Boy am I a sucker for tradition, and Thanksgiving is the epitome of that for me. From leaving pumpkin muffins on friends’ doorsteps before dawn, to hosting dinner for family and friends, to running the Drumstick Dash in Indianapolis. I love love LOVE Thanksgiving!!
Starting in college when I worked for Starbucks, I worked every Thanksgiving Day (I would have been crazy to give up time and a half!). I then would host dinner that night or the next day for my family and coworkers, and I’ve been hosting ever since!
Then I discovered the Drumstick Dash. I worked the Starbucks tent in the finish line area for a few years, and then I began running the race. It has been a incredible watching the Drumstick Dash grow into a race unparalleled by others. With almost 20,000 runners and walkers getting together to support the Wheeler Mission and to make their Thanksgiving Day start with a healthy choice is just spectacular. Each year, my mother and friend (Vanessa) walk the short course while my dad and I run the long one. This year, my friend/colleague Brynn ran with us. Neither of us planned on running fast, we just didn’t want to dawdle and wanted to get back to working our Athletic Annex booth in a timely manner. Well, I’m not sure if it was because of Brynn or myself, but we definitely didn’t dawdle! 8:28 pace for the race. What?! I certainly wasn’t expecting that pace this year, but I’ll take it! We both had moments when we wanted to slow down, but we pushed each other not to give up. I never plan on running a PR in the Drumstick Dash as there are just so many people on very narrow streets, but this year was pretty close. As a person who trains mostly alone, it was a treat to run with someone who could hold me accountable to a quicker pace. Definitely a great way to enter the holidays….might have to call on Brynn for a run more often! (*hint hint*)
Now, I’m going to focus on my Runner’s World Running Streak to get me through New Year’s….
In Search of My Running Tribe 