Why We Run on Thanksgiving

Contrary to popular opinion, burning calories is way down on the list of reasons. [View this email in your browser]( presented by We Get to Run Today In a favorite [scene]( from the movie The Rookie, the aging pitcher, who had been having doubts about sticking with the minor league team through the struggles of training, travel, politics and poor pay, comes into the locker room one morning and says to a teammate, "You know what we get to do today, Brooks? We get to play baseball." That little phrase, "get to" changes everything. This week, over 1 million of us get to run in a [Turkey Trot]( the most popular race of the year, according to [data from RunningUSA](. Millions more will head out on their own on this day off from work. And while conventional wisdom says people run on Thanksgiving primarily to burn off excess calories, those of us actually running know better. Yes, we appreciate the fitness-inducing side-effects of running, but running is not a means to an end for us, not something we endure to get leaner profiles and healthier hearts. Neither is running a penance for later—or earlier—indulgence. That narrative assumes that what we all really want to be doing is sitting on our couch with our feet up drinking a beer and eating unhealthy food, that anything we do apart from this we do only out of guilt and discipline. The truth is, we know that, after overcoming the bit of inertia that ties us to the couch, the run will be one of the best parts of our day. We relish the chance to be able to run in daylight during this winter month, and to sneak away and indulge in some alone time. And, unlike other indulgences this day, we know it will leave us feeling more awake, more energetic, more alive. We know that when we can't run, colors are inevitably duller, possibilities more limited, joys less sweet. We run today, as we do most other days of the year, because we can. In the words of the early-twentieth-century poet [Charles Hamilton Sorley]( "We run because we like it / Through the broad bright land." I'm thinking it's time we changed the conventional narrative. Of all days, Thanksgiving seems to be a chance to avoid the clichés and the rationalizations, a time to drop the "I run for pie" jokes, even to dismiss the credit we get for being disciplined. This holiday, let's simply and without apology celebrate this amazing gift—we get to run today! Jonathan Beverly, Editor If you find this newsletter valuable, please forward to friends and suggest they [subscribe](. Thank you! [How, and Why, to Hit Negative Splits in Your Next Race]( Running the second half of a race faster than you run the first half is a proven formula for success. Jason Fitzgerald [Ask Pete: Should I Race By Effort Or By Pace?]( Racing with a pre-determined goal pace fails to take into account race-day variables and will lead to sub-optimal results.. Pete Magill The fitness tracker that provides personalized insights in your fitness, sleep, and recovery. Get daily recovery scores that let you know when your body is ready to train or when it needs rest. Automatically track your workouts and how strenuous your day is with real-time feedback that lets you know if you can push yourself further. Monitor your sleep and get insight into how much sleep you need based on your daily exertion. Get insights to unlock the best version of yourself! [Join Today]( [Big Leaps Lead to Big Dreams for Hungry Runner Girl]( Janae Baron, one year after breaking 3 hours in the marathon for the first time, will shoot for an Olympic trials qualifier of 2:45 at the California International Marathon on December 8. Lauren Totten [The Importance Of Recovery After A Marathon]( After months of training and 26.2 miles of racing, recovery should be your key concern. Jeff Gaudette G E A R [Gifts for Runners Guaranteed to Fit: MOBO Board]( The MOBO builds foot control and stability in the same range of motion as running and trains you to use your big toe and activate your arch. Jonathan Beverly [Update Your Newsletter Preferences]( [The Well]( [The Latest]( [Training]( [Shoes & Gear]( [The Rundown]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [Website]( [Contact Us]( [Advertise]( [Privacy Policy]( Copyright © 2019 Pocket Outdoor Media, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in on one or more of these Pocket Outdoor Media brand websites: PocketOutdoorMedia.com, PodiumRunner.com, Triathlete.com, VeloNews.com, VeloPress.com, VeloSwap.com, WomensRunning.com or because of your business relationship with one or more of our brands. Our mailing address is: Pocket Outdoor Media 4745 Walnut St. Unit ABoulder, CO 80301-2587 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Pocket Outdoor Media · 4745 Walnut St. · Unit A · Boulder, CO 80301-2587 · USA