Earn Your Turkey: Strategies for a Guilt-Free Thanksgiving
One week from today, most of us will be gorging ourselves with a meal we wait 365 days to enjoy. I know I’ll be recovering from mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (yes, the kind with the marshmallows on top), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, stuffing, rolls, macaroni and cheese (pass me the mac!!!) and of course, turkey. According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American consumes 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat during their Thanksgiving feast. Already trying to calculate in your head how many miles you’ll have to run to burn that off?
While indulging every once in a while will not send your health and fitness goals off track, balancing the day with some fun and family-friendly activity can keep you from turning into a complete drumstick.
Consider incorporating one of these traditions into your Thanksgiving celebration this year …
Start your day off with a turkey trot. Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is the most popular racing day of the year, according to Runner’s World Editor at Large Amby Burfoot who has run the same 5-mile Thanksgiving race for 50 consecutive years (wowsers!). Starting your day off with a local road race will not only help you fight off some of those unavoidable calories you’ll be consuming later in the day, but it may even motivate you to make better choices in terms of portion control when you sit down at the dinner table. Growing up in Florida, my family and I participated in a Turkey Trot every year. There was a 10K, 5K and 1-mile option. As much as I hated waking up at 5 a.m. as a kid to get to the race, running is something you never regret once it’s done. Although my husband and I now spend Thanksgiving in Atlanta, we’ve run the Atlanta Thanksgiving Half Marathon twice. It was the first half marathon I ever ran (2009) and is also my half marathon PR (2010). I’ve got 2 days to decide if I’m going to make 2012 my third Atlanta Thanksgiving Half Marathon. And you thought I was taking some time off! *wink*
Go streaking. No, not the Will Ferrell in Old School kind of streaking. Run streaking. Kick off a run-streak on Thanksgiving to help you stay committed to your health and fitness goals throughout the holiday season. A run streak is where you run at least 1 mile a day, every day, for a certain time period. Runner’s World just kicked off their latest run-streak challenge, encouraging people to run at least a mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. What do you say? Who’s in?
Just get active. You don’t have to be a runner or sign up for a race to combat the food-induced coma you’re sure to experience on Thanksgiving. Just do something that gets you moving. My family used to play an annual Thanksgiving basketball tournament after our meal. (And trust me, I SUCK at basketball. There’s a reason I’m a runner.) It was a fun way to spend time together while also getting active. Last year, my husband and I went to a local mountain and did a 5-mile run followed by a hike up the mountain (1 mile up, 1 mile down) on Thanksgiving morning. Schedule a family activity. Go for a walk after Thanksgiving lunch/dinner. Create your own gobble jog around your neighborhood. Just get moving.
Have you ever run a Thanksgiving race? How do you get active on Thanksgiving or other holidays?
Comments
I am doing my first Turkey Trot this year, actually they call it a Gobble Wobble here. Only a 5K, but good since I am injured. So cool that you ran a half on Thanksgiving before. I love that.
I did the Summer RW Run Streak and it was great motivation.
I love the Gobble Wobble name! I’m so glad you’re starting to feel better and very proud of you for getting your 5K on! You’ll be back up to where you were before your injury in no time. Can’t wait to read your race recap! I haven’t decided if I’m going to try the run streak or not but I think it would be fun 🙂 Good luck at the Gobble Wobble!
The Atlanta Half Marathon was my first half too, I ran it last Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed getting in such a great workout before stuffing my face. Unfortunately, I’m staying in Mississippi this year and there are no races nearby for me to run. I guess I will just have to run on my own.
I love that it was your first half too! Awesome! Enjoy your Thanksgiving in Mississippi!
I’m doing the turkey trot 8k in Chattanooga. I’m so excited; I signed up yesterday. I always think about coming to Atlanta for the half, but it just doesn’t work out with all the traveling and not actually having a car there. I say do it! I think I’ll go for the run streak. One mile per day isn’t hard, and I bet running just a mile is sometimes kind of nice.
Good luck in Chattanooga! That sounds like a great distance for Thanksgiving morning! Keep me posted on your run streak, and hit me up if you ever run the half in Atlanta 🙂
This will be my first race ever, and first race on Thanksgiving. I’m excited and nervous! I do plan on making it a habit every year to start my Thanksgiving day though.
That is so awesome, Melody!!! Good luck at your race. Please let me know how it goes! Excited for you!
My wife and I make it a tradition to go running every Thanksgiving morning. The past few years have been nice enough to wear shorts, which makes it extra fun!
Hi Jesica, I just found your blog through healthylivingblogs.com. I also live in Atlanta. I am running the Thanksgiving half this year. I have cheered runners on for the last three years but this year I decided to join in the fun. This is the first time I have run a holiday race. Should I dress up? Like a turkey?
Hi Melissa! Great to meet you virtually, and thanks so much for checking out my blog. I always love connecting with fellow Atlanta runners! Congrats on doing the half. It is a fun race … hilly, but fun 🙂 I decided not to run this year after all. My husband and I are going to go trail running instead. I’ve only dressed up for one holiday race on Fourth of July by wearing all red, white, and blue and a Team Sparkle running skirt. Wear what you are most comfortable in, and don’t wear anything new for race day. I hope I’ll get to meet you one of these days soon. Thanks again, and good luck on Thursday!!!
Jes – we carried on the tradition today at the Turkey Trot! Of course missed you!! Also the tradition of Thanksgiving math – run a 5 k and work off, what, 310 calories?? And then you are “allowed” to eat 4,000!! Your mom and I did a second 3 miles tonight and then off to the mall at midnight to keep working off the pumpkin pie! Happy Thanksgiving!