By Natalie Cabañas
Instead of spending Thanksgiving morning preparing their
holiday feast, the staff of Atlanta Track Club reports for work at 4 a.m. to set
the table for almost 11,000 participants soon to arrive for the Invesco QQQ
Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash.
Trussing the turkey? How about zip-tying the last of the
signage. Arranging the chairs around the table? Nope, they're positioning
hundreds of orange safety cones. Sipping a fresh cup of coffee during a break
from cooking? They're setting up dozens of water tables.
Greeting a few guests at the door? How about directing
thousands of "guests" to parking spots.
At least the staff gets some pie - not to eat, but to
stockpile at the finish line for participants to grab as they head back home.
Like those participants, everyone on staff has strategized
about how to make time on a busy cooking holiday for a road race. But toss in
the 3 a.m. wake-up call, post-race cleanup and long days at number pickup on
the entire weekend beforehand, and you can see why extra creativity is needed
to maintain their family traditions and memorable meals.
Here's how four members of the staff still manage to
carve out a holiday for themselves and their families.
A
One-Day Delay
For Rachel Schrensky, membership and expo manager, the
race has quickly evolved into a cherished family tradition - albeit this year
with a calendar tweak.
Three years ago, Rachel moved here from Indiana and,
knowing that she wouldn't be able to make it back home for the holiday,
convinced her family to celebrate Thanksgiving in Atlanta instead.
But not just celebrate.
Her parents now volunteer at Mile 4's hydration station.
This year, her mom will also join the number pickup team, which is Rachel's key
responsibility, while her niece and nephew will tackle their first-ever race.
"Seeing the kids run the Dash is going to be the highlight of my Thanksgiving,"
Rachel said. "It was exciting to see my family get involved in the race. It
wasn't something we ever did before, but now it feels like our own tradition."
Rachel takes charge of organizing the family meal, using
a trusty spreadsheet to keep everything on track because, she said, "without
it, we'd all just end up with cookies."
With almost a dozen family members coming in from three
states, though, the holiday meal this year is being pre-empted until Friday.
Rachel's husband, Will, and her parents will do most of the cooking, with
everyone sitting down around 1 p.m.
"Honestly, I don't mind,"
said Rachel. "Since everyone was OK with moving it to Friday, it just made
sense."
Thanksgiving in a Pot
For Cullen Bryenton, director of finance, creativity in
the kitchen is his Thanksgiving salvation during the hectic lead-up to race
day. Thanksgiving cooking has long been Cullen's responsibility, and since assuming
his role at Atlanta Track Club four years ago he has been prepping food the
night before. "Working so many hours, I had less time to cook, so I had to get
creative," Cullen said. "That's when the crock-pot came in. It's low effort but
tastes like you worked all day."
Cullen's Thanksgiving meal isn't traditional, but it's
perfect for his family. Instead of turkey, he makes a pot roast because it's
his wife Natalie's favorite. "My wife
helps minimally," Cullen laughed. "She might open the cranberry sauce, but
that's it."
The day after, the family "competes" in the "Black Friday
Decathlon," a tradition of board games started by Cullen in 2021. "It's usually
just the three of us playing games all day, but it's something I really look
forward to after such a busy week," he said.
Heartfelt Sides
Merchandise manager Katie Lail embodies dedication both
at work and at home. While helping participants purchase apparel at number pickup
for the past eight years, Katie will also prepare a side dish, rolls and a
dessert for her husband, Ray, and their three sons to take to a larger family
gathering she isn't able to attend because of the race.
"I make sure everything is ready so Ray and the boys can
enjoy their day, even if I can't be there," she said.
Katie prepares everything ahead of time. "My hashbrown
casserole is always a favorite," she said. "It's simple, but the boys say it
wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving without it." She even programs her oven to
start cooking while she's at the race, ensuring the food is ready just as her
family heads out to their in-laws.
Afterward, Katie enjoys a smaller celebration at home
with her immediate family. "Even at 22, Ethan insists on watching A Charlie
Brown Thanksgiving with me every year," Katie said of her youngest son.
"It's sentimental."
Potatoes and Perseverance
Even before Caryn Lamphier began working for Atlanta
Track Club 10 years ago, she ran in the Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half
Marathon. Over the years, her family has all joined in.
On race day, Caryn will manage logistics for the Mile
& Dash, with volunteer assistance from her mom and mother-in-law. While she
coordinates the event, her husband, Eric, and son Ethan, will both run the
half. Her daughter, Lauren, will assist at the Invesco employee area,
completing the family's full involvement in the day.
"Having every
immediate family member here, whether running, volunteering or helping, makes
the race feel like the heart of our holiday," Caryn said.
Despite the busy day, Caryn makes time to ensure that her
family enjoys a Thanksgiving meal. Eric handles the turkey, and she preps most
of the dishes ahead of time, including her famous mashed potatoes and other
sides, so that everything is ready for a late dinner after the race and a nap.
"The race doesn't feel like I'm working," Caryn said.
"Because we're all there, it feels like something we all do together. It's not
the typical Thanksgiving, but there's nothing else like it. The race is our
tradition, and every year it reminds me why I love what we do."
Caryn's Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
"I find that the holiday season is not a time to skimp on the 'good stuff,' so these potatoes are loaded with the goods! You can add a large portion of the butter/cream cheese/sour cream, and then add more to taste. I typically make these two- to- three days ahead of the holiday, which works well for race week, or any very busy holiday week! Heating them up on the holiday in the crockpot is the final, KEY step! Happy holidays to you and yours."
5 lb. bag potatoes - whatever type is on sale
4-8 Tbsp butter, cut into 4-8 chunks
4-6 oz. cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
4-6 oz. sour cream
Milk or half and half, as needed
Salt and pepper to taste - lots!
Peel and chop potatoes into 3-ish inch pieces. (1/4 or 1/6 of a potato, depending on the size). Place chopped potatoes in a medium pot and fill with water so there is at least 1 inch of water above potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until a fork can smoothly be inserted. Drain potatoes, and then place them in a large mixing bowl. Using either a stand mixer or hand mixer, begin to mix (mash!) potatoes. Add in the butter, cream cheese and sour cream, and blend. If potatoes are very stiff, you can add milk or half and half to achieve your desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate and store in an airtight container until Thanksgiving Day! I usually complete this step on Monday or Tuesday evening of the holiday week, after a day of race setup!
On Thanksgiving Day, place mashed potatoes in a crock-pot, You
can on high for 2-4 hours, or low for 4-6 hours. The longer they cook, the
crispier the edges get, much like a twice-baked potato. Stir them 2-3 times to
ensure they heat well throughout. This crock-pot step takes the flavors to a
new level of delish. Enjoy!