🦃Happy Running: 12 Runners Serve the Thanksgiving Rundown

Chances are pretty good you’ve had some happy-running miles this year.
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And now it’s a mad-dash through the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
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Pause your watch, and take a minute to think about your:

• Last run
• Last race
• Favorite route
• Can’t-live-without shoes, gear & fuel
• And the people who’ve helped you mile after mile

Now is a good time to reflect on the miles you’ve run, challenges you’ve faced, and the people who’ve supported you along the way.
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This year, we asked 12 runners two questions to share what makes them grateful…
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Whether it’s a coach who gave the perfect pep talk, a training buddy who stuck with you through early morning runs, or that one race where everything just clicked.
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Ask yourself:

• In your running life what/who are you thankful for? 
• Or based on your last race, what are you thankful for?

In this special Thanksgiving edition of The Rundown, we hope to remind you running is more than just putting one foot in front of the other.
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So, as you lace up for your favorite Turkey Trot or settle in for a post-dinner recovery stretch, take a moment to think about what’s brought you joy on your running journey this year. 
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Let’s celebrate the big wins, the little victories, and everything in between.
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Happy Running!

The running community is awesome!

Kelly: I am most grateful for a running community like Eastwind Running & Endurance. 

• I’ve enjoyed many miles of conversations and have made life long friendships. 
• One of my favorite running experiences of the year: A weekend girls' running trip. 
• Running in the fog is pretty cool too.

Aging well + adventures with friends is a good way to live

Clifton: I'm thankful for an amazing body that has served me so well for such a long time despite me treating it terribly at times. 

• I've experienced so many amazing adventures because my body has allowed me to.
• At 68 years old, all I see ahead are bigger better adventures. So thankful!

Pushing the boundaries & making memories with friends

Jeremy: I am thankful for my friends. 

• Their desire to push the boundaries of what they thought possible has driven us to do incredible things together. 
• The sights we have seen and the adventures we have been on are memories I will cherish forever.

Chasing PRs + support from family & friends

David: I am thankful to be a runner. This year has been my most successful year as a runner.
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PRs in 2024:

• I have personal bests for my marathon, getting a 3:07:31. 
• This was the closest that I ever got to qualifying for the Boston Marathon being 2:31 from BQ. 
• I also finished my first ever Ultram marathon. 
• I ran three marathons in a span of six months and I also completed my first ever bike race. 

Support every step of the way:

• I am just thankful to be healthy and have my family there sharing all of those moments with me. 
• My wife completing her first race was also a blessing. 
• My young children are passionate about running. 

Ultra-tough:

• My last race was Run the Red September 28th.
• This is my first completion of an ultra marathon. 
• I did well, got lost and ran 2 miles more (34 miles), 50K. 
• I never hit the wall and had a great race even though I got lost. 

Next steps...

• I'm looking forward to 2025. 
• I am hoping for a great year of health and continually getting faster.
• I hope to finish my first ever 50-mile race along with getting that BQ for a marathon.

Getting more time with my parents doing something I love

Jeff: I’m thankful that after 8 years of running, my parents finally got to see me in a race. 

• My mom has always been my biggest fan and having my parents see me run in a 5k will always be a treasure for me. 
• My parents are aging, and my mom’s mobility is declining, so getting to run in a 5k that was just 2.5 miles from their house was a huge blessing.

Getting stronger & faster one step at a time

Lisa: In my running I’m thankful for the strength that I know is inside when my body thinks I can’t go on. I can!

• My last race I improved my time by 10 minutes. 
• Small steps equal huge milestones.

Maintaining health & fitness to keep running ultras

Tim: Coming into Thanksgiving 2024, I’m a grateful human being. 

• I’m incredibly grateful for the long running and continuing support from my family and friends that enables me to pursue Ultramarathon finish lines on a regular basis. 
• And I’m incredibly grateful for the fact that I’ve been able to maintain the level of health and fitness that enables me to still be able to run on a daily basis and to race and run in ultramarathons, albeit it slower than I used to be.

Celebrating friends who help you level up

Alan: Drew Hunter has been an influential mentor and friend, despite never serving as my coach.

Celebrate your friends
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Growing up, I watched Drew excel at Loudoun Valley High School in Virginia, where he achieved remarkable milestones, including:

• Becoming the eighth high school athlete to break four minutes in the mil
• Leading his team to a dramatic comeback victory in the Distance Medley Relay at the Penn Relays. 

As a young athlete entering high school, his accomplishments were both motivating and inspiring.
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Over the years, Drew has continued to exemplify resilience and determination.
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Now a professional runner with Adidas and a key member of Tinman Elite for nearly eight years...

• His career has seen both extraordinary triumphs and significant challenges. 
• From the difficult decision to part ways with long-time coach, Tom Schwartz and bring his parents, Joan and Marc on as team coaches...
• To battling recurring injuries and navigating the pressure of living up to his status as a high school phenom...
• Drew’s journey has been marked by unwavering perseverance. 
• Despite these setbacks, he has achieved national titles and reestablished his dominance in track and field, proving his critics wrong time and again.

Today, Drew’s story continues to inspire 
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As a father of two, he has managed to balance family life with his return to elite competition, further demonstrating his commitment to the sport. His journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of:

• Resilience
• Adaptability, and...
• Faith in the process, both in running and in life. 

Running to pay it forward & inspire others to achieve their goals

Sheri: My daughter Iris and I are both Tennessee running-record holders.

• What we are most thankful for, in running, is the ability to pay our running gifts forward in our running community! 
• We love to pace races and encourage as many people as possible to achieve their running goals! 
• Running and just plain motion with the body through physical exercise is a life changing! 
• So thankful-health is wealth!

Motivation from running friends to keep going

Steve: In my running life, I am thankful for the amazing friends I have met through Eastwood Running and Endurance.  

• They inspire my efforts to continually improve my running and cycling.  
• They are such an accepting and supportive group.

Testing limits, running adventures & support from family

Gabe: In my running life, I'm thankful for the many opportunities to:

• Meet new people
• Experience new landscape on a regular basis, and...
• Rediscover old landscapes with all new friends and a fresh perspective

I'm thankful for an able body, no matter the pace. I'm thankful for a supportive family. Mainly my wife who wants my goals for me as much as I do.

Friends make running adventures unforgettable

Megan: I am so very grateful to running for the friends I've made, adventures we've had, laughs (and tears) we've shared and places we've visited.  

• Running has given me a fabulous community of like-minded fools and I couldn't be more thankful!

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