Turk-EA Trot

Guys! I started something. I think.

Since we moved to East Aurora, we’ve traditionally stayed in town and done Thanksgiving with Andrew’s parents, which means we eat early (like 1:30) and I can’t go downtown for the YMCA Turkey Trot. The 8k (5 miles) race began in 1896 and is said to be ‘the oldest continually run footrace in North America,’ and is capped at 14,000 runners each year. It’s a huge deal around here, full of costumes and a great post-race party. Logistically, however, it’s a nightmare; parking is no where near the start, and with that many people, and a 9 am start, there is no way I’d be home before noon.

So, you can imagine my disappointment each year to miss out on such an exciting and hallmark event in our area. For the last couple years, I’ve done my own exercise Thanksgiving morning, from a simple run to a ‘Gobble ’til You Wobble’ workout full of squats and lunges.

This year, I posited an idea to our running group, which has grown to 20+ people who come out on Thursday nights for our weekly runs. Why not have our own race here in East Aurora?? With my heart racing, I posted the idea to our Facebook page and waited. There HAD to be more people like me whose cooking responsibilities precluded them from doing the run downtown, right? But what if people hated it?

They didn’t hate it. While many of our runners are loyal to the downtown event–and will continue to be–I got others who said they’d be interested in doing the run, or perhaps next year (as they were already signed up for the other one). In the days leading up to the run, I promised baked goods as a post-race goodie, made a sign and planned a route. A small handful came out, and I was thrilled when one of our regulars brought her husband along, too.

Seven of us ran the inaugural ‘Turk-EA Trot’ (name compliments of a friend) and had a blast. The weather was mild, a few came in costume, and we brightened the smiles of those we passed on the road. Once we finished and were enjoying some coffee from the East Aurora Cooperative Market (where we met), multiple passers-by were interested in our run and lamented that they hadn’t known about it. I explained that I’d only mentioned it to the running group, but that we planned to do it again next year! The general manager at the co-op, a friend, was psyched to see us using the store as a meeting place (our new weekend morning run starting location, FYI) and promised help with the run next year.

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t already had visions of becoming a ‘race director-extraordinaire’ with that first Facebook post. I’d love to one day have real registration and t-shirts and goodie bags and road closures. To attract runners from not just East Aurora, but from Orchard Park and West Seneca and Elma. To have costume contests and prizes. For now, I’m happy to do some homework on what it takes to become a real race, and bring treats for those who come out next year. I’ll bake until the race is too big!

I tri’d…and WON

I did! The whole, darn, THING.

The first of three heats began at 6 am. I started in the second heat at 6:35 am with a 10-minute swim, in which I was able to finish 26 laps (650 yards).

Then, after a 10-minute break, we began our 30-minute cycle, in which I was able to ride 18.8 miles. I set the bike at about a 9 or a 10 for resistance and just pedaled as hard as I could at a pace I thought I could withstand. I couldn’t believe how tired I was after simply swimming for 10 minutes! The fatigue soon wore off and I was able to go at a brisk, even pace the entire time.

Lastly, after another 10-minute break, we headed upstairs to the treadmills and hopped on for 20 minutes, in which I ran 2.8 miles. This was the trickiest part for me, as I wasn’t sure how fast to set the treadmill at the beginning. I asked Andrew for advice and he suggested starting all-out, and backing off later if I got tired. I set the treadmill to 7-minute miles and only got faster from there! Lesson learned: you really can go faster and harder than you think.

When all three heats were finished–approximately 15 people–they announced the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places for men and women…and not only was I the first-place woman, I happened to accomplish the most distance in all three events!

This was the second annual ‘Tri at the Y’ held at the Southtowns YMCA. I didn’t compete last year–must have been out of town–but I definitely think this is something I would do in the future. Speaking of the future…perhaps I should take up triathlons!

I’m gonna tri

Yes I am! I finally signed up for my FIRST triathlon…which isn’t really a ‘real’ triathlon, but it’s a start. The second annual ‘Tri at the Y’ is happening Nov 13, and I’ll be there!

I decided–especially since I’ve never done a triathlon before–I should probably do a little practicing before the big event. Not so much the individual events (a 10-minute swim, 30-minute bike, 20-minute run), but the transitions between each one. (Not that we’ll be racing down the hallways; we have 10-minute blocks of time between each event per heat.)

Anyway, today I decided I’d give it a go. Here I am, before my swim:

In 10 minutes, I did 625 yds in the pool, and would have had plenty of time to change into dry clothes, if I’d brought them with me. (I wanted to practice in my wet swimsuit in case I wouldn’t have time to change.)

After the bike:

As an instructor, I can use the cycle room solo (which is right next to the pool), so I jumped in there and hopped on the bike. I started listening to my current audiobook, In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, but quickly got bored (not because of the book, because I was biking at a steady pace without good music). So I called a friend, and before I knew it, my thirty minutes had passed. Sixteen miles with the bike at approximately gear 11.

After the run:

I was a sweaty, sopping mess by the end! Approx 2.6 miles in 20 minutes, with my average pace 7:40. I know I can go faster, but how much faster? I think the run will be the most difficult for me, since it’s hard to know how fast to start out on a treadmill.

I had a great time, although it seemed a bit disjointed as I kept running into people I knew and chatting. I liked that no one event was very long, so it keeps it from getting tedious. For the LONGEST time I’ve been saying I should do a triathlon, so perhaps this will be just the first of many such races.