Running, Eating, Hiking and Shopping

I started my Thanksgiving Day festivities with a local Turkey Trot 5k.  I picked up my friend Katie, my mom and sister, and it was so fun.  My finish time was 24:08, which is not my best but at this race I decided something.  I don't want to get into the habit of making excuses or looking for a reason every time I don't run my best.  Every time can't be a personal record.  It just can't.  And it won't.  Sure, I'll step on that starting line with the intention of doing my absolute best.  But if my best is 24:08 that day, I'm going to be happy with that.  I get tired of thinking about and talking about all the reasons why... not enough sleep, did not taper, too cold, too hot, my foot hurt, I didn't eat enough, I ate too much... 

So.  No more.  This runner is going to be thankful (good word for the day) for a race with friends, for a good run, for the health that allows me to do it.  That doesn't mean the next time I shoot for a PR and don't make it I won't be disappointed.  Sure, I understand that and I've been there. It's hard.  But I don't want to treat every race, especially those run for a little holiday fun, like that.  It just gets kinda silly after a while, you know?

Julie, Mom and me in our Turkey Trot 5k t-shirts.

After the Turkey Trot it was cold so as soon as we all finished running, we hopped in the car.  My amazing sister DID get a PR that day, and she was pretty excited.  She got a little worn out with running while training for her first half-marathon, and I think seeing improvement has restored her interest in it.  When I got home I took a shower, packed up my pecan pie, the ingredients for green bean casserole, my pup and Jason, and we headed to Mom and Dad's.

It was an absolute gorgeous day to be on the mountain.  Thanksgiving lunch was delicious and it was so fun to be surrounded by sweet family and friends all talking and laughing.  I love the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal and everything was great.  After lunch we headed outside where Julie took some pictures of Jason and me (for possible Christmas cards) and then we all went for a hike.  It has been so long since I have hiked on the mountain and I had forgotten how much fun it is.  Chance agreed but was worn out pretty quick since he is not used to running around that long.  He had his cousin, Jethro, with him as well which meant extra romping and wrestling.

Jethro and Chance hiking, wrestling, and sniffing all the new sniffs.

Reaching Mid-Field half way up the  mountain.

Me with my one true love on Thanksgiving Day.

It just doesn't get any better than that.  After our hike we enjoyed pecan pie made by me, apple pie made by Mark (Julie's husband) and coffee as we looked over all the Black Friday ads and made our plans for the next day (aka, that night!).  When I realized that many of the places we wanted to go opened at midnight, I had another cup of coffee for good measure.

Coffee cups and Black Friday ads

We headed home around 7:00 p.m. and when Julie and Mom told me they'd pick me up at 12:30a.m., I went to bed at 8:30...but didn't really sleep until around 10:00 or so.  Sure enough, we were out and about by 12:30, laughing at ourselves for being so crazy.  We hit up Target first where we got coffee before shopping.  Julie bought the Nintendo DS bundle she wanted for Caleb and I'm pretty sure that was the only deal we were after there.  The hardest part was standing in line all that time to purchase it, but we eventually made it out and headed to Bed, Bath & Beyond where I purchased bathmats and towels to decorate my bathroom, receiving 20% off everything.  Mom also purchased mine and Jason's Christmas present for a discount.  After that we hit Kohls, which is a place I rarely shop but I got my Dad and brother-in-law a shirt for 60% off, along with some sweaters for myself at that same discount.  I saved $128.00, spending less than that.  I was pretty excited about those purchases.  After Kohls we headed to Toys R Us for Legos, but were disappointed to find that the ones we wanted were not included in the 35% off deal.  By this time it was 5:30 a.m. so we headed to Breuggers for breakfast and home for a much needed nap. 

I crawled in bed next to my sleeping husband around 6:30 a.m. thinking I was too wound up to sleep, but it hit me and I slept until about 8:50 a.m.  I got up, had coffee, took a blissfully hot shower and hit the streets yet again with my crazy mom and sis, this time with a niece in tow.  We headed to Bridge Street shopping center and it was another gorgeous day to be out and about.  I bought a few little things for Jason, Caroline, and my soon-to-be sister-in-law, but we found the best and most surprising deal at Barnes & Noble.  They had a 50% off discount for all educational toys and games, and Legos were included!  I got Caleb's Star Wars Lego set for half price!

We ended our shopping spree around 3:00 p.m. and I was really beat this time.  I had planned to run, but my legs were tired and achy from all the walking and standing, so I cleaned my bathroom instead and put out all my new things.  It looks lovely too.  I went to bed at 8:30 p.m., not being able to hold my eyes open any longer as Jason and I watched TV.  And I slept until 7:30 the next morning.  Luxurious!!

It felt a lot like Thanksgiving Day just went on and on with a few naps sprinkled in, but it was so much fun!  I've never gotten up quite that early to shop on Black Friday before and I'm not sure I will again, but it was fun to say we did and it was fun while we did it!

Today will be house cleaning and maybe some present wrapping (so that curious eyes will not find their gifts), and one more run before I total up this week's ultra training numbers.  This is the last week before the taper...and the countdown begins for the Tallahassee Ultra Classic 50 Mile.

I'd close with "On with the training!" but that doesn't really fit anymore.  Instead, I will say it has been a wonderful Thanksgiving and I have been overwhelmed as I often am by how much I have been given.  I am blown away and humbled by it all.  And thankful.  So very thankful.