This board and website, in general, is for the fans and participants of elite running. It is inherently biased towards the elite and sub-elite performances. Nothing wrong with that...I think the thread a few weeks ago on "average" 5k times showed, most people that read this board probably don't post their true 5k times.
Turkey Trots are the exact opposite. They are about embracing the old guy in throw-back cotton sweatpants (or pale, varicose-veined and hairless), about the dad pushing the infant across the line at 45 minutes (for a 5 miler) and about the high school kids mixing it up with the masters. And for many of us, it's about seeing what the engine can do if pushed. Can I catch that guy who's been beating me all summer? Can I stay close to that college kid in a singlet for longer than last year?
Amby's message is what it is all about--finding out where your level is, and maximizing it on a day in which we are giving thanks.
It's a valuable message. I give thanks that I can look to improve each year. I might not run faster times than I ran 20 years ago--but I can always get better!