By Kristen Osborne
Runners complain. A lot. If we don’t have the exact perfect weather conditions that we want, it’s the course. Or the packet pickup. Or a bad training run. Or shorts that suddenly cause chafing when they never have before. Or an entirely too talkative running buddy. Or…well, you get the idea.
We can be a grouchy bunch and so quickly forget how blessed and grateful we should feel just to be out doing something we love to do. Injuries are the main way that we remember how wonderful the simple act of running, anywhere or anytime, actually is. But there are other opportunities for thankful running as well.
For almost 40 years now, runners have laced up their shoes to tackle a 10k race hosted by the Levite Jewish Community Center on the morning of Thanksgiving. It’s an area tradition that certainly prepares any runner for a satisfying Thanksgiving meal later in the day.
In recent years, the race has become known as the Sam Lapidus Montclair Run, renamed in honor of a local teenager who bravely fought but sadly lost his battle with a rare bone cancer. Sam was a fixture at the LJCC; his memory lives on through the annual Montclair race. The proceeds from the race benefit the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital. Race organizers recently added a 5k race as well in hopes to attract even more participants to this fun tradition.
Although I am usually out of town on Thanksgiving, I found myself stuck at home alone last year due to work. While I was certainly trying to be thankful that I had a job to grumble about, I knew I needed to do something that day other than work to take my mind off of missing my Nana’s sweet potato casserole. I signed up for the Sam Lapidus Montclair Run.
The day before the race, my stepfather, Judge Tom Young of Alexander City, AL, called to say that he was going to drive up that morning and run the 10k with me. We had a fantastic time at the race and shared a celebratory Cracker Barrel breakfast afterwards. We both agreed that it was one of our favorite Thanksgivings in recent memory. No cooking or cleaning. No house guests. Just running and pancakes.
I noticed that a lot of people ran with friends or family members that day. It wasn’t about time or a PR for most. Complaints were few and far between, despite the absolutely frigid temperatures.
It reminded me of how much running has actually given me. I have countless new friends that I never would have met otherwise. The friendships we make as runners are the things we think about first.
As fellow BTC member Margaret DeHaye said, “I’m so thankful that I got into running because, as a result, I reconnected with an old friend and have met many new amazing friends since I began training for my first big run. And I feel the running community is so welcoming!”
Loren Traylor discovered a new love of early runs through her sleep-deprived friends: “I’m thankful for the great friendships I have made along my running journey!” She also noted (while stifling a yawn) that her running friends “are the only thing that could get [her] up at 4:00 a.m. to start a long run.”
Running races with my family members, especially my stepfather, has brought us much closer and gives us “reasons” to simply spend time together.
Health is another major blessing we glean from running. Take a look at this month’s #WhyIRun feature to see how Rachel Callahan uses running as a treatment for her health condition. Running was the launching point for my own major health overhaul, leading to my huge interest in all kinds of fitness activities.
We benefit emotionally. The endorphins from a good run, or really any run at all, boost our moods. Training for and completing race goals give us confidence and a sense of accomplishment. If you can finish a distance race, you can do anything.
I have also developed an ability to drink beer and run simultaneously. I know I’m not alone in gaining that new skill as the recent Tour de Brewer’s races have been very well-attended.
As we enter into the holiday season, blessings, gratitude, and thankfulness are given an opportunity to rise to the front of our minds. It’s a perfect time to remember what being a part of this running community does for us. And what we can, in turn, do for others.
The Run Gardendale running club is certainly practicing gratitude and giving back in their Run Gardendale Turkey Trot. This race presents another great opportunity for runners to participate in a race on Thanksgiving morning, especially for our runners north of the city. The Turkey Trot has 5, 4, and 3 mile courses, and walkers are welcome. The first 100 to register pay only $10 with a clothing donation to The Firehouse Shelter. After those 100, the fee is only $15 with a clothing donation. Race organizers are asking specifically for donations of new men’s socks, long johns, and gently used coats.
Whether at the Turkey Trot, the Montclair Run, or another Thanksgiving race wherever you are traveling for the holiday, start the day right, with a run and a heaping dose of thankfulness.
Are you running a Thanksgiving Day race? What are you thankful for as a runner? Post your comments on the BTC Facebook page or tweet with #BTCgratitude to share your thoughts. You can also email the author, Kristen Osborne at kosborne@ggh-law.com. Kristen is an attorney, writer, and home fitness coach from Cahaba Heights.