2019 Peachtree Road Race

Survived another Peachtree Road Race. Swapped numbers with Will to save time, which allowed us to get back home before 10 am.

Found a sweet new place to park, even closer to Piedmont Park: on Park Drive just north of Highland Avenue, near where Amy Nottingham and Marty Milliner used to live.

When runners arrive at the race they are directed around behind Phipps Plaza past Weiuca Road Church. Instead Will dropped us off at our Waffle House on Piedmont. Walked down Peachtree Drive through the old neighborhood and crossed 400 on the pedestrian bridge to Lenox Square and the starting line. Beautiful houses back there now. I remember taking that route to Lenox Square back in the 80's before 400 was built. There was a house on a corner that always had one or two Corvaires in the driveway.

Forgot to wear my Apple Watch, so I guess the 8 miles I walked/ran didn't count. The low temperature last night was 75 degrees, but clouds covered the sun most of the way. I took sunglasses to wear in the race but most of the time the clouds were out. Took it easy as well.

I started in group B at 7:05. Without my watch I had no idea how I was doing time wise (I also missed the watch's heart rate monitor). Felt like I walked more than usual, but perhaps I ran faster in my heavily-padded Hoka running shoes. Turned out I ran my fastest time in years: 1:26:59. Nice to break an hour and a half. 

Anna started in E with her roommate Grace, 15 minutes after me. Anna ran/walked a 1:13.

After dropping us off on Piedmont, Will drove home and ran 5 miles to Phipps Plaza in time to start with group L at 7:55 am. Even after the long warmup he posted a sub 54 minute race. By using my number we all finished at about the same time.

Stopped by SPdL to say hello to Drew and Nancy Kelly. Also saw Alex & Pam Mullen and Sharon Lim? Stopped near White Columns to say hello to former coworker Ellsworth.

One water station down by Peachtree Creek was sponsored by the Braves, so all the workers were wearing white Braves caps. Other volunteers wore 50th anniversary mesh backed trucker caps.

Experienced a relatively new problem the Peachtree Road Race is suffering: when millennials cross the finish line they stop to snap selfies with the finish banner in the background - right in the way of all the runners coming in behind them. While many participants walk large portions of the race, almost everyone sprints to the finish. When a large gaggle of runners are standing around talking pictures just across the finish line, there's no place for the next wave of finishers to continue. Guess it's okay when you're a radio personality, like 680's Brian Hoyt (above).

Immediately after the tubs of water bottles, new sponsor Aldi handed out just what every exhausted runner wants: potato chips. Also nice plastic water bottles - with the Georgia Lottery logo. I passed on both. 

Instead I collected Cliff bars and Powerades, and ate three popsicles. Short walk back to the car. Took park south to Ponce, then over to North to the downtown connector. A good time.

Ceil made homemade strawberry ice cream, after a lunch of grilled burgers and baked beans.

Left work yesterday after 5:30. Stopped by the bank, Kroger for a prescription, and got gas. Ceil cooked Mexican. Anna arrived home from Athens just in time to eat. Watched some Braves but went to bed early.

The Hurts went to last night's game. Haley flies out today.

Photo credits: Todd Hall (flyover), Twitter (start line), and Anna.