Race Report: PNC YMCA Turkey Trot in Pittsburgh, PA

Hard to believe this was my 6th annual Turkey Trot. The first one, in 2008, I did on a lark as a newbie runner, and it's become a tradition for me (and countless other runners). It's a great way to start Thanksgiving Day! I've run the last few with my nephew Evan, but I was solo this year as he and his new bride stayed home and ran in their own community Turkey Trot, starting new traditions!

I grew up outside of Pittsburgh and so I enjoy this excuse to head into the city...even on a morning when it's 19 degrees and a "feels like" 9 degrees. Fortunately it was sunny and dry and the roads were clear. It's a fun course from PNC Park, over the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the Allegheny River, around a few blocks downtown, past Point State Park, and then back.

I had a decent race in spite of frozen feet. You know -- the kind of frozen feet where your socks feel scrunched and like they are falling down but they aren't. It's just that the nerves are too cold to work right. No matter how low the thermometer, there's always that "one guy" -- the one in shorts and NO shirt! Brrrr! (I passed him.)

I ran a steady race and had enough reserved to gun it at the end and pass a few people into the finish. I was the 1st turkey, 106th overall, and 17th female at 21:50. [addendum: won my age group out of 134, but there was one 44-year-old master's runner faster than me!! Full Results here.] I was satisfied with my race.

 

See ya, Pittsburgh! Thanks for having me again!
THANK YOU to the organizers, volunteers, police, and rescue for
giving up your morning for us to race.

"Bibs" app gave us quick access to our own results.

Now onto the business of eating and being lazy with the fam which this year seems to include a lot of Grant winning at Monopoly.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!