I hope everyone is recovering from the Thanksgiving holiday! Did anyone else run a Turkey Trot this year? I decided to run in the Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day event hosted by the Atlanta Track Club. I ran the 5K and my 2 year old daughter ran the 50 yard dash. ATC also offered distances in the half marathon (most popular race) and 1 mile. ATC events attracts some of the fastest runners I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing a road race with.
WHERE: The race location was Georgia State Stadium (formerly Turner Field)! I haven’t been here since the Atlanta Braves played here years ago. The race offered free parking, which is always a plus downtown in Atlanta but if you didn’t arrive early (like 6am-as they suggested), there was MAJOR traffic due to road closures and thousands of people trying to get to the stadium at the same time! As for restrooms, we could only use the outside porta-potties as the stadium restrooms opened AFTER the 5K started. They provided plenty of porta-potties but most units lacked toilet paper.
COURSE: It’s Atlanta, so HILLS on HILLS. We had to share the road with cars during certain portions of the race but cops were great at directing us and the traffic. I don’t train hills much anymore, so I wasn’t prepared (nor was I properly warmed up) so I had to walk a lot.
UH OH: My round ligament pain kicked in during mile 1, despite wearing my maternity belly band. Unfortunately the pain never really went away. I wasn’t a happy racer, I texted my hubby “I want to QUIT!” during mile 2 but I kept up my walk/jog intervals and used music as a distraction. BIG THANKS to a couple of ladies who gave me cheers for running while pregnant. I only heard one negative remark from a spectator. Once the stadium was in sight, I was feeling so much better (mentally and physically) so I ran the rest of the way to the finish inside the stadium pain-free.
SWAG: All half marathon and 5K finishers received a long sleeve Mizuno t-shirt, medal, a mini apple pie, along with water, Powerade, and Clif bars. Since it was 33 degrees F, they handed out mylar blankets to the finishers! Those who ran the 1 mile race and 50 meter dash received a ATC rubber “medal” which my daughter loved!
MY TIME: I finished in 40:08, my slowest 5K race time but I’m proud that I got it done at 27.5 weeks pregnant! It’s evident that I’m slowing down as I get bigger.
Now that I’m in my 3rd trimester, I’ve decided I’m done with races until 2019, though all the Cyber Monday deals for Jingle Jogs and New Years races are TEMPTING. The fitness plan is to use the final 12 weeks to “taper” down, focus more on prenatal yoga, barre, strength training, with walk/jogs sessions 2 times a week (more if energy allows). We shall see what the next 12 weeks brings before baby arrives!
Let’s hear from you! Did you run a Turkey Trot or run for fun during the holiday? Are you planning on running a Jingle Jog next month?
Sorry that you were in pain, but great job on staying active throughout your pregnancy + finishing the race (those hills do not sound fun)! Yay for mini apple pies too! :]
That is nice swag for a 5K! Sorry it was not the most comfortable race for you. Those hills sound tough!
That’s nice swag. 5ks here usually get nothing.
I skipped my Turkey trot on thanksgiving day but ran a half marathon instead 2 days later.
GL with the rest of your pregnancy.
Talk about some great swag for a 5k! I didn’t run a turkey trot and I won’t be running any races until next year. I take this time of year off of racing.
awesome work! Pie at the end sounds awesome! We got Cranberry Sparklers at the end of our Turkey Trot (cranberry juice with ginger ale and champagne) and I enjoyed the heck out of those!
This sounds like a really fun race, congrats! I’m sorry you had some pain and I can’t believe someone was rude to you about running while pregnant!
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Sorry to hear that you had some pain during the race but great job at pushing through to finish!
We don’t have many medals for 5K’s in my area (except for AG placings), and the mini pie? How cute is that 😉 I actually ran both a turkey trot AND have a Jingle Bell Run coming up this Saturday…and that’s probably it for awhile on the racing front.
Wow! Way to stay active and fit during your pregnancy. Enjoy your final weeks before baby arrives, there will be plenty of races to enjoy later!! 🙂
Way to get it done while pregnant. I was not able to run during my pregnancies. What great race swag and even an apple pie. So cool!
I think it’s great that you’re so active during your pregnancy! Sorry you were in some discomfort during the race, but great job finishing!
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That’s so awesome that you are still running through pregnancy! Congrats on your turkey trot!
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A medal and pie look like a great way to settle the racing while pregnant! Great job finishing the race. Your plan moving forward sounds perfect!
Hope the next trimester goes well and baby comes healthy and on time 🙂
Celebrate Thanksgiving in a better way is the best thing to do.