Thanksgiving

I'm sitting at the airport to fly home for Christmas, so I guess I better get my post about Thanksgiving done. :) Here it is, although a bit too late.

I took a whole week off for Thanksgiving. Its not very fun to fly across the country for only a weekend. I arrived Friday night. Saturday was a rest day but I did manage to get out into the clean air for a run along the rail trail with Mom. It was kind of a pre-Manchester Road Race run. We both had plantar faciitis although I am figuring out how to get rid of it. Sunday morning, Derek was running the Lil Rhody Runaround 8 mile trail race. I debated between church and the race...the race won out. Its kind of like going to church...sorta. I wore my five fingers which was interesting. My leg muscles aren't really used to that kind of running so halfway through I hit a not happy wall. Either way the scenery was beautiful and Derek ran a good second half. Derek's friend Allie, Derek, and I after the race (and after I had found my mom's car keys that I left on the roof of Derek's car, oops):

After the race we had true Rhode Island pizza...it was the only place open since its winter season now. Monday Mom was working (and so was Derek) so Dad and I went for a walk in the woods. It was beautiful out and fun to test out my five fingers hiking on leaves. We took a bunch of different trails, mostly to get enough sun since its winter!

Tuesday was a surf day. Apparently I've forgotten what real barreling waves look like. Derek and I took off early in the morning. After some quick surf checking, we decided where to surf. This is where it became obvious I had not been surfing this kind of wave recently. I was freaking out cause it was sizeable and barreling while Derek was telling me that was the minimal size he even surfs. Finally I got it together and actually paddled out. It took a couple of waves to remember how to actually drop into perfect a-frames but once I did it was super super fun! Yay! It was the first time in a long time I really loved riding the waves. Figures its takes a 6mm wetsuit and cold water...but hey a good barrel is a good barrel. Everyone out spent the session happily dropping into perfect waves. I wanted to surf all day but was exhausted so I got out once the size dropped (booo high tide) and took some photos instead. Yaaaaay surf!

Wednesday was a rest day so I went on a walk with Dad and then with Mom before it got dark. Super short days make you appreciate the daylight more and sleeping in is not a good idea if you want to see the sun! It was nice to get out in the non-smoggy air and sleep where its actually dark. :) We also got ready for Thanksgiving Day. Food to cook and race numbers to organize!

Every Thanksgiving, our family runs the Manchester Road Race. This year, 14,000 people registered. Its an awesome festival with elite people at the front, a bunch of seeded people behind them, and the rest of the group following. Some people dress up in costumes, bands play along the course, and there are a ton of spectators. Plus, we get to visit with other running friends that we see every year. We made it to the start, saying hi to people we knew, and the race took off. Each year we try to beat previous year's times and keep our seed cards. This year, Derek ran a super fast race and qualified for the fastest seed group for next year. At the end of the race, he passed his high school teammate and they sprint raced to the finish. Dad and I were close but Dad edged me out to be the fastest person his age in the race. Mom and I were the fourth fastest people our age. It was a beautiful day and super fun. Afterwards, we went to our relatives house (they live in the same town as us) to join the rest of the family and eat tons of food. My great great aunt was visiting which was something nice and different. I love getting together to see everyone, sing lots of songs (its kind of like being in a real live musical sometimes), and to catch up on everyone's lives. Too bad I didn't get any photos.

Friday, we visited Mom's side of the family. Grandpa was happy to have Thanksgiving visitors (a day late) and another Thanksgiving dinner delivered. We also got to visit my great aunt who just had back surgery but looked like she was recovering really well.

Before I got on the plane on Saturday, Derek and I went on a trail run in the perfect running weather. It was windy so we had to keep watching to make sure branches wouldn't land of us, but this is the kind of thing we enjoy. Every so often, we'd stop to check out potentially climbable rocks. Ok my plane is boarding, gotta go. Yaaaaaay busy home visits! I am definitely not a california girl. ;-)