Medford Lakes Colony Turkey Trot 5k (20:33)
Medford Lakes Colony Turkey Trot 20:33 Read More
Medford Lakes Turkey Trot (20:24)
Every year, the Medford Lakes Turkey Trot is one of my favorite races. I always enjoy the sense of community with local friends on Thanksgiving morning. The race itself is well put together and in one of my favorite areas which is why I continue to choose to run each year. This year was my slowest time by about 90 seconds but I had just as much fun as usual.
I knew the morning of, the race wasn’t going to be my best. My husband and I walked over 10 miles around NYC the few days prior and my legs felt like garbage. Not in the garbage that they would magically get better but like garbage. Plus it was 23 degrees with a feels like temperature much lower.
Getting to the race and parking is always easy. My husband and I warmed up and then sat in our car until 8:28 am. It was 23 degrees, and I was cold. Not the best prerace strategy but my body was not ready for the dip in temperature. I can count on my hand the number of times I’ve raced in both pants and long sleeves.
We arrived at the start, and I chatted for a couple of people. Then we were off! Turkey Trots are always fun because people go out fast. For some, it’s their only race of the year. There are also lots of young kids, who run fast and then realize it’ more than a half mile race. Like usual that’s what happened. Around then, I found myself as second woman overall because I also took it out too fast for my fitness right now.
I hit the first mile in 6:30 and my calves were tight. They weren’t engaging and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold that pace. It’s hard not to compare considering I have run half marathons faster, but I was the opposite of tapered.
The next mile was lonely, and I was passed by a few friends and women. My second mile was 6:47 and one of my slowest 5k miles in a long time. At the end of mile 2, I was the fourth woman.
The last mile was just a struggle bus to get to the end. I wasn’t sad, but just stiff. I knew it wasn’t my day.
We pass the local school around 2.75. After running for a few years, it’s always that point I want to be done.
We rounded the corner and I crossed the finish in 20:24. My personal turkey trot worst but still an enjoyable time.
After not running for 2 weeks, then walking in NY, I didn’t expect it to be in the 18:30-19:05 range where I’ve been previous years.
I’m happy to get shorter stuff on my legs and looking forward to getting back into running after the marathon.
Questions for you:
Did you run a Turkey Trot?
What is the coldest you’ve run in?
Training: Base Building
Last week began my “comeback” to running. While I’m still not sure what I’m training for, I probably won’t make any decisions until 2019. The rest of the year will be just consistently getting mileage in. I hope I’ll be able to race more, but it will be weather dependent. I’ll race in the cold, but I won’t in icy conditions (something we definitely got last winter).
| Monday: | 10ish mile walk around New York City |
| Tuesday: | 60 minute run in Central Park/Walking Around NYC |
| Wednesday: | 6 mile run easy/ART with Dr. Trish |
| Thursday: | Medford Lakes Turkey Trot (20:24) Total miles: 8ish |
| Friday: | Easy 45 minutes |
| Saturday: | Easy 60 minutes |
| Sunday: | 10 miles with 6 at 7:11 |
As mentioned, the goal for the next few weeks is consistency. I plan to do workouts and race, but I don’t have any “big goals” right now. While I enjoyed marathon training more than I have previously, I have running missed shorter distances. I want to consistently get back under 19 minutes in a 5k.
On Tuesday I got to run in Central Park. I’ve never run in Central Park outside of the marathon so it was cool to run in the park for a relaxing run. I knew it was hilly, but I didn’t realize it was that hilly!
Medford Lakes Turkey Trot: 20:24
While it’s a Turkey Trot personal worst, I had a lot of fun. After getting active release the day before, my legs were sore. I knew they weren’t going to be magically better while racing and it was what it was. Combined with walking more than I have in a long time, I just felt stiff. Immediately into the race, I knew it wasn’t my day. I ended up finishing 4th woman and in 20:24. While I know my legs can move faster, Thanksgiving wasn’t the day. It was nice to get a shorter race in though and enjoy Thanksgiving morning with friends.
Friday and Saturday were both easy.
Sunday Tempo: 10 miles with 7 averaging 7:11
The goal was to go out for a longer run and see how my legs felt. I didn’t have a specific time goal in mind for the tempo, just to get some faster miles in. The tempo itself didn’t feel like I was overexerting myself, but it did feel challenging. I’m looking forward to consistently getting more tempos in. They have been my favorite workout for a while, and I always appreciate how strong I feel afterward.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqnB9wYFMUu/
It’s hard to remember what it was like doing these runs both longer and faster but that is the beauty of fitness. I’m just glad to get back into it.
Posts from the Week:
Questions for you:
Do you prefer shorter or longer distances?
How did you celebrate Thanksgiving?
Medford Lakes Turkey Trot (19:02)
On Thanksgiving, I ran a local turkey trot. It’s one of my favorite races, and despite not feeling great, I still wanted to run. This year my calves were extremely tight, and my food poisoning was not making my motivation any better. During my warm-up, I had to stop 3 times for 3 miles to use the bathroom.
At the start, I just hoped I could make it from the start to the finish without stopping. Not something I had much success with it at the Philadelphia half.
My local running club was wearing turkey tutus, so I decided to join in too. We all lined up, and by the time we knew it, we were off. My friend, Erin and I had planned to run together and see how it went.
The first mile is crowded, and we were surrounded by a ton of people including many high schoolers. One high schooler elbowed me around a turn, and when I didn’t take it, he cursed me out. I laughed out loud and just passed him and never looks back. We hit the first mile in 6:07. I can’t say I was overly thrilled with it, but you have to race where you are.
The second mile began to spread out and Erin and I were passing a bunch of people feeling decent. She had also raced the Philadelphia half so wasn’t feeling the best either. We could see the first and second woman just 10 seconds ahead. We crossed a few roads and hit the second mile in 6:17.
The third mile became gritty. Both Erin and I were struggling but just pushed forward. We passed two younger kids. The last mile takes several turns and goes around the school. We both kicked as hard as possible.
I crossed the finish line in 19:02 and as third woman overall and Erin crossed in 19:03. It’s great to have someone to run with. Erin has beaten me in several races, and we are in about the same fitness.
It’s not my fastest time on the course (last year I ran 18:30), but it’s important not to compare yourself to anyone, including yourself. I know once my food poisoning passes out and the fatigue runs it’s course I’ll be back to feeling good and racing where I was in October.
Photos via Matthew Renk Photography
Questions for you:
Do you have someone to race with?
Did you run on Thanksgiving?
Medford Lakes Turkey Trot 5k (18:30)
On Thanksgiving, I ran the Medford Lakes Turkey Trot. I ran it last year and enjoyed the course. Plus the race organizers are friendly, so I wanted to come back. Until recently there wasn’t a “big” South Jersey Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot.
This year the Medford Lakes turkey trot had about 1000 people. Medford is one of my favorite New Jersey towns, slightly woodsy and probably filled with plenty of wild turkeys…perfect for the day.
My husband and I arrived around 7:30 for the race at 8:30. To my surprise, I achieved one of the greatest accomplishments in racing history. Somehow in the 1000 person race, I was number 1. This is a race number that will be on the fridge for a very long time. Even though I was tired from the Philly half, it’s hard to be sad when you are race number 1.
We warmed up, easily got to the bathroom and made it to the start line by 8:30. Before we knew it, we were off. I never saw my husband after the gun went off. During the first quarter mile, I found myself as 10th women overall. I thought, woah this year got competitive. I said I would be happy under 19, but my dream goal was 18:35 (6 min pace). Last year I ran a great race of 18:48.
We hit the first mile in 5:56. It was a little bit faster than I anticipated and I wondered, would I regress and positive split? I was fourth women at that point and was running with a pack of males.
During the second mile, I kept waiting for my husband to pass me. I knew he was in much better fitness, so it was troubling he hadn’t run past me.
I began running closely to the third place women. My legs didn’t feel bad, but I could feel the Philly half in my legs too. I felt as if I was working hard but still had gas left in the tank. I hoped I would be able to hold under 6:15 for the last two miles and told myself I would be happy with that. I crossed mile 2 in 6:02 and found myself as second women overall.
I could see the first place women about 15 seconds in front. I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch her but it gave me something to focus on. As we winded through the woods, I found myself running alone. Someone chanted: way to go number 1. I wasn’t first but it was motivating. I became more confident and I was able to crank another 6-minute mile. We made the last turn and I crossed the third mile in 6:00 exactly.
The last .1, I just focused on the end and crossed in 18:30 by the chip time. At the very last second, I saw my husband, and I realized he was over and done. He ran a 17:15 which is his fastest since joining the Air Force 5 years ago. He had been in the lead pack the entire time which is why I never saw him. Honestly, I’m more excited for him than me.
Thoughts:
I’m happy with my race, especially after Philly. It’s my fastest 5k post injury, so I can’t complain about that. In fact looking back it’s one of my fastest 5ks in 2016. The only two 5ks I’ve run faster have both been PRs (at the time).
The Resolution Run (18:22) in a prom dress
My Current PR: The Flower Show 5k (18:13)
Questions for you:
Did you run a Turkey Trot?
How was your Thanksgiving?