Turkey Time

I use running for exercise, competition, to clear my head and sometimes for transportation. One thing I haven't done is to literally run for my life, with the possible exception of crossing a few intersections. My friend Tom Turkey has made a habit of using his running to 'escape.' I caught up with him this week to check his pulse.

Me: Tom you are looking lean and fit. How is your training going?

TT: Very well, thank you. I had a few interval sessions last week training with this deer I know. She doesn't have much stamina but she's really quick on the short stuff. When that gun goes off, she's gone!

Me: What are your plans for the Turkey Run (Sun. November 21, Como Lake St Paul)?

TT: I think I'll go out hard and try to build a big lead. I really like to get out of sight of everyone who is following me.

Me: Have you been on the course yet this fall?

TT: I was there last weekend, but the snow made it pretty slippery. I still got up to my top gear and really flew.

Me: What weather conditions do you expect for this Sunday (Nov. 21)?

TT: There might some precip in the air, but I think the conditions will be good. The lake is looking pretty.

Me: This course is not hard to follow, but I hear you have a trick you use when you run a complicated course. Would you share that with us?

TT: It's a variation of the old 'leave bread crumbs' routine. I preview the course, dropping a trail of corn behind me. Whe race time comes, I simply follow the trail. It also doubles as a light snack, so I can usually skip the aid stations.

Me: We'll see if you've started a new trend! What's next for you after this race?

TT: I'll be laying low for a few weeks. I'm taking a trip to Chile to explore some underground caverns.

Me: So, no running?

TT: I'm bringing my shoes. I hear there is a nice three-mile loop.

Me: What do you think of the Turkey Run shirt design this year? It's artist Lee Jack Thao's imagination of you after winning the big race.

TT: I really like it! This is the first year I've been depicted with running shoes, and it makes my shoe sponsor very happy.

Me: Good luck on Sunday. I'll see you at the race.

TT: Thanks! It's my favorite event of the year. I like the fact that after the race I can get stuffed on cookies and bread and not worry about overdoing it. It's great to be a runner!

Rediscovering a Classic

When I moved to the Twin Cities in the late 1970s to attend college, I was amazed at the active running community. Coming from a small town where I once had beer tossed at me while running, the idea of running around a lake without behind hassled was intriguing. When I was introduced to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, I discovered what thousands of runners before and since have learned: it's the perfect running lake.

I admit to being biased. I direct the Hennepin-Lake Classic, and each year since 1980 (I missed the first two) I've been down at Lake Calhoun very early on the first Sunday in August. Some of Calhoun's charms are obvious, and some grow on you:

• It is almost a perfect 5K around. That makes it a great loop to check your fitness or just relax and enjoy the sights.


• You always have a view across the lake. Unlike other lakes, you are never out of sight or around a bend. You can always tell where you are at Calhoun.


• You're never alone. Even those early mornings race directing, there is someone else at the lake. I'll run somewhere else when I want to be alone, but I'll go to Calhoun when I want to be part of the crowd.


• There is plenty of water available. There are multiple water stops on each loop of the lake, meaning you can refresh yourself on the hot summer days.


• The lake feel like a party. Running a loop around Lake Calhoun in the summer will bring you in contact with sun-tanners, sail-boarders, volleyball players, inline skaters, Frisbee flippers, dog walkers, archers, cyclists, and more. Calhoun is a lake that knows how to have fun!

• It is only a few steps from Uptown Minneapolis. If you are looking for food and entertainment, you don't have far to go after your run.


• The more it changes the more it stays the same. I've run the lake for more than 30 years, and the area has undergone some major changes. However, just plop in a video tape of the movie The Personals (if you still have a VCR), and you'll see a view of the lake circa 1980 that looks very familiar. As an added bonus, you'll also see the Hennepin-Lake Classic race with a cameo appearance in the movie.

If you haven't discovered the joys of Lake Calhoun, stop over see what you've been missing. If you don't mind sharing, come for the Hennepin-Lake Classic on Sunday, August 1, and you can run a 5K or 10K or even both (the DoubleHeader). After a lap or two (or three!) around the lake, you can judge for yourself if it's the perfect lake for running. You may even have a few reasons of your own to add to my list. And you definitely won't leave thirsty!

McLovin, Irish Pigs and O'Runners (Oh my!)

The year's Human Race Hero, Cynthia Schroeder Brochman, was someone you wanted on your team. From her college years at St Olaf to her days on Racer's Edge, Run N Fun and Baba Yaga, she knew how to do her best while encouraging and amusing her teammates. (More on that soon on Teri J Dwyer's TJ's Turf blog).

Brochman died last December after a one-year battle with cancer. She will be honored posthumously at the St Patrick's Day Human Race on Sunday, March 28. Her highly competitive Run N Fun team will be there, as well as dozens of teams of citizen athletes.

The event allows you to create your own team, so amidst the teams like Target Run Club and Cargill Club Run you'll find Dandy Long Legs, Team Bumble, True Players and The Heavy Breathers. There's also Team RED (Run Eat Drink) and Hot Sauce, The Fantastic Five, Run&Brunch and the A Team. A few team names reflect the St Patrick's Day theme, including McLovin, Irish Pigs and the O'Runners. Finally, the largest team so far is a group of work friends: Boogers and Bones. They all work at Regions Hospital, so their name, besides being fun to say, reflects their professional duties.

Some teams train together, others will only gather for this race. Each team has its own set of reasons why they exist. One common theme: teams add fun! Whether you race together or just meet afterward, being on a team raises the fun quotient.

Some of my most fun running experiences have come when I was on a team. From formal racing teams to pick-up teams for relays, I like being a part of something bigger than myself. The competitive side can be fun, but the camaraderie is the thing. I can't really say it any better than the team description for the O'Runners: "For our team name we had a difficult time deciding between O'Drunkards and O'Runners...most of us would consider ourselves better drinkers than runners so maybe we should've stuck with that!" Going with your strengths is always a good idea, but I think you'll be okay with O'Runners.

Got team? What's your story?



PS It's not too late to form your own team, and not all the good team names are taken. Check out our special contest on The Sporting Life page on Facebook.