Doctorinsole Blog How To Run Your Best Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

There's no better way to prepare for a delicious and indulgent Thanksgiving feast than running a Turkey Trot the morning of the holiday. Not only do you want room for an extra helping of Auntie Jane's famous sweet potatoes, but you won't feel quite as guilty when you reach for that second slice of pie. Today we're sharing 5 tried and true tips to help you run your best Thanksgiving Day race yet. 1. Wear the right clothesTurkey Trots tend to be early in the morning, but a lot of people aren't particularly functional right when they wake up. Save yourself some stress by laying out the clothes you are going to wear the night before. Don't overdress- remember that once you start running, your body will warm up. Wear comfortable clothes that wick away sweat and reduce chafing. Be sure to have a pack with your bib number or timing chip ready to grab and go. 2. Eat a good dinner and hydrate the night beforeDon't try a fancy new dish or completely stuff yourself, as both could upset your stomach. Eat what you would normally eat. Most importantly, drink water. It's easy to forget hydration in the colder months because you don't sweat as much, but your body still needs water to function at its highest potential. A good rule of thumb is to drink the water today that you will need tomorrow. In other words, don't just chug a water bottle right before the race: you'll probably get cramps and your body won't actually be able to use that water for the race. 3. Break in your running shoesDon't try anything new on race day- it's not the time to break in your fancy new running shoes. You want to make sure you are comfortable and reduce your risk of blisters or running injuries. Be sure to purchase the right type of insoles for your running shoes and break those in alongside your shoes. This will help support your feet and joints as you race for your pumpkin pie and enable faster recovery. DoctorInsole's Fit Step are a great option for runners' insoles. 4. Wake up and arrive earlyTry and get to the race about 45 minutes before start. This will give you ample time to find parking, do a little warm up, and stretch before the race. Getting your muscles warm will help reduce the chance of injury and ensure you're ready right at the start. It will also make sure that your head is in the game! 5. Pace yourselfPro tip: when you line up, try to line up with people that might have the same pace as you. If you haven't pushed yourself in your training for speed, being at the front might not be the best choice. Those at the front will be quick off the line and you could risk exhausting yourself before you're even halfway through the race. Keep a steady pace and don't get discouraged by people passing you -- you go after your own goals, not theirs! The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot could become a new tradition for your family. If you train and prepare you're destined to achieve your goals. Be sure to have the proper insoles and break them in at least a couple weeks before the race. Try DoctorInsole's FitStep for Men and Women. Best of luck and Happy Turkey Day!