Race Recap: Chester County Turkey Trot 5K 2014

Last recap of 2014!  Finally!

Chester Country Turkey Trot 5K
November 27, 2014



My 2014 race year ended with an unexpected bang - a new 5K PR!  I have been doing this race for several years now - you can read last years recap here.  It's such a good way to start the morning and burn some calories.

The race takes place at the local high school.  It is supposed to run on the roads around the school, but it had snowed on Wednesday night and the roads weren't in great continue.  They re-routed the course to be 100% on the high school property.  Ends up being a 2 loop course which isn't as great as the 1 loop course, but it works!

It was really cold that morning so I tried to stay in the car as long as possible and only headed to the start 5 minutes prior to the start time.  But then the start got pushed about 5 minutes, so ended up being more like 10 minutes.  By the time the race started, my feet were popsicles.

I wasn't sure what I would do with this race heading into it.  Would I race it?  Take it easy?  Philly had been the weekend before and my legs had felt like lead.  In the end, it literally was decided in the first mile. 

When they hit the start gun, I was cold and tight.  I figured I would take it easy... but as the mile went on, I started to loosen up and feel good.  My pace picked up and I decided in that moment I would race it.  I started to push my legs to see what they could do. 

The first mile was just about an 8 minute mile and it just dropped from there.  By the time I hit the last 0.1, my legs were burning.  But I just pushed through it.  I refused to give up. 

The end was tough, but I was so glad I pushed through the pain.  My finishing time was 22:57 - the first time I've ever gotten under 23 minutes!  Final pace was 7:23 - holy cow!

In the end, this race was a great way to end my 2014.  I closed the year out with new PR's in the 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon.  It was a great 2014!

Results
Official: 3.10 mi, 22:57, 7:23 pace
Garmin: 3.09 mi, 22:57,  7:26 pace

Can't wait to continue my Thanksgiving tradition next year!

Even though it was freezing, I was proud to wear my Oiselle singlet!

Race Recap: Chester County Turkey Trot

Chester County Turkey Trot 5K
November 28, 2013

This is my 5th year running this race.  I love the idea of doing a race the morning of Thanksgiving (counteracting all the turkey I know I will eat) and the 5K is the perfect distance.

The first couple of years I did the race, it was really small.  It was held in the parking lot of the grocery store.  But over the last couple of years, the race has really grown.  It's now held at the local high school  and runs around there.

My mom nicely picked up my chip and shirt the day before for me.  You can also pick it up race morning.  We got nice navy blue v-neck shirts and the logo is orange (it's above).  An orange and blue shirt - I love it!

The way the course runs, you have to get there pretty early because they close the roads.  We stayed in the car and kept warm as long as possible.

I head to the race about 10 minutes before it started.  Still to long.  I was a popsicle by the time it started!  At the start line, they did have estimated pace signs to line at... which I am pretty sure everyone ignored.  When the race started people in front of my were definitely not going at the right pace.  I know it's hard to enforce that, but it was frustrating.

My first mile was my slowest.  I was weaving a little and trying to regain feeling in my feet.  I think if I hadn't been dodging the slower people, my first mile would have been faster.

The course goes around the high school and does an out and back towards town before heading to the finish.  By the end of mile 1, my feet had warmed up and I was really getting into my groove.  The course is pretty flat which helped with my pace.  Mile 2 ended up closes to an 8 min/pace and I kept it up for the last mile.

Heading into the last .1, I was feeling strong and was excited to be done!  My final pace was just over an 8 minute per mile pace.  I do think if the first mile had been more open and I hadn't had to dodge people, I would have dropped below 8.  Either way, I was really happy with my time!

Splits

Results
Official: 3.1 miles, 25:07, 8:06 pace
Garmin: 3.11 miles, 25:07, 8:05 pace

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Just a quick note today.  I started my day by running a Turkey Trot 5K and am looking forward to lots of food this afternoon with the family!  Just how I like to spend today (or really, any day).

I hope whatever your plans are, you have a wonderful day and happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, gobble!