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T H U R S D A Y

A few days each year, runners can really flaunt their rectitude and physical superiority, revealing nonrunners for the bacon-eating, spindly-legged gluttons that you are. The Marine Corps Marathon is one of those days. But Thanksgiving is le jour des jours. True, most of the year you laugh at us as we round the Lincoln Memorial at 7 a.m. choking on your exhaust and cursing our Walkman batteries. But on Thanksgiving, we sit down to our turkey (basted with reduced-fat spread, of course) and mashed potatoes (skins in, cream out) with a clear conscience. Another slice of pumpkin pie (with whole wheat crust, NutraSweet, and evaporated skim milk)? No problem. Come watch us run a 10K (that’s 6.2 miles for you StairMasters) at the Bethesda/Chevy Chase YMCA’s 13th Annual Turkey Chase. Or join yourselves in the 2-Mile Walk/Run. At 8 a.m. (if you can roll your well-larded asses out of bed) at the YMCA, 9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda. $15-25 (benefits the YMCA’s Youth Services and the Rotary Foundation). (301) 530-3725. (John Cloud)