Detroit Turkey Trot Race Recap!

I can’t believe Thanksgiving was one week ago. Just like that, my favorite holiday came and went, and before I knew it, I was in a post-Thanksgiving-cheesy-potato coma and decorating my house for Christmas.

It is a yearly tradition for me to start off my favorite day with the Detroit Turkey Trot 10k. With almost 20,000 runners, Detroit has some serious bragging rights for being the biggest turkey trot in the nation. Thousands of runners line the streets in Detroit dressed as turkeys, reindeer, pilgrims, and Santa and pre-burn some calories that are bound to be consumed throughout the day.

Per tradition, at 5:45 am, my day started off with the Leigh Ann and Lori at Einstein Bagels for carbs, caffeine, and girl talk. Because Lori had to expectantly jet home to Canada that morning, it meant that it was just Leigh Ann and I for the trot.  Our race plan for the morning was to have fun and celebrate the miles. What made the day even more awesome is that it was Leigh Ann’s first race after giving birth to a son just 6 weeks prior! (I have since dubbed Leigh Ann a “magical pregnancy unicorn.”)

Pre-Race smiles in Campus Martius

The race began and off we went to enjoy a nice 6.2 mile run around the city. Because the Thanksgiving parade begins directly after the Turkey Trot, most of the streets are lined with parade-spectators-turned-obligatory-race-cheerleaders. Kids line the course offering high fives and Detroit Lions fans chant and cheer from their early morning game day tailgates.

Overall- I could not have asked for a better way to start my day. Leigh Ann and I were in full-on chatty mode during the entire race so I magically missed the 2-mile marker and didn't realize it until I saw the 3 –mile marker. Later on in the race after running through the traditional sugar cookie and candy cane aid station (amazing), I told Leigh Ann that we had just passed the 4-mile marker. A fellow runner overheard me, because she turned around and said that was the actually the 5-mile marker and the finish line was just right ahead.

The fresh air, the girl talk, the excitement in the city, and celebrating my health by running was a perfect way to kick-off Thanksgiving. This day is all about taking a moment to reflect on being grateful for so many things that I sometimes absentmindedly take for granted. Running 6.2 miles with some of my best friends in tow is a tradition that I look forward to carrying on for many more years!

Post-race cheers.