Did you know that the average person consumes
over 3,000 calories during Thanksgiving dinner alone? Add in the rest of your meals and snacks that
day and the number gets even scarier.
Start the holiday morning off right by signing up for a local Turkey Trot. Turkey Trots are a great Thanksgiving Day
tradition that joins family and friends together for a pre-meal walk, jog or
sprint.
Tips for Thanksgiving Turkey Trotters
1.
Recruit a running buddy.
Whether you keep each other company during
your training or just drive together on race day, running is always better with
a friend. Keep each other motivated and
accountable. Don’t live near each
other? Email or text daily mileage to
help stay connected. Is your family
competitive? Make it a yearly tradition
to race and see who’s been training or who has the natural talent.
2.
Prepare for the race.
Running is also always better when you’ve
been training. I would never suggest
signing up for a race and showing up race day without preparation. Most turkey trot races are the 5k distance
and you should have a good 8 weeks of running (or run-walking) under your belt
before tackling a 5k. It’s too late to
prepare for this Thanksgiving but if you ever need help with a training plan,
get in touch with me!
3.
Pace yourself.
You may think that 3 miles will be no
problem, but 3 miles will feel a lot longer if you don’t pace yourself! A common race day mistake is going out too
fast. Start out feeling
comfortable. If you feel good after the
first mile, try picking up the pace a little bit. If not, stay consistent and keep pushing
until the end!
4.
Hydrate and eat right on race morning.
Even though you will be consuming 3,000+
calories later in the day, it’s not ok to skip breakfast! Drink lots of water and eat a good breakfast
consisting of carbs and protein to get your through the race.
5.
Have fun!
Most Turkey Trots are more about having fun
and exercising than running fast times. Enjoy
yourself out there. Take in all the
sights and sounds along the course. Use
the miles to reflect on the year and recall what you are thankful for.
 |
| A few years ago my mom RAN her first 5k on Thanksgiving. |
Can’t find a Turkey Trot in your area? Head out the door anyways! Last year my best friend and I hit the trails
for our own little Turkey Trot. In this
crazy life that we live in, it’s the miles and friendships that I cherish the
most.
