Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot Race Report
Who else did a race on Thanksgiving?
Our friends that we (almost always!) spend Thanksgiving with – Eric and Abbie – emailed us in mid October asking if we wanted to do a 5K on Thanksgiving morning. I was surprised when Steven said yes!
We picked the Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot (a 5K) in Gurnee, IL. From their website:
Jon Callaghan was a student at O’Plaine School in Gurnee, who passed away in 1997 after a courageous battle with Neuroblastoma cancer. Per the Callaghan family, the funds raised have been used to help University of Chicago Neuroblastoma Cancer Research, School District 56 Program for Learning Disabled, and many others.
The race was casual and perfect for our crew (who just wanted to exercise on Thanksgiving morning) – it was non-timed and there were no bibs. There were mile markers each half mile and a few timers on course, and we received a comfortable cotton long-sleeved t-shirt (which I have already worn for a nap, and to keep me warm on the car ride home from the pool).
Steven invited some of his Fake Meats employees to join us, and one of them (and her boyfriend) was able to!
Eric, Abbie, Mark (Hanna’s boyfriend), Hannah (Fake Meats employee), Steven & Me
The course started on a quiet old downtown street, then went in to a crushed stone park, back to the street, through a neighborhood, and back to the street to finish. It seemed a bit crowded a times, but none of us cared!
It was in the high 30s with a slight wind – perfect running conditions. I ran in shorts, a t-shirt and arm warmers. Everyone else in my group was much more bundled up, but I run hot!
Steven, Eric, Abbie and I all started and finished (and mostly ran it) together! Hannah and her boyfriend finished behind us. We ran it in 36:13, averaging about 11:30 minute miles.
I am really proud of Steven – he thought he’d have to take more walk breaks, but he only took one, for two minutes at mile 2.5! He was enjoying talking to Eric and didn’t need the walk breaks.
I’d love for this to become a regular tradition for our Thanksgiving crew! Especially the after part – I went home and took a nap before we drove to our friends’ home for Thanksgiving dinner, hee hee.
Themocracy
It sounds fun! Congrats to Steven 🙂
Sounds perfectly relaxing and way to go Steven!
That sounds like a perfect low-key way to spend a Thanksgiving morning. Steven did awesome!
It sounds like a fun time was had by all and hopefully this race is the start of a new Thanksgiving tradition for you guys. At this point in the year, I would really enjoy an non-timed race!
A low-key race sounds like a great way to kick of Thanksgiving. I ran for the first time ever on Thanksgiving this year and it definitely started my day on the right note (even though you can’t stumble into any suburb in Chicago on Thanksgiving morning without running into a turkey trot, there aren’t ANY Thanksgiving races in my hometown in Michigan, so I just ran on my parents’ treadmill. But it was something!).
Good for you! And that is nuts there were NONE around you!
I like how chill and positive this Turkey Trot was, and I’m glad you had fun.
Brrr, high 30s in shorts sounds so cold to me. I’ve lost all my tolerance!
You would gain it back soon if you wanted to! You loved all that chilly weather in London! 🙂