Along with the annual tradition of eating turkey and pumpkin pie, is the annual Sheboygan Gobbler Gallop 10k and 2 mile road race. This Thanksgiving was no different, as my Dad and I headed to the Sheboygan lakefront for our annual tradition. I have done this race every year but once since I was 6! The one interesting thing with the Thanksgiving day run is the weather, which has ranged anywhere from a chilly 10 degrees and snow to a balmy 60degress. This year did not disappoint, with Sheboygan getting our first significant snowfall (2.5″) the night before the race. This left the roads a little slick, and a little slush in the corners, but nothing of too much concern. I was again hoping for a PR as my running has been improving every year, so a 35minute race was my goal. As of recently I had been in a small battle with my left leg, a strained quad from intervals, and a strained hamstring from squatting. But none the less I still felt I could make a PR. The first 3 miles would be tough, straight into a strong headwind off of the lake, but I was sitting with a group of 4 runners chasing a lone leader about 15 seconds up. The draft position was definatley an advantage. The pace was a bit quick for me at 5:15-5:25/ mile, but I thought I would get towed by the group for as long as possible and then fall back to my own pace. I ended up rubber-banding off the back of the group at about mile 2.5 and was sitting about 15 seconds back at the turn-around. With the group still in sight I would just hope someone else would also fall off the pace and I could catch them in the end. I also saw another 2 runners within 30 seconds back that could be a threat. But for the last half of the race I would run in no man’s land on my own. I slowed down quite a bit the last 1.25mile, as my legs were feeling the fast early pace. In the end though, I hung on for 5thoverall/ 2nd age group in a 35:41, not quite as fast as I hoped, but not to shabby. But the best part about the race: it makes you feel less guilty having a second piece of pie after dinner! Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!