Being that it is Thanksgiving and also being a runner means that today is the day to run a Turkey Trot. For the past 3 years my daughter and I have run a YMCA Turkey Trot 5K which has become our tradition. Wake up early, head down to the Y, join more than 1,200 people in running on the sometimes thin streets of Towson. We don't care about time, we just have some nice conversation while running with the masses of people. For a little background, I guess I should tell you how I became a runner.
My daughter, Rebecca, who is a senior in high school, told me way back in her 5th grade year she wanted to join her middle school cross country team. The coach had told her team that they needed to run on the weekends and she wanted to run with me. I hadn't run in probably 10 years and I was out of shape. I'll always remember that first run together which was only a mile and a half. I was exhausted after that run and I hurt like I hadn't hurt in a long time. But my daughter was persistent. She wanted to be a better runner and she was taking me along for the ride. It wasn't long before she was faster than I was, since she was running 4-5 days a week and I was running one day a week. I had to try and keep up and started training more. We ran our first race together in 2007 at the Komen 5K in Hunt Valley. I still think I held her back, but we ran together. In 2008 I was still struggling and she was getting much better, but she never let me quit and she stayed with me. We ran a few more 5Ks together and started our tradition of running the Turkey Trots and Father's Day 5Ks together. My daughter moved on to Field Hockey and Softball, but we always make time to run a Turkey Trot and the Father's Day 5K. I will always be thankful for all that she has and will accomplish and it's great that she wants to still run with her Dad.
By 2010, I was really into this running thing. I enjoyed being out there with friends, my daughter, or even just myself. I started running with my friend Rob, his wife Wendy (sometimes) and Rob's friend Erik. All of whom motivated me to continue running and getting better. I got bit by the running bug. I wanted to see if I could go faster, farther, and enjoy the running. We would meet at the NCR Trail and run 10 miles and have great conversations. During races we would push each other and support each other. I'm very thankful to have these running buddies with whom to share our successes, failures, and frustations. It really is something special that I hope continues.
My wife Tamie is also a very important part of my running. While she is not a runner, she supports me and my running thing. Sometimes she may think I'm crazy or doesn't always understand why I want to run these races, get up so early, and be tired, but she always supports me and is there for me. She was there for my first marathon, she was the first person I called to tell her I won an age group award, she's always watching out for me and taking care of me. I love her with all my heart and truly thank her for supporting me through long runs in the rain and cold runs when I come home shivering.
I'm also thankful for all those people who have put on races I have run, the volunteers who pass out water, Gatorade, gels, and medals. I'm thankful there is such a vibrant running community who supports everyone who gets out there to run no matter how fast, slow or long.
Thanks for reading. Keep on running.
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