"Wattle" It Be? Family Style

I'm not one who spends holidays running or tries to squeeze in races before family gatherings, but this was a little different. A couple of weeks ago my sister suggested we (the immediate family/siblings/offspring) run (walk, watch) a 5k on Thanksgiving morning near my sister's home in Grove City, Ohio.

Since Turkey Day morning was about 25 degrees, half of the clan would bail out - including my Sister Jill, Sister-in-law Steph, younger Niece Abby (9) and Nephew Reed (6). Those of us who decided to brave the cold along with me were my girlfriend Lauren (our volunteer photographer and cheering section), Niece Calli (12), my Brother Chad and my other Brother (in-law) Chad. We are all pretty active (some more than others) and most of us run (or have run) regularly. The Grove City Thanksgiving Wattle is a flat 1.5 mile out and back scamper snuggled in a residential neighborhood between I-71 South and State Route 104 South, just below I-270 in southwest Columbus.

A Thanksgiving tradition, Scalloped Oysters.
A delicacy or the bane of your existence?

And you couldn't blame anyone who was leery of the weather, this month has already been unseasonably warm AND unseasonably cold with some snow, tornado warnings, lightning and thunderstorms at various times. Ohio has always had crazy weather, but that's just within the last three weeks. My brother and sister-in-law were especially frustrated as this isn't exact the type of thing that happens in their lovely hot & dry corner of Austin, Texas. Though, they get to go back home soon - we Ohio folk get to endure this for the next six months or so (maybe there's a reason they left Ohio for Texas years ago?). Aside from the weather, what better way to make room for more feasting by running off some stomach remnants?

Speaking of feasting, this was a portion of the email sent to all us (brother, sister, uncles, aunts, cousins and their significant others) regarding the Turkey Day meal taking place later in the day at my mom's house, "Linda," aka: Mom, "is preparing turkey, ham, mashed potatoes & gravy, dressing, (scalloped) oysters, rolls, and noodles. Need veggies & dessert." As you can see, there would be no shortage of food (or eating) when dinner came around.

Our route details

The scalloped oysters are an interesting story with our extended family. They were first made by my maternal grandpa (Joe) for a family gathering years ago as he would tend to make something a little off the wall for each gathering. Some of us loved the simple mixture of crackers, milk (or cream), butter and oysters - and whatever else you wanted to add - while others thought the dish resembled a homemade plaster compound, but with less taste. There was no in-between, it was a "yes" or a "no".

From that point on, scalloped oysters have been on every major family (extended or immediate) holiday dinner table. Even the oysters that weren't being scalloped would be turned into a stew and let me tell you, that hits the spot on a cold late fall, early winter day. Grandpa has been gone a long time, but his experiment lives on.

This is how I see running, you either enjoy it or go out of the way to celebrate your complete disgust for it.

Niece Calli & Brother-in-law Chad

Our Grove City area 5k route would take us from Lamplighter Drive in front of Primrose School, west to Buckeye Parkway, south to the Pinnacle round-about, through the round-about to Sunridge, then a hairpin turn to return, north on the opposite (west) side of Buckeye Parkway, east on Lamplighter and back from whence we came. Glancing at the times produced from the event's handful of prior years, it seemed there would be some rabbits to follow in hopes of setting my 40-plus-year-old-runner 5k PR. Or I would try too hard and crash.

Gloves, hats and tights were a must on this day - and my Texas brother was the recipient of the extra sets of these as my brother-in-law and I figured they would be needed. The fulls sun did help a bit, but running through the frigid air was still a chore. At the gun, I attempted to stay near the front runners, trying to avoid efforts to set world records. Also, cranking it back a little helped ease the muscles into running as the cold wouldn't keep them loose for long.

There were a handful of folks in front and I could hear a few more just behind me. Using those ahead as my pacesetters, I find a comfy rhythm. It may have been just a 5k, though it was pretty cool to have musicians at the mile marker and the turnaround entertaining us and keep our minds off of the frigid air collecting in our lungs. At mile one, I'm at 5:49 and feeling comfortable.

Brother Chad

Just before the turnaround, I catch and pass the gentleman just in front of me (I felt bad for him too, as he was only wearing running shorts and a singlet. I could feel his pain). On the return trip, I'm passed by a woman in a Columbus Running Company uniform. I laugh, thinking it is comforting to be passed by someone who knows what they are doing. At mile two, I'm at 12:03 (6:13). A little slower, but still excellent pace.

As much as I tried, I couldn't gain any ground on the woman and two fellas directly in front of me. Though, they weren't getting much further ahead - we seemed to simply maintain position to the finish.

I did, however, hear my name blurted out a couple of times. Our cheering section (Lauren) was pretty active, and since it was an out & back, passing the trailing pack included an encouraging holler or two from the Chad(s) and Calli. At mile three, I'm at 17:59 (5:55).

All alone, I utilize the downhill to cruise through the finish and remember to stop my watch. I end with an 18:27 (5:57), good enough for 8th overall (1,572 finishers) and first in the 40 to 49 age group. Not to mention a return-to-running 5k PR - mission accomplished.

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Before & after: Brother Chad, Brother-in-law Chad,
Niece Calli and I

A couple of high fives and congratulatory nods later, I'm handed my finisher's medal, grab some water and given my finisher's pumpkin pie...yes...finisher's pumpkin pie. Not long after my brother, brother-in-law and niece make their return and receive their medals and pies. The event was used to help support, in part, the Grove City Food Pantry and since we did not need to have four pumpkin pies, you had the option of donating your pie to the food pantry. Thus, three of those tasty rounds would go toward a Thanksgiving for those who were less fortunate.

Brother Chad: 26:02 (156th)
Brother-in-law Chad (running/walking with his daughter: 30:30 (372nd)
Niece Calli: 30:30 (374th)

Later that afternoon, we headed south to Richmond Dale - our small, slowly evaporating village resting at the base of U.S. Route 35 East in southeast Ross County - to dine (gorge) with the mass of relatives. And Lauren sampled the dish that is Scalloped Oysters. She thought it was decent, but with more of a briny taste than she would prefer. So, not awful - just not exactly her cup of tea. In her words, "I'll give them a C plus." Not at all surprising since she is a teacher, but that grade does put her on the 'not a fan' side of the family oyster issue. The Teams are pretty close to even right now.

So, running on Thanksgiving, new to us - but not (completely) crazy. Who knows, we may have unknowingly started a new family tradition - albeit haphazardly. We are a little weird...no...a lot weird...but that just makes things not boring. If you haven't embraced it, then maybe you need to start living a little.

"We're all a lot weirder than we'd like the world to know." ~ Seth Godin

Kasabian - You're In Love With a Psycho

You know it's the place I need

But you got me walking circles like a dog on a lead

And the doctors say I'm crazy, that I'm eight miles thick

I'm like the taste of macaroni on a seafood stick

And you got me switched on, baby, like electric eel

And I'm tight with Axel Foley, that's just how I feel

Like a grapefruit and a magic trick, the prodigal son

I'm walking, I'm walking, I'm walking, I walk so quick

And it just don't mean a thing

We've been waiting far too long

We'll play it out again

This is just my serenade

You're in love with a psycho

You're in love with a psycho

And there's nothing you can do about it

I got you running all around it

You're in love with a psycho

You're in love with a psycho

And there's nothing you can do about it

You never gonna be without it

Jibber  jabber at the bargain booze

And reciting Charles Bukowski, I got nothing to lose

And I wait for you to follow me to share my chips

But you're walking, you're walking, you walk, you walk so quick

Nobody's gonna take you there

I stick around for the thousand yard stare

I go to sleep in a duffle bag

I'm never up, never down, down, down, down

Hey, you're in love with a psycho

You're in love with a psycho

And there's nothing you can do about it

I got you running all around it

You're in love with a psycho

You're in love with a psycho

And there's nothing you can do about it

You're never gonna be with—

Maybe this way we'll find a solution

Maybe this way we'll find a solution

But before, to love me you gotta find love

You're in love with a psycho

You're in love with a psycho

And there's nothing you can do about it

I got you running all around it

You're in love with a psycho

Tu amor es muy loco

And there's nothing you can do about it

You never gonna be without it

(Photo Spread Courtesy of Lauren B.)

Finisher's Pie, Medal & Race Bib

Girlfriend, Photog & Cheering Section Lauren
and I.

Calli and Chad

Officialness

Thanksgiving Day Celebrating

Brother Chad

Yours truly, hard at work

At the finish....