I got to be part of his first race and expose him to a ritual our family does every year. I don’t force my kids to run, but if you are part of our family, you probably do 1-2 10Ks or 5Ks per year, even if my kids don’t run a step between. It’s our tradition.

Antoni and my daughter Emma opted for the 2 mile run while Ken and I ran the 10K. Sam, age 17, volunteered at one of the aid stations.

I loved this morning. Not just because I got a PR (my fastest 10K by 2 whole minutes – 47:27!), or that the sun shone with such determination before the impending cold front, or that the snow capped mountains looked particularly majestic against the blue sky.

What I loved most about this morning was the sheer act of running in my community, surrounded by those who love the sport as much as I do. What I loved most was knowing my whole family was on the course. What I loved most was the act of running and how it brings us all together regardless of age or culture.

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And, Antoni? His olive oil and toast fueled him well for a 19 minute 2 miler. I saw him at the finish with a big smile on his face and a bottle of water in his hand. It was his first race, but I have a feeling (and hope) it won’t be his last.

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What was the first race you ever ran? Mine was the Bolder Boulder 10K in 2000 (1:10). I had never run before and decided to do this. I don’t think I really ran again until 2008.

Do you have plans for a Turkey Trot this year?

 

SUAR

29 comments:

  1. My first race: I ran a local 5K - and missed the pin bucket at packet pickup. In a panic, I debated using dental floss to tie my bib around me (since I figured it was my fault I didn't bring my own pins). Luckily, I went to the check in table in defeat, and saw the pins before I had to admit my folly.

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  2. I ran the 55m dash freshman year of high school track (1998) and finished dead last. My coach immediately switched me to the 2 mile after that.

    My dad and I do our local turkey trot, and we walk the 5K instead of run. It's been a tradition for nearly 15 years!

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  3. First race that really inspired me to become a runner was the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC in 2012. Fast forward to today and I Boston Qualified on my 3rd marathon at the Savannah Rock 'n Roll!! I love all the reasons you gave for your love of running. For me, the greatest satisfaction comes from the discipline it takes to see how much better I can be! Dreams realized today! :)

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  4. I'm actually running a Turkey Trot this year! I haven't done one for a while. My oldest son ran one with me about 5 years ago. Of course, now he's too cool for that. Too bad. I think we both placed in our age groups. We also did a Santa run that year, wearing full Santa regalia. NIce that you can still get your teens to go.

    This year's Turkey Trot is an 8K, and I'm meeting up with some running friends.

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  5. My first race ever was the St. Louis RnR 13.1. That's the race the got me into running and I've been running ever since!

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  6. My first race was sometime around 1980.

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  7. I'm doing a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (4th annual for me), and this year I'm making the 16- and 18-year old sons join me. They owe me because a few summers ago I asked them to run a 5K with me as my birthday present, and I'm finally making them pay up. I can't wait to have all three of us on the course at the same time. My brother, sister-in-law and their two kids will be on the course too. Love this!

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  8. That's so great! I was able to convince my mom to walk my first 5k with me. She was very proud too! It was a turkey trot in 2011. Sense I have run 10 half marathons and countless other races. An addict now.

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  9. Love! And I might have to try that toast with olive oil and salt. salt ... so good.

    My first race was a 5K sponsored by a now-defunct local brewery in 2008. I was really proud to have ran the whole thing, and I did it in 42 minutes and change. Crazy to think I now run 25 minutes!

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  10. Mine was a hot 5k in the middle of the summer.

    I am doing a Gobble Gallop 5k with a friend this year. It will be her first race ever, and I'm so excited for her! Just hope we don't get mountains of snow first.

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  11. Nice PR! Congratulations! And a 19-min 2 miler isn't shabby at all. Good for Antoni. My first race ever was the Crescent City Classic 10k. I ran 48:xx and was totally surprised. I had been running sporadically before the race, but I didn't own any kind of watch and had no idea what pace I was running. I finished a lot faster than I expected to.

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  12. No turkey, no turkey trot. I'm sure there must be turkey trots up here, but they haven't made my radar. Then again, I need to get out more.
    My first race was the Chinook half iron.
    Oh, and is Emma taller than you now. I know you were shattered when Sam started towering over you, but Emma too now?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it is kind of sad to now be the shortest one in the family. Luckily the dog is not taller unless he gets on her hind legs (which she does on occasion).

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  13. I can't think about anything except toast with olive oil and salt now. That sounds so good!

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  14. How fun! I plan on doing a long run on Thanksgiving before indulging in all the yummy food. -L

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  15. Congrats on a PR!!!! My first race was the Harrisburg Half Marathon. I was training for a marathon so it was kind of like my "dress rehearsal". No Turkey Trots for me. I have never run a race on Thanksgiving as it is such a crazy day to begin with that racing would just add to my stress!

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  16. I ran the Bonne Bell 10K in 1977 up in Phoenix at the Biltmore. Came in under 45 but never broke 40 for my 10k time...so close, so close! (41:00)

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  17. Congrats on a great race! I can't wait until my son is old enough to run with me! I'm considering the Drumstick Dash here in Indy on Thanksgiving morning.

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  18. My first race was a 5k in September of 2009, and the addiction has been going strong ever since. I like to do various distances now and ran my first Marathon this year.

    I've never done a Turkey Trot, my city doesn't have one that I know of but they sound fun!

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  19. It was great to meet you at the start Saturday. Congratulations on your PR! It was a perfect weather day (I'm not looking forward to the next week--hello treadmill). I managed a PR as well--my previous best 10K time happened to also be my first race ever: the Bolder Boulder back in 1997. Hooray for getting better with age!

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    1. Great to meet you too...glad you had a good day out there!

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  20. My first race was the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k in 2010. After that I had two babies and didn't run again until late last year. I am signed up for my first Turkey Trot (the Wattle Waddle) this year!

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  21. Having a grumpy day, so thank you for bringing up a happy memory! My first race was the Råskinnet 2013. "Råskinnet" roughly translates to "thug", and it is a 9km run through a frozen forest/swamp area just outside of Oslo in early spring every year. At the fourth km I had a huge personal breakthrough, and I am grateful every day.

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  22. I totally volunteered at this race! Should have known to look for you all. :)

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  23. I ran when I was younger but don't include those in my now racing stats! I am old and try to forget when I was young and spry! Last May I ran my first adulthood 5k and about died!!

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  24. The Bolder Boulder is on my bucket list. Hope to make it there one day soon

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  25. Please tell me more about this toast. My mouth is watering.

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