The Peachtree Road Race 2014

I have just completed my 4th Peachtree Road Race over the weekend. My calves still feel the burn of the 6.2 miles.

The first time I ran this race (2001?), I wasn't impressed. It was disorganized and it took forever to start running at the beginning - there were just too many people. People who just ran once a year, dusting of their running shoes a week before the race. I called them "fair weather" runners. They wouldn't run in the rain, the snow or even the heat. They weren't real runners like me.

13 years later, just coming off an injury and dealing with apartment issues (and yes, the heat too), I didn't have time to practice before the race. In a moment of irony, I realized I had become one of the runners I used to roll my eyes at. I can knock off a 5k easy without practice and without breaking much of a sweat. Not so with a 10k. I knew this one was going to hurt, however, I just prayed it didn't hurt the areas of my leg that I had just worked so hard to repair. I knew I had to be careful with this one.

In the last two years of running the Peachtree, I must say I love the celebratory atmosphere. It's like a giant parade, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I feel like a celebrity running down and giving High-5's to people cheering on the side of the road. I even got to High-5 three people dressed in cow costumes from Chick-fil-a.

I would have liked to run the full race non-stop, but that just wasn't in the cards (non-realistic). It was more important that I finish with my previously-injured leg intact. After the 3 mile mark, my body started to lose steam. If I had to stop, I still made sure I was moving - pump those arms and make long strides.

The last mile of the race was covered in people standing shoulder-to-shoulder, cheering. It really helped me get a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th by that time) wind. My Ipod said I had 800 meters to go, but I knew that was wrong. One Peachtree volunteer said it was a half-mile and I recognized some landmarks on the way to Piedmont Park. People around me would run slower and slower before slumping into a walk and then a shuffle. As I ran past them, I'd say "Great job, c'mon now, we're only 1/2 mile out. Almost there! You HAVE to run the finish!". It would get them to smile and laugh, saying "okay, okay" and they'd start running again. One thanked me and one patted me on the shoulder. Little did they know, I was in the same boat and wanted to stop at every step. However, after just telling them that we were almost done, I couldn't very well start walking, now could I? ;)

I finish in an hour and 19 minutes, which is 10 minutes slower than my usual 10k. Not bad at all, I think I'll take it.

The running trails call my name. I need to get back out there. Before the Peachtree, I started seeing ads for the Triple Peach medal. To earn it, one must run 3 races - the Peachtree Road Race (10k), the Atl 10 Miler and the Atlanta Half Marathon. I started thinking the Triple Peach Medal would look good on my wall...

One race down. Two more to go.