Started towards the front and still got caught behind some slower folks at the beginning. Ran the first mile around 6:35, hoping to hold that pace throughout. The course is flat except for one very short hill just after the first mile- not too bad on the way out, but killed on the way back. Gradually fell off pace- breathing was hard the entire time and the legs just didn't seem to want to cooperate. Missed the 2nd and 3rd mile signs (if there were any), so no splits.

Do some easy drills before the race starts, drink some gatorade, basically everything I did before the Power by Numbers 10k.

Water and half a banana, waited for Becca's brother to finish and cheered him in.


Lack of mileage lately, poor warmup.


Should have learned after last year- this race is poorly organized. It started late. The PA system was lousy- when the gun went off, plenty of people were completely unaware that it was starting. There was one drink station, which is alright for a 5k, except that it was understaffed and overwhelmed by the number of passing runners. They ran out of water at the finish line a few minutes after I finished. They ran out of oranges and bananas shortly thereafter.

I will be looking for another turkey trot for next year- if this one weren't so close to Becca's folks' house, I wouldn't be running it.