I took this incredibly dramatic picture of runners waiting around for traffic to clear before putting away the camera to get serious for the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot |
Thanksgiving races are always fun, since everyone's in a good mood for the holidays and late November usually brings great running weather. That tradition continued yesterday at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, a huge running extravaganza held in downtown San Jose. So my wife and I joined nearly 25,000 runners, and then met up with a couple of friends for Thanksgiving dinner at the retirement home one of them manages. And yes, a great Thanksgiving Day made me reflect on just what I'm thankful for. And at the risk adding another insipid holiday "things I am thankful for" post into the blog-o-sphere, I'd like to share these things with you.
- I'm thankful that on race day, I still remain excited, tense and focused on the upcoming effort, such that I spend little time snapping a bunch of pictures to post on my blog. (That's why most of my race pictures on this blog are pretty crappy, by the way.)
- I'm thankful for finding an empty porta-potty just 15 minutes before the start of a race of 25,000 people without having to even wait in line. If there is any testament to the incredible organization of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, it is this.
- I'm thankful for my Garmin watch, which told me that "easy pace" early in the race, was about a minute faster than goal pace, so I should slow down before it was too late.
- I'm thankful I still have the energy to get out there in a 10k, having fun competing and pushing myself, and after over 33 years of running since starting at age twelve, I'm not too old for this shit.
- I'm thankful my wife has found joy and fullfillment in running, too.
- I'm also thankful that when my wife rolls her eyes at another one of my stupid jokes, she does it with such dramatic flare.
- I'm thankful the standard turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes served at a retirement home, when enjoyed with the company of good friends, is elevated to a sublime eating experience.
- I'm thankful for sharing the deliciousness of Great Divide's Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout with friends who also appreciate its rich, intense complex nature.
- And finally, I'm thankful for you, because I write things so others gain by reading them, and there's a satisfying feeling whenever I discover someone actually reads something here.
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