How cool is my family?

This last Thursday (Thanksgiving!) I ran my very first Turkey Trot. My cousin Rahul now lives in the US and he ran it with me, as did my cousin Abe. It was a momentous occasion for all of us, each in out own way. My first trot and a 5-miler Personal Record, Abe's first big run in 14 years (he last did this exact same Trot in 1999), and Rahul's first Thanksgiving! They were total champs for sticking with it, in feels like 15*F weather, and Abe even wore shorts.

Rockland Lake 5-Miler Turkey Trot
Yes, this is what I look like wearing two pairs of pants, two sweatshirts, and gloves with handwarmers in them. :) My cousin Abe and I may be related, but our blood apparently runs at very different temperatures! 

It was cold, I had worn too many layers, and I began to sweat pretty hard pretty early on. I had bought a balaclava on Wednesday which I really wanted to use, but it was excessive with my hat and hood.  It quickly fell out of my pocket, and it's rescue story after the race is a good one. :) that'll be a good memory for a while. 

Abe was ahead of me for a while, but his shoelaces got untied (thank you quick laces!) and I was able to catch up.  We ran together for the latter half of the race, and then I got ahead slightly around mile 4 1/2.  I knew we were going fast and since I had spent the first two miles trying to catch Abe, I knew my muscles and lungs weren't too happy with me.  I took it easy, didn't push to hard when I saw the fake finish line (there was a full 400 yards till the actual finish) and I crossed that finish line in 47:01, with Abe nudging me on my shoulder. :) I beat him on the official race clock by exactly one second and I know he is and will always be in better shape than me, so it made me feel good!

Hot chocolate at the finish line, could barely feel my face or fingers but it felt gooood. And so proud of my cousin Rahul, who I went back for so that I could run him to as close as the finish line as possible. 

And Sat, we ran again. :) Abe ran 7miles with a fellow mentor and one of my mentees while I stuck with Rahul for 6.5 miles! What am amazing and inspiring family I have, and it was the perfect way to spend a holiday about being thankful.

And then, my dad ran his second half marathon. Seriously. It's so cool that I'm getting my family into all this running and racing business. Holy wows.

Balaclava!

And so proud of my Dad!!!