Thanksgiving Cheers!

I parked my car this thanksgiving morning on the side of Route 102 in Derry, NH; strapped on my shoes and quickly made my way to the starting line. On my way there I found my brother-in-law Mike, "It's about damn time!" Yeah.. I was running late as usual, but I had a good excuse. I couldn't find a place on earth this morning that would give me cash back with a purchase. Not a gas station, not a Dunkins'..nothing. So.. I ran to the starting line without a bib, and chose to run as a bandit. This Thanksgiving Tradition, now in it's 5 year would not be halted.

I showed up wearing a long sleeve dress shirt, a tie with the Tazmanian Devil on it and wearing a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. Mike and I arrived at the starting line about 3 minutes before race time. Of course, the race started late. In 2004, when we first ran here and started our tradition, we stood in a mass of a few hundred people. This year we stood in file with over 1000. I felt bad.. Mike had spent $12 for a bib.. and I was running as a bandit. I sensed that he felt a bit annoyed.. oh well I suppose. As we stood in the mass of weekend warriors, it was hard not to feel the collective stares from those around us. Here I was in shirt and tie, and those "weird shoes." Please people.. get with the times.. the Five fingers are OLD NEWS at this point.

Another runner in a pair of the five fingers came over and shook my hand. I asked if he felt like a freak to which he replied how tired he is all ready of people pointing at hime and staring. Then I ran into my old highschool friend Jenn Saucier who is still looking great. I always love running into her whenever I run this race. It'd been a few years since we ran here, so it was nice to return, this our third running of The Greater Derry Track Clubs 5K Turkey Trot.

After playing the national anthem, we recieved the command to go. Mike had encouraged me to run ahead if I wanted. With no bib, dressed like a fool and running barefoot.. I didn't care either way. So I decided to stay back and run with him for a change. Why? Because I'm thankful that he, of all people, is my brother-in-law. Mike told me he'd like to break 23 minutes, I was wearing my Garmin so I had a beat on how we were doing. I had no idea how I was going to hold up finally running a race in these damn slippers.

So we take off down the road, nestled into a huge crowd of our not so closest friends and rubbing elbows with all of them. We finally weaved our way in and otu of the crowd to find ourself a comfortable pace and just enjoy the morning. It's been a few days since we've seen the sun around here.. I'm just glad it'd stopped drizzling. Temps in the upper 40's I was able to run in a pair of shorts at least. All along the route, people glared at my feet and commented on my tie. It was rather entertaining. At the 1 mile mark we saw a time of 8:04 on the clock, funny because my watch said 7:59. Hmmm.. We just kind of hung back a bit, ran a comfy pace and enjoyed some conversation.

As we made our way to the 2 mile mark, I looked at my watch and told Mike to kind of ease up a bit as we'll need to kick it in in about 5 minutes. A runner came up beside me and commented on the outfit then he asked me about the Vibrams. He asked if I ran in them regularly to which I responded, "This is my first race in them." The guy asked me if I ran long distances in them, I said, "I know people who run 50 and 100 milers in them... I'd like to maybe run 100 in them." his response was fun.. "Yeah..... right." He took off.

As we rounded the turn at 2, the course flattens out and some fast downhills come into the mix. We start to pick up the pace a bit and we see the last uphill up ahead. I attack the hill well and keep running on my toes. I'm comfy, my feet feel great and I'm having no issues. I look down at my watch and tell Mike, "5 minutes left Mike!" I kick it in a bit deeper, Mike tries to follow, then I notice him fall back. I slow off.. and take it in easily. As we reach the final stretch of the road, all flat to the finish, I slow down and wait for Mike to catch up. Side by side, he kicks in it a bit and we run it into the finish for a time of 24 minutes even. Once again... the Thanksgiving 5K tradition continues.
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope that none of you are reading this on Thanksgiving Day and are opting to spend more time with your families rather. As I sit and write this, I am inclined to think of the things that I am thankful for this year. There is indeed much to be thankful for. I am of course thankful for the support of my family and loved ones. Without them, there is limited motivation. I am very thankful for having the ability to do the many things I do. The use of my legs, to hear with my ears and see with my eyes. I am most thankful for still being on this earth, especially as these trying times continue to plague my mind and heart.

But of all the things I am most thankful for this holiday, it is for friends. I'm not talking about acquaintences.. but real friends. Those that help hold me up in my darkest moments. Those who understand that perfection is merely a mirage. Those who will hold my hand and walk beside me, and if they cannot, they push me on from afar. Those friends who find a way to appreciate our friendship, and our time together. Those... that while our friendship may be strained from time to time, they still find it necessary to give a call, say hello and make sure everything is ok. Those friends, who allow me the opportunity to give back to them what they give to me. I have very few of these friends... some may not even know who they are. Either way.. I am most thankful for them and the opportunity to be in their lives. I miss my friends dearly.. and love them all.

I am also thankful to you, the readers of this blog for giving me the opportunity to provide you with something to read. I can only hope that we we move towards the future, we can all enjoy this journey together.

So that being said; Sarah, Nate, Josh, Loni, Steve, Will, Robby, Adam and Gilly... Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving.