As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, we thought we’d share some day-by-day tips for making the holiday as healthy and relaxing as possible.
Wednesday – Swim. Start the holiday weekend off with a quality swim because the chances of finding an open pool on Thanksgiving (or the day after) are slim. Get your swimming done before you head out of town. This is the pre-Thanksgiving workout we’re planning to do. It’s from our friend and pro triathlete Sara McLarty. Check out Sara's blog for lots of great swim practice ideas.
Thursday – Head to your nearest Turkey Trot. Get in a workout in the morning and then relax, cook, eat, and hang out with family the rest of the day. Even if you are out of shape or don’t have a run on your schedule, it'll be worth the effot. You'll be able to reach for that second piece of pie knowing that you worked for it. And a turkey shaped trophy will add a nice touch to the table's centerpiece, or at least, provide a good topic of conversation. Also, if you don't do a Turkey Trot, one of your relatives will. When they show up sore and tired, if you are any bit competitive like us, you will feel guilty, slightly jealous, and mad at yourself for not running. So do yourself a favor and find a race to jump into.
Last year, Laurel, SJ and I ran the Ashenfelter 8k in New Jersey. The race has thousands of people in it and is super competitive. This year, we'll enter the Turkey Waddle in Emmitsburg, MD. It's also an 8k, but is small and low key. Laurel and I will powerwalk the course (I am in NO shape to run the 28:18 I ran last Thanksgiving) and SJ will run for the podium.
Friday – Plan to take the day off and continue the Thanksgiving festivities. If you have time to get in a workout, consider it a bonus. We always try to rally as many family members as we can to get out of the house and go for hike. If it they aren't crawling with hunters, we'll go to the trails near Camp David. Otherwise, we'll head to the Gettysburg Battlefields.
Saturday – Back to business!