Thanksgiving is known for watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, making a ton of food, eating all of that food, lounging around, watching football, eating more food, and most importantly, giving thanks. So, basically anything but exercising. However, in the past couple of years, 5Ks on Thanksgiving day have gotten more and more popular. Luckily, these 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) races are held annually throughout the Capital District! There are a handful of different races: the Bethlehem Turkey Trot, the Cardiac Classic, which is held in Schenectady, the Christopher Dailey Turkey Trot, held in Saratoga, and the most popular, the Troy Turkey Trot.
Running on Thanksgiving is, in fact, a good thing, and here’s why:
Let’s start with the obvious. Running, in general, is a great cardiovascular exercise that has a positive impact on your life. Whether you run inside or outside, there is no doubt it boosts your mood and makes you a generally happier person (well, maybe not during the run itself, since all one thinks about on a run is how terrible it is). However, the satisfaction of crossing that finish line, believe me on this one, is truly unforgettable. Accomplishing a goal completely outweighs every awful running experience prior to the race.
With all that exercise, you won’t feel as bad about eating an excess amount of food. Let’s face it, Thanksgiving dinner is irresistible. Once you start eating, it’s next to impossible to stop. Since the whole day is dedicated to one meal, why not balance it out with some exercise?
Besides the physical health, running a 5K this Thanksgiving can relieve stress between family members. The last thing anyone wants to is to have an altercation at a family gathering. We all have that Uncle Joe or Aunt Betsy who gets on our nerves. Whether it be a weird uncle, annoying aunt, bossy mother-in-law, or even an unfiltered grandparent, getting active can reduce their bothersome behaviors.
This Thanksgiving, running a 5K can be a family activity. Besides that one irritated relative, you can encourage your whole family to get active. By motivating the elderly to run, or most likely walk, the healthier they will be, which means the less doctor’s visits, less pills and the less cranky they are! Other than the senior citizens, you could also bring your dog to this race. There is no better motivation other than trying to keep up with your furry friend. Besides, it might spark up a new healthy hobby!