Detroit Turkey Trot 10k Race Report

Looks like this may have been my last race of the season. Due to poor planning on my part I was in no condition to race the reindeer run 5k this past weekend. Just as well, we'll leave the 5k PR chase to 2009. I've tried to do the turkey trot in Detroit every year since graduating from college but the past two years we have missed it so I was excited to go back, even if it was less than two weeks after the marathon and I had only run twice for a total of about 6 miles since Richmond.

As usual traffic was nuts, I guess that is what happens when around 10,000 runners plus their families and the parade traffic convene at one exit. Though we left with plenty of time we ended up having to bail on my dad in the car in search of a porta potty and the start. No real warmup and we made it to the new start line with a few minutes to spare. My goal considering that I hadn't done any sort of prep for this was to hopefully run sub 7s and come in the top 100 gals so I could get a prize to take home. My sister was convinced I had placed well here the last time we ran it but I had my doubts. It is a huge race and a lot of Hansons runners come out for it. This year they added a 5k to the 10k race which would follow the 10k course until a bit before mile 3 where it split off for the finish so we were sure to be running with some early speedsteers.

I lined up behind a girl with a 2008 Boston shirt towards the front of the pack and hoped for the best. A quick glance at the watch a few minutes in indicated a 7:20 something pace. That wasn't good, it felt like I was putting in a good effort. So I just did my best to tail the girl in the Boston shirt and ignore the watch. I counted girls in front of me at the only hair pin turn before mile 1. It looked like I was in top 20 which I figured was pretty good. As we made our way back somehow my sister spotted me in the crowd and said I was around 10th. Sweet. First mile check the watch, 6:03. Shit! Way too fast and I knew I would probably pay for that.

Just tried to settle in over the next mile, trailing a man in a cave man suit as the gal in the boston shirt pulled ahead. Mile 2 look down at my watch, still at 6:03, crap I had stopped my watch instead of hitting the split. Finally get it back to training mode and get it started again a bit after the 2 mile mark. I am now completely clueless to my pace. Hoping that I am still cranking out sub 7s.

As we neared the 5k turn off I got passed by a lady in an elf costume. Seriously, that's great for the morale, not! She looked fit though, so I won't begrudge her. I was secretly hoping that she and a girl in purple who passed by were in the 5k, but alas they made the turn onto the 10k route also. 3 mile split was around 6:35 so I figured that was closer to 7 and that I needed to step up the effort. (Photo of me making the turn) (sidenote: other photo places need to get on board with the prices this site is offering, I will totally pay $4 for a digital photo from a race, that is completely reasonable to me, but $100+ for less than 10 digital photos, give me a break!)

5k split according to the results was around 20:30 something. Not too shabby considering the rough start and no warm up. Too bad I was in a 10k! I tried to focus in my efforts on the back half. My left calf was acting up, likely residual from the marathon, and the back half of the course was barren. No spectators and pretty boring (the early half of the course runs along the parade route which was lined with people cheering who had set up early to get good spots for the parade later). I got passed by a few guys here but for the most part held my own. 4th mile split 6:51, could be worse. Took some water at the aid station and tried to focus on closing the gap on the girl in purple who had passed me. I wasn't going for a PR so I may as well try to "race" those around me.

I caught and passed her at mile 5 in a steady 6:42. I could see the stadium up ahead and could also see that we would have a bit of a hill to climb before the downhill ramp to the finish. Worked on catching the cave man in that final mile and successfully passed and held him off too. Tried my best to hammer the downhill and then through the tunnel to mile 6. 6:54, with the incline and the way my calf felt, not too shabby.

Hammered the home stretch glancing around for my dad, worried that he wouldn't realize that the course had changed and would still be on the 5k course. Saw the clock hovering over 41 and was pleased with the effort. Official time 41:31. My third fastest 10k this year and ever. Considering the effort put forth I can't complain. Scored a fun fleece scarf for my efforts. 4th in my age group and 18th female.

I walked inside to grab a water bottle and then headed back out to run in my sister. My calf was screaming at me even when I slowed it down to a walk. I stopped to stretch it a few times and then just suffered through it as I searched the course for KT. Found her a little before mile 5 and ran back in with her. We finally spotted my dad, he had indeed been on the 5k course. My sister finished up with no training and still did almost a pr for her, landing pretty much in between her two other turkey trot times.

Not a shabby way to start the morning of my favorite holiday! Lots of fun eating and catching up with the family in Michigan. The ladies once again lost trivia pursuit this year, but I managed to squeak out a ladies win for us taking on the boys in a round of lord of the rings trivia pursuit. Yes I am a geek. So we'll call it even this year ;)

Post Turkey Trot Photos

After pigging out at the family dinner. Love love love the tech shirts this year!

It's a bit cozy on the way to the family dinner!

Two Turkey Trottin Fools

Close Up