Peachtree Times

 

Every year fewer and fewer of the regulars run the Peachtree Road Race. It makes for an exhausting long day, starting at least two hours before you cross the start line, and another two hours afterward.

This year was the hottest in memory. That slowed things down for everyone. There are so many people that if you’re not in one of the first few groups, at best you’re weaving around walkers stretched out across all six lanes of road. For these reasons for me and many others the Peachtree is an event, not a race. A time to spend with family and friends, celebrating America, watching the other runners and spectators lining the streets. And all you get is grainy Marathon Photo pictures.

Will and Thomas spent the longest time visiting friends at Bellwood Coffee, just before the mile four marker. For this reason I ranked runners by their 5K time. For my top six I calculated the second 5K time, after noticing how Andrea crushed the hills on the second half of the race. No one else’s second half time came closer to their first half split than Andrea, just 1:32 slower. Not bad for a 50-something mother of four.

My extended “family” wins the largest group prize: Will, Anna, Thomas, Holly, Carol, Graham, and me – more even than Andrea’s crew.

Not sure what Craig MacKenzie did to get disqualified. I would venture a guess, but who knows?

0.51.40 23.29 28.11 55-59 Brad Morgan work

0.58.39 25.09 33.30 20-24 Graham Smith, Holly’s bro

1.04.41 26.46 38.05 30-34 Bradley Morgan, Brad’s son

1.07.29 29.27 38.02 15-19 Cole Eaton, Chad’s son below

1.07.27 29.28 38.01 50-54 Chad Eaton SPdL above

1.05.40 32.04 33.36 50-54 Andrea Irwin Nickell SPdL

1.30.41 33.17 25-29 Will Murphy, ran with dad

1.17.22 33.41 43.39 35-39 Maria Taylor ESPN

1.30.42 35.04 20-24 Thomas Gilbert, MC’s bro

1.26.15 35.37 50-54 Raphael Warnock, politician

1.22.51 36.33 55-59 Steve Garrett work

1.22.18 36.49 60-64 Bill Gabbard SPdL (to Bob Lamb's right)

1.25.27 37.21 50-54 Kelly Curran Johnson SPdL

1.27.48 38.29 20-24 Mia Nickel, Andrea’s daughter

1.23.37 38.51 30-34 Rachel Gilliland work

1.24.20 40.38 60-64 David Murphy, 35th PRR

1.30.42 41.11 25-29 Anna Murphy, ran with dad

1.35.14 41.20 30-34 Chris Vineyard work above

1.35.11 44.09 70-74 Phil Duffy work

1.34.24 47.12 60-64 Deborah Light Painter SPdL

1.45.47 49.52 60-64 Bob Lamb SPdL (right)

1.48.12 52.43 20-24 Holly Gilbert, Will's sister-in-law below right

1.48.15 52.44 00-00 Carol Smith, Holly's mom above left

2.12.28 63.08 60-64 Joan Gilliland, Rachel’s mom

2.33.45 97.08 65-69 Clark Howard 34628 out of 34781

0.00.00 00.00 70-74 Craig MacKenzie disqualified 

I tried to find a photo of Rafael Warnock, who wore an interesting bib number: 50000 - but none were to be had.