I love Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. Instead of focusing on giving presents, we are forced to look around and realize how many wonderful gifts have been given to us. It encourages family and friends to get together and say thank you to each other for being so awesome. There is football on all day and nobody has to go to work. But most importantly, there is a giant meal of casseroles consisting of food that was healthy before it was baked into butter and unnecessary starches, and you’re encouraged to eat as much as you can. Man, it’s the best. Eating all of that food usually makes you feel terrible, but just long enough until the ten different pies are passed out, and then you feel worse.

Knowing I was going to stuff my face with a 4,000 calorie meal, I registered myself for a 5k race Thanksgiving morning, known fondly to many communities as a Turkey Trot. Following my lead, the family joined in, and eight of us drove over to beautiful Troy, NY to get a little jog in before we had to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for 26 in three hours (but that’s a whole other story).

This was my dad’s first race! He had been training with my mom, starting way back when she started training for the Freihofer. He had a great race, finishing in 35 minutes!

I did not have a great race. I am not really a runner (in that, I don’t actually run), but I always have the best intentions when I sign up for these 5ks. I think, “hey, maybe if I have to run in an organized, public race, I’ll actually train and be able to run more than a mile.” Nope. Not the case. I am not easily embarrassed and I’m not competitive, so that kind of logic doesn’t work. So, train I did not (again). Jon and Ellie were kind and ran with me and put up with my frustration and defiant attitude. At one point I actually started to unpin my bib and walk to the sidewalk. I didn’t get far before Jon and Ellie pulled me back and called me an idiot. I’m very lucky to have such a great team cheering for me, especially when I don’t deserve it. Overall, I probably ran about half, walking without shame. I did sprint across the finish line, finishing seven seconds before Jon, who got blocked by someone who evidently had already eaten her pie that morning. (Ooof, pot calling the kettle black?)


So, 2FNSers,  I need your help. Jon started this blog for accountability, and he’s been so successful, I have to admit, I’m jealous. I’ll be posting my progress, so make fun of me when it’s pathetic and shame me into doing more.

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you’re all getting ready for the post-Turkey day Weigh-In Wednesday...