3rd Annual Duell Family Turkey Trot. . .

For the third year in a row, several members of my family have participated in the Duell Family Turkey Trot. Due to all the other activities, it was decided the race should be held the day after Thanksgiving. Actually, maybe it was just to make us all feel better about the gorging we had done the day before!

In years past, awards were given for the winners of age groups and for best costume. This year, no awards were given, although some still showed up with some awesome costumes. Below are Jeff and Elise, a fugitive and a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Benjamin was the official who started the race. Scary.

And they're off!!!!

I had been running and was in pretty good shape for the race. However, I decided to start the race with Emma so I could encourage her to run the two miles. She hadn't been feeling the greatest and two miles was pretty daunting. We started out too fast and she begged to slow down. We slowed to a jog and she begged to walk. We began walking and she started crying. I ended up putting her on the Gator with Kevin and decided to get a good run in.

Marilyn with two of her girls on the Gator.

Little Brody, my nephew's son.

I had no intention of going all out, but as I neared the halfway point, one of my sisters said I should try to beat the teenage nephews because they were mocking the adults. Sometimes I think I'm younger than I am and I didn't want a teenage boy mocking me! I kept my pace up and eventually passed those boys. From behind me, I heard one of the nephews say, "Come on! We can't let her beat us!" I kicked dust in their faces and tore off down the dirt road! Not really.

As I closed in on the finish line, I heard people yelling, like someone was right behind me, about to pass me. I mustered up all my strength and finished hard, with my brother-in-law Jeff just a few feet behind me. You can see the teenage boys down the road a hundred yards:)

I can't remember ever having won a race. I was pretty excited. I'm sure several of my sisters could have beat me had they not been running with their daughters, but it felt good anyway. I loved being a part of this activity with my family. This is the road I grew up on. I've walked, run, biked, ridden a motorcycle, and driven multiples vehicles up and down this road. To run in such an important place with family members etched a memory in my mind that I will always treasure.

After I finished I stood at the line and cheered the rest of the runners and walked home.

Lianne. . .

Alexandra and Jeff

Alison

I love this picture of Elise. It reminds me of the movie The Fugitive with Harrison Ford. I think she might have been wearing a pair of handcuffs for the race. I wonder what passersby thought of our family?!

Sage and Sidney with some others nieces

Emily and Linda

Someone driving had an interesting costume. 

Ariane and Sadie and Jaiya

Olivia and Lori, finishing hard

Taylor and Sharon

Finishers!!

Weston, Ranger, Jane and Xander

Ariane and her interesting costume!

After the race, we spent the day around my childhood home, just hanging out with family. It's not very often that we get to spend time with my family, so I enjoyed observing everyone. Lots of laughs. Lots of stories. It was a great trip home!