going cold turkey

Unlike last year, we still haven't had a good storm come in and on Thanksgiving morning, the day of the Cold Turkey City Creek 6k, the temperatures were as balmy as they've ever been.  Although slightly overcast, it was about 45 F at 9 a.m. as we gathered up behind the Capitol; there were lots of people there - seemingly way more than past years when it's been in the low 30s or colder - lots of people wearing shorts, lots of stroller-runners, lots of runners with dogs.  For me, I was wearing thin layers and cotton socks and didn't even bother with gloves.

Squinting at the start

Totally awkward "action" shot

Eyes completely shut at the finish (so photogenic)

Right away I felt slow.  Lots of people passed me on the flat, which didn't surprise me, but even once we started climbing, I was getting passed a lot.  That hasn't happened so much in past years.  I make sure to do uphill training so usually I can hold my own.  Once we hit the turnaround (in its correct place this time), I was able to pick up the pace a little bit.  But then a side stitch started making its presence known and I had to fight that.  Once the finish line was in sight, I pushed as hard as I could - side stitch be damned - and passed the one guy I had been following the whole way down.  When I found H in the crowd, I admitted that it didn't seem to be my best, not by a long shot.  But at least I burned enough calories for extra pie!

Race results (and history)
2017: 35:59.78, 7 out of 20 in age group, 225/654 overall
2016:  53:23.51, 4 out of 14 in age group, 159/544 overall, +/-10k 8.4k* distance
2015:  35:17.18, 6 out of 19 in age group, 186/593 overall
2014:  34:14:58, 10 out of 26 in age group, 174/656 overall
2013:  35:44.40, 7 out of 24 in age group, 243/682 overall
2012:  n/a (Thanksgiving in California)
2011:  35:41.33, 249/656 overall
2010:  37:22.76 (course changed due to ice/uphill finish), top half of finishers
2009:  35:53.32, top half of finishers

The numbers prove it.  I was slow - my slowest time out of all the year of the regular course.  My historical average has been 35:22 so this year I was 1.8% slower than average (thanks to H for doing all the math).  Guess that gives me a goal for 2018: go faster.