Well...that *was* an interesting race...

Let me preface by the fact we almost missed the race. It took forever to drag our buns out of bed, find a working ATM and just get our butts in the car. We sat in bumper to bumper traffic for about 30 minutes (all race traffic at that), parked in the LP Zoo parking lot and dashed off to the start line. Right as we're walking up, they're finishing the Star Spangled Banner...and a few moments later, the gun went off. We started in the back of the group, but there were a few hundred people still running up behind us (last year parking was a problem, too). At least it was a timed event.

Temperature-wise, the weather was absolutely ideal. Although I was definitely overdressed. I should've just been in shorts and a long-sleeved tee. But instead, I was in capri's, long-sleeve shirt and a running vest. I was overheated by mile 1. By the time I finished the race, my face was BRIGHT RED!!! Oof.

It was a beautiful day for a run, and we had lots of fun. Mike and I ran together for about the first 3/4's of a mile, and in his competitive nature he ditched me and moved on (like I'd ever hold him back?). No major aches and pains, just some tight hip flexors. I definitely was a bit rusty out there, but it felt great to be pounding the pavement. So I really only have two cute lil' stories to share about yesterday's run...

1. Just before mile 2 I was running along next to a dad pushing his daughter in a jogger. The was loooooooving it and singing Old MacDonald at the top of her lungs. So after we learned that he had a pig, a cow and a duck, I joined in during a little E-I-E-I-O...which this darling little girl stopped singing, looked at me and said "I'm a soloist. I don't sing with anyone else." I nearly keeled over in laughter. Apparently, I was running next a future American Idol with the most hilarious diva attitude...she couldn't have been any older than four. Too cute!

2. Just after the three mile mark, a woman started telling me how she thought this was a 5k and not an 8k...she was having a rough time. Apparently, she had given birth six weeks prior, this was her "comeback run" (hadn't done any running since her second trimester) and she kept proclaiming how her "breasts were about to burst." Ouch. I felt really bad, so I talked through the next half mile or so, and then she needed to walk some more. Hopefully she finished in one piece and with limited soreness.

The finish line was a zoo, but Mike and I somehow met up quickly and headed home to get ready for some turkey and pie.

I went into the Turkey Trot with absolutely no expectations...and walked away with a pretty little PR. My last "official" registered 8k time was 1:03:37 back in April (Shamrock Shuffle).

Yesterday, I finished in 56:12, for an 11:19 pace. I'm quite pleased with myself. :)

But our Turkey Day was fabulous. As usual, I ate way too much food and nearly fell asleep at the dining room table. The pumpkin pie was a little slice of heaven.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAnd my sister made it into town safely and we've been having a good time thus far catching up, hanging out, and of course...napping (we're both EXCELLENT nappers).

More later.

Peace, yo.