WEEK 10: TURKEY TROT 2020

 TRAINING IS COMPLETE!  BOTH RUNNERS’ AND WALKERS’ sessions are of short duration and distance.  You most likely will have competing responsibilities to prepare for feasting and other activities associated with upcoming Thursday celebrations. Because both plans are designed to help beginners or those wishing to insure a race finish, rather than set a personal record or aggressively compete, these few easy days will keep you active but not dominate schedules.
 
It’s time to shop, clean, and decorate in advance of the holiday! Assemble your gear if it’s going to be special or a costume. Plan what and when you will eat before racing, unless you’re confident from past experience at exercising fasted, and do not intend to eat prior to race time.
 
Although your 5K (or walking 10K) training has been the focus of physical activity for the past couple months, the real USA Thanksgiving is intended to center on the connecting and the sharing of meals with loved ones, in gratitude.  Whether from a distance/virtual or in person, preparations for this day’s feasting deserve our attention.
 
For me, preparation began weeks ago and included efforts to make birthdays for three loved ones special in a difficult year.  This week the intensity of my non-running prep is peaking, and training is not the most important item on my to-do list (actually that’s part of the reason this post is a day later than usual!).
 
Dialing back exercise time and ramping up holiday prep may not be physically easy for some, however. Runners and walkers, if you have come to rely on a higher level of activity for weight control be aware that you might need to cut back a bit on caloric intake when your training slows significantly or stops these few days. Save the calorie splurge for the holiday weekend. Determine in advance that sensible eating and training will resume as soon as possible after this weekend, and enjoy it fully.
 
If traveling to your Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, double check arrangements and start packing soon, if you haven’t already.  Get your costume together if that’s in your race day plans! Remember to pack your Earned Runs bibs too.

Enjoy the building excitement that comes with participating in a goal race.  
You've EARNED it.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!