Tom and I got up early on Thanksgiving to get our miles in before breakfast. It was a spectacular morning and we expressed deep gratitude for the blessings in our lives; especially the gift of running.
We had not done a before breakfast run in quite awhile since the seasons changed. I savored my late morning breakfast after putting in the turkey and starting the gravy. We gave thanks for our beautiful home, the bounty of food and the love of our family that is strong and resilient having weathered so many storms during the past year. There were hugs, tears, laughter and joy as we spent several hours around the dinner table.
We did early birthday celebrations since Autumn is on call during Christmas week. Michelle's birthday is December 15th.
The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed an after dinner walk through the neighborhood while Autumn and Ruth Anne shared childhood memories with Michelle.
On Friday, we went to Cape Cod to have a reunion with Tom's cousin Kathy. We used to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas afternoons at Kathy's house sharing dessert and quality family time. Since the pandemic, we realize how precious and fragile life can be. Despite going to the Cape for years, we had never been to the Cape Cod Canal where Kathy suggested we meet.
After breaking bread together and expressing our deepest gratitude that we were able to gather together in love, laughter and tears, Ruth Anne went for a run along the Cape Cod Canal. We bathed in spectacular sunshine and temperatures warmer than usual for November.
Tom had to work on Saturday. Ruth Anne partnered with me for a fabulous 5K as I count down to the Bermuda Triangle Challenge 10K. It was our first run of the season where we were greeted with a blast of cold air when we opened the door! I earned the Frosty Badge from Garmin for doing a workout in below freezing temperatures. Ruth Anne shared her excitement with me for the Fast 5 and Tough Ten Mile Turkey Trot she was racing on Sunday. Her excitement was infectious. She would pick up the pace when she imagined how it was going to feel to run her favorite race again. I had to remind her that I was going into taper mode so we had to keep an eye on the pace. We ended up doing negative splits anyway. Ruth Anne was supportive and encouraging letting me know that she would be with us in spirit on Bermuda race day while she enjoys time in Nashville with her bestie from college.
Our 87 year old neighbor is the first one to put up outdoor decorations on the Friday after Thanksgiving:
It always gives us a boost during winter running and reminds us of the reason for the season.
We wrapped up our Thanksgiving weekend with Ruth Anne running one of our favorite races. The entry fee is 15 nonperishable food items to restock the food pantry in Marlboro, Mass. We ran the Tough Ten Mile Turkey Trot in 2008 when we were training for the 2009 Boston Marathon. Ruth Anne and Tom ran the race two more times. Ruth Anne and I reminisced about our time out on the course and I felt how strong and confident I felt navigating those tough ten miles. I expressed gratitude to my body for all it has given me during these past 17 years. This year, they had a time limit for the ten miler but offered a five fast mile option. Ruth Anne trained hard during the three weeks leading up to the race; no easy feat since she was going through a lot of health challenges. We got up at 6:00am on Sunday to ensure plenty of time for pre-race "necessities" including making sure there was bathroom time. There was no traffic and we easily found our way to the race after many years. We dropped off our nonperishable items, took pre-race photos and stayed warm in the car.
Ruth Anne absolutely crushed those hills with an 11:00 minute/mile pace. What a thrill to be support crew and watch her finish strong!
Our hearts swelled with gratitude for a perfect ending to a Thanksgiving weekend fueled by running and gratitude running on Thanksgiving!
From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary
My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon
Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.
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