Tips for Thanksgiving Turkey Trotters

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.