TURKEY TROT FOR TOTS

RUNNIN' WITH BEAU'S BUDDIES

A NEW THANKSGIVING TRADITION

This Thanksgiving the Fat Bald White Guy and his Hiking Companion were joined by the Real Big White Guy and his sister and we all ventured to Greenville North Carolina to participate in the Beau's Buddies Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot for Tots.

Let's get this out of the way.  Neither the FBWG nor his Faithful Hiking Companion has ever run in a 5K.  For that matter neither the Real Big White Guy nor his sister have ever run in a 5K.  In fact, before participating in the Turkey Trot for Tots, the FBWG was heard saying: "If you see me running, you better run too!"   But receiving an invitation from Beau's Buddies to run back in the summer got the FBWG to thinking....and working out.... and dieting...and 46 lbs later I am newer version of the FBWG you may be used to seeing in this blog.  So we all laced up our running shoes and got it done for Beau!

 Lot's of folks came out for the 8 AM start of the race.  There were all kinds of folks, young and old, tall and short, fat and skinny.  These folks looked like they should be at the shopping mall, not at a road race....but what does a Fat Bald White Guy know about road racin'....nothing!

See these skinny guys are the front of the pack....they are going to run this sucker in less than 17 minutes....seriously....I did not make it to the halfway marker in that time!

Like I said I don't know anything about road racin'....but I really did not expect a DJ to be there wanting everyone to "Nay Nay" before the race...

The folks there asked everyone to pause in prayer for a lady named "Georgia" who was fighting cancer.  It was a poignant reminder of the purpose of the race.  We were here to honor the memory of Beau Stanley by raising money to fund Beau's Buddies, a charity helping families in the Greenville area who are fighting cancer with a loved one.  Yep....that is why the FBWG was running today.

A very tall skinny dude won the race.  His name is

Harry Branch-Shaw and he ran the Turkey Trot 5K in 16:25 seconds....that is averaging 5.23 minutes per mile....pretty good for a 17 year old....let's hope he is going to run for the Wolfpack!

Now the FBWG had two goals for the day...the first was to finish the race.  The second was to run 15 minute mile pace.  Well I accomplished both.  I finished the race in 45:24...yes some 29 minutes after Harry...but I did this!  And if you do some math, you will see that my pace was 14.34 minutes per mile. 

Yes, I know folks do walk faster than that but for a FBWG I am pretty proud of myself!  For the record I finished 374 of 437....yep 63 people finished behind me....wow!  

Now the RBWG finished some time in front of me at 36.40....but he is 24 years old...and is a former college athlete....but we are proud of him too.  

Now note he did finish behind an old dude and between two women, a fact that I have not let him forget.

My faithful hiking companion and the sister of the RBWG decided to take Billy Buck with them in a stroller....his sister abandoned her mother and Billy Buck and came in at 50.00 minutes.  But she finished and so did Billy Buck....a great day for our family!

 People were having  a lot of fun at the race on Thanksgiving morning.  There were lots of smiles, much laughter, and even more love being shown.  Somehow there was a little bit of Beau in everyone that day.

Beau Stanley died eight years ago today.  He was not yet three years old.  Had he lived he would have posed in this picture with his twin brothers, and his cousins. His absence was noted but his impact on our lives remains with us daily. Cancer took Beau's life but could not take his heart, his soul nor his effect on all those who he touched.  Beau gave us a gift.  It was a gift that we could never adequately return to him but one that we have to pass on to others.  Beau showed us how to love one another which is why I always say:  "Beau Lives!"

Beau's Buddies sponsors many activities throughout the year.  This was the 4th annual Turkey Trot for Tots.  Please come join us next year!  In the meantime if you want to know more about Beau's Buddies and how you can support their mission, check out their website. http://www.beausbuddies.com/

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Oh, to live in a world one day where little boys did not die of cancer...Lord hear our prayer!  Amen.