The Peachtree Road Race is different every year, I always say. The experience, the weather - there's something unique about every race. This year was no exception. This was the year I was in pain. Decided to try to gut it out anyway. Glad I did.
5:42 am I wake up. Not sure why my alarm didn't go off at 5 am. Good thing I had laid out my clothes the night before. Saw a text that Will wanted to catch the 6:29 train. I jumped in for a quick shower.
5:51 am - I pulled out of the driveway. Made it to Will's house at 6:27. He brought me a Tylenol to go with my two Advils and one baby aspirin. And half his toasted bagel.
6:37 we pulled into the mostly full parking lot at the West End MARTA station. "The Southside is representing" Will quipped. He also said that sometimes he rides his bike to this station, then rides MARTA to work at Norths Hospital at 400 & 285. But not that often. I was still in pain.
Lots of runners on the train. It really got jammed at the Midtown station, where runners parked their cars near the finish line. The lighting is often odd at MARTA stations for some reason, perhaps being under ground like they are. Three guys boarded the train wearing camo Buc-ee's T-shirts. In the odd lighting there was a girl with a greenish complexion. Turned out she had painted herself up to be the Statue of Liberty, with a torch and everything. Outfit of the day.
We rode the train to the Buckhead station, and were funneled to Peachtree Road. Will took my number and headed north to his start group L. I started my watch and headed south on Peachtree, walking on the sidewalk next to the runners in group B, a quarter mile into the race. It was 7:17 am.
I started early because of the sciatic pain I'd been having. Had I walked the half mile back to my start group R and waited until 8:15 to start, I didn't know if I could've made it. If it was too much I could visit with Reid, then Anna, then MC and her girls, then hop on MARTA at the Arts Center. I tried to take it easy. Will took my number so the chip would register as he crossed the start line.
I stuck to uncrowded sidewalk for the first mile and a half, crossing from the western side at Peachtree Methodist. At McDonalds I finally hopped out onto the street and started to run, but only in 30-45 second intervals. As long as I was moving, there was no pain.
7:45 - I was worried that Reid wouldn't be at SPdL so early, but I quickly spied him sitting on the bleacher. Tried to sneak up on him, but he saw me. Had a nice visit. Sharon took our picture. Said hello to George, reminding him that I was Anna's father. Edie wouldn't let me hug her. She was wearing a vintage 96 Olympics shirt. Said hello to Randy Scoggins, whose hair and beard were completely white. His wife Carla was up at the street. As I headed back to the race I ran into Ron Watts.
I did more running down the hill, and made good time in mile 3, my fastest of the race. I stuck to the left side of the road, looking for Anna and Caleb. Thought Goose would be able to spot. I'd told Anna that I wouldn't be getting there until almost nine, but I was an hour early. I couldn't find her, so I headed up the hill. Crossed the Mile 3 marker at 8 am.
During the Peachtree I always try to soak in as many sights and sounds as possible. Saw a runner wearing a Christian Laettner U.S.A. basketball jersey. Not sure I'd ever seen one of those in my life. A little boy was holding a FREE HUGS sign. A lady held a sign reading "I'd like to talk to you about your car's warranty". Saw one young lady walking in her sock feet.
Walked up the hill, and started looking for Will to pass me. I stopped across from Benihana to tighten my shoelaces. I wasn't wearing my glasses, the sun was shining brightly, making it hard to see my black laces. Thought I had them completely untied so I pulled them nice and tight. Then I realized there was still a knot, and I had just pulled it tighter. Had to sit down, pull off my shoe, and work to get it untied. Took much longer than I expected.
Passed the Shepherd Spinal Center, which is always an honor to greet the patients. Couldn't believe how loudly they were cheering. I always feel guilty walking past them, even if the hill is steep. They always hand out different colored sweatbands every year. I have quite the collection. This year the color was peach. Good choice!
At the top of the hill I started back with my running then walking routine. Made it to Bellwood Coffee at the 777 Peachtree building at 815. Was walking, looking for MC and the girls. They were just arriving. I almost missed them. Shivonne didn't want the peach "bracelet" I had brought her, even after pointing out all the runners wearing them. MC tracked Will on her phone - he would be arriving soon. We looked for his red shirt. He arrived and presented Shivvy with a peach sweatband. She didn't want his, either. Standing with MC for just 2 or 3 minutes, I could feel the pain returning. Crazy that the pain went away when I was moving.
Will headed out and I followed, pinning my number to my shirt. This was the first year I noticed the tracking system stretched across the road at every mile marker. Mile 4 was just past Bellwood.
I crossed the I-85 bridge at Brookwood Station. Don't recall hearing the familiar trombone that usually resounds there on the bridge. While they talked about the heat, I really wasn't super hot this year. Lots of shady spots and actually a cool breeze blowing between the skyscrapers in miles 3 and 5.
Found my former coworker Ellsworth captaining the water station across from Peachtree Christian Church, and stopped to chat. When I cut to the sidewalk behind the water station a volunteer scolded me, wanting me to stick to the road. I pointed to Ellsworth and explained that I was stopping to visit, and she let me pass. Ellsworth was in a talkative mood. Like I had at Bellwood, I reached to pause my stopwatch - and accidentally stopped it instead. When I rejoined the race I had to start my watch over again.
Miles 5 and 6 were super crowded. Wall to wall walkers, especially in the shady mile 5. I continued to alternate walking and running. At one point I slammed into a guy crossing the street. I hadn't seen him due to all the runners. I grabbed him so he wouldn't fall. Scary moment.
Just before the turn from Peachtree onto 10th Street there was a big crowd of Team Nike runners who had finished the race and had come back to cheer on the commoners. They were louder than the Shepherd Spinal Center patients.
On 10th Street I ran down under the bridge loaded with photographers, and spotted more snapping pictures from the sidewalks. The many walkers had started to pick up the pace as they neared the finish. I looked for the announcer at the finish line to tell him that this was my 37th Peachtree (he loves that) but couldn't figure out where he was. Crossed the finish line at 9:05 am.
Weaved my way through the crowd. Picked up my shirt - a nice light blue with a complicated design on the front. No trouble finding Will at our prearranged meeting spot. On the way out there were wonderful popsicles and Powerades.
Trudged around Grady Stadium and up the hill, crossing Piedmont, Juniper, and Peachtree the mile to MARTA. There was a southbound train waiting there, so we hustled to get on. Still only 9:45 am.
We were back at my car before 10 am. After dropping Will off at his house and stopping by RaceTrac and McDonalds for a chicken sandwich deal, I was home by 11 am.
Will have to sort out the race numbers, but the total was over 8-1/2 miles and almost 16000 steps. And the pain has returned. Gotta start stretching.
Thursday, July 04, 2024
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Wednesday
With sales down and July expected to be extra slow, they’re cracking down on overtime. I’d been trying to ease off on the OT anyway. Monday I grabbed lunch at Wendys then gassed up at RaceTrac. Left work at 510 pm and headed home to be with Winnie, who had been cooped up all day. C had left W&MC’s at 2 pm and headed out I-20 to SC. She stopped in Augusta, and at 530 was just getting into Columbia.
Ate the last piece of Nancy’s Pizza for supper, as well as a quesadillas filled with leftover chicken. Watched two movies: A Family Affair, starring 36 year old Zac Efron and 57 year old Nicole Kidman. Not their first movie together. Then I watched The Boys in the Boat. Have you read that book? About the inexperienced JV crew from Washington who won the gold in Berlin. Usually books are better than movies, but in this case I liked the movie better.
Up early Tuesday morning to take Winnie on a walk. Overcast and breezy, which was nice. Will run some errands at lunch to avoid working overtime.
Will is going to pick up my Peachtree number, so that is one less thing I had to do on Wednesday. Y’all going to the Peachtree Road Race? My group R doesn’t start until 8:15 am, so I won’t make it to SPdL until almost 8:45. Can y’all wait around that long?
Tuesday morning my back was hurting AND I could feel my sciatica. This has been going on for four days now. I hate to take pain killers, but will be taking some for sure on Thursday morning. My stomach doesn’t feel that great either. Eating doesn’t help, and not eating doesn’t help either. Maybe it is the heat.
Dikembe Mutombo’s son is transferring to GT from Georgetown. The Jackets have several more players transferring in, from Oklahoma and Colorado, and a recruit from Houston.
How to spend three days in Paris.
JOE McCARTHY [SABR Bio] is the only manager in MLB history to win 2000 games without ever playing in the majors himself. He managed 24 seasons, guiding the Cubs, Yankees, and Red Sox in 3,847 games, winning 2,125, finishing 10th all-time, ahead of Walter Alston and Casey Stengel. McCarthy had been a middle infielder who spent 15 years in the minors. He won 100 or more games on a 154-game season schedule an amazing six times. In another five seasons he won 95 or more games. See his managerial record here. He managed Grover Cleveland Alexander, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Rogers Hornsby. Also Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr, Gabby Hartnett, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Burleigh Grimes, Tony Lazzeri, Phil Rizzuto, Red Ruffing, Joe Sewell, Paul Waner, and Hack Wilson – a total of 22 Hall of Famers.
Tuesday, July 02, 2024
R.I.P. Martin Mull
R.I.P. Martin Mull. One funny dude. I missed out on much of his early work: Fernwood 2 Night, Arrested Development, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Clue, Dueling Tubas, History of White People in America. Saw him in How the West Was Fun, with Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. Hilarious appearance on Late Night in 1982. He and Dave blabbered on about absolutely nothing, and it killed.
Mull's hobby / pastime was to kick footballs. Like me, he was a straight on "toe" kicker. His beloved Cleveland Browns invited him to practice with the team. The event was written up in Sports Illustrated. I remember seeing a video clip.
Sure wish I could find a clip of Mull's Pizza Hut commercial, which aired during the holidays. Close up of Mull pointing to the peppers on his piece of pizza: "Red. Green. That's Christmas." Back in the day I had young Will repeating it.
Tom Brady is part owner of the Las Vegas Aves. Magic Johnson is part owned of the Los Angeles Sparks. The blond haired rookie for LA is out with a season ending ACL injury.
Late Friday afternoon I received Braves tickets, so I crashed the game to see a rare win. Usually they lose when I go. W&MC took the girls camping this weekend, up near Chattanooga.
Early Saturday rain was threatening, so I cancelled my round of golf. Plus my lower back was aching all this weekend. Tried to help around the house. Got a haircut. Later I drove C to Avalon. On the way back we ate at Nancy's Pizza on Mansell – Chicago deep dish style. We could only eat one piece and we were full. Ceil liked the taste. Hallmark Channel movie.
40 in Sunday School, but ten were visitors and visiting missionaries. Sold our old IKEA bookcases, which paid for the Nancy's Pizza. My back pain lessens but my sciatica acted up. I switched from inactivity to moving around, and am better this morning.
Ceil had to drive to Jefferson Monday afternoon. She took my car because her key fob is acting up. I made an appointment for the dealer to look at the key on Wednesday.
Skipped the gym and gassed up my car for Ceil to take. Working on a couple of big projects today at work. Wendy's for lunch: two crispy chicken sandwiches for three bucks – with lettuce tomato onion pickles.
Kevin Cosner claims he was working on a Bodyguard 2 movie starring Princess Diana before she died, and that her son William claimed Diana had a celebrity crush on Cosner.
R.I.P. ORLANDO CEPEDA [SABR Bio] was the second player ever unanimously elected Rookie of the Year and MVP: ROY 1958, MVP 1967. Frank Robinson was the first: 1956 & 1966. Only Robinson received more NL MVP votes than Cepeda in 1961. He spent his rookie signing bonus on his father's funeral. Cepeda's father was a huge baseball star in Puerto Rico. Cepeda was the first position player to be voted NL MVP unanimously. Only pitcher Carl Hubbell in 1936 had been a unanimous NL MVP earlier. Seven others have done it since. Cepeda was an All-Star eleven times over his career, seven times as a starter, in 1959(1)*, 1959(2), 1960(1), 1960(2), 1961(1)*, 1961(2)*, 1962(1)*, 1962(2)*, 1963, 1964*, and 1967* * = starter). He was named an All-Star in all eight All-Star games 1959-1962, one of only five who did it, along with Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Hank Aaron. Cepeda was named "Comeback Player of the Year" in 1966. He had a serious knee injury in 1965 and was traded to STL 08-May-1966, just as he was healing. His second-half performance with the Cards secured the award for him. On 06-Apr-1973, Cepeda came to bat in the 2nd inning as DH for Boston, but the Yankee's DH Ron Blomberg batted in the 1st inning, and walked with the bases loaded. In 1969 before the season got underway, Cepeda was traded from STL to ATL for future MVP & HOFer Joe Torre. In midseason 1972, Cepeda was traded from ATL to Oakland for 2 time Cy Young Award winner and 30-game winner, Denny McLain. Cepeda finished his career as a teammate of Vada Pinson and George Brett, with the 1975 Royals.
Monday, July 01, 2024
July Bobbleheads & SGAs
My incomplete list of July MLB and MiLB bobblehead and other notable SGAs. What did I miss?
Bobble of the month may be the Yankees’ George Constanza bobblehead. Red Sox coming on strong on July 9 with a Seinfeld marble rye special ticket deal. But don't sleep on the Portland Pickle. I'm a sucker for mascot bobbles. The whole Human vs. Robot theme is intriguing. What could go wrong?
Not a giveaway, but the Athletics are putting on a Marvel Super Hero drone show on July 19. After the game fans can sit on the field to watch. Sounds cool. Perhaps the A’s should suit up the drones to face the Angels. Watch out for Portland robots invading from the north.
My Braves continue to roll out the bobbleheads, with a Money Mike Spiderman bobblehead on July 3. If the kids backpacks are legit on July 7th, I may have an older Braves SGA backpack I’d trade (still in original packaging).
Oakland and Milwaukee giving away Hawaiian shirts, and the Mets have a bucket hat SGA. Whish the Braves would do these.
Pretty busy month, with at least one giveaway every day from July 2 to July 30, except for the all-star break.
7.01 MON
7.02 TUE Portland Pickles mascot BH 200
7.02 TUE TEX Nathaniel Lowe gold glove 15000
7.03 WED ATL Michael Harris Miles Morales Spiderman BH 15000
7.03 WED LAD Bobby Miller BH
7.03 WED TOR Kevin Gausman bubble gum 15000
7.04 THU OAK Hawaiian shirts
7.05 FRI NYY George Costanza BH 18000
7.05 FRI SD Fernando Tatis Star Wars BH
7.05 FRI Augusta beach bag coolers
7.05 FRI Nashville Dolly Reba 2024 t-shirts 1000
7.06 SAT Nashville throwback decades shirt 1000
7.06 SAT LAD Jason Heyward BH
7.06 SAT MIN Pablo Lopez 10000
7.06 SAT CLE Triston McKenzie 15000
7.06 SAT Inland Empire Taylor Ward caps
7.07 SUN ATL kids backpack
7.07 SUN CIN Graham Ashcraft BH
7.07 SUN OAK Rollie Fingers BH
7.08 MON NYM soccer jersey
7.09 TUE BOS Seinfeld Lucas Giolito marble rye BH spec tix
7.09 TUE Gwinnett Strider fish tshirt 500
7.10 WED Nashville Pat Summitt basketball jersey 1000
7.11 THU Inland Empire beer bats
7.12 FRI Rays Randy Arozarena streetwear shirts
7.12 FRI NYM Brandon Nimmo BH
7.13 SAT NYM bucket hats
7.13 SAT Dunedin kilted DJjay BH
7.13 SAT Corby mascot BH 450
7.13 SAT Lourdes Gurriel Star Wars BH
7.13 SAT Inland Empire Steve-O Hernandez BH
7.13 SAT Nashville Margaritaville sun hats 2000
7.13 SAT MIL image viewer
7.14 SUN Rays kids sneaker keychain
7.15 MON TEX home run derby
7.16 TUE TEX All Star Game
7.17 WED
7.18 THU
7.19 FRI NYY Gerrit Cole Cy Young 18000
7.19 FRI Ridgefield Rally the Raptor mascot BH 500
7.19 FRI OAK Marvel Super Hero drone show
7.20 SAT OAK Jose Canseco BH
7.20 SAT Fayetteville Jake Myers
7.20 SAT Gwinnett Acuna MVP BH 2000
7.20 SAT KC Maikel Garcia 15000
7.20 SAT Akron Gil Bellows (Shawshank)
7.21 SUN ATL kids Ozzie Albies squishy toy
7.22 MON SEA Cookie Monster BH spec ticket
7.23 TUE ATL Orlando Arcia chains 15000
7.24 WED LAD BH TBD
7.24 TEX Jonah Heim gold glove 15000
7.24 WED Nashville reversible jerseys 1000
7.24 WED Midland Lawrence Butler BH
7.25 THU NYM pickleball paddles
7.26 FRI Midland Rocky Low Rider BH
7.26 FRI STL mystery 2004 BH
7.26 FRI KC Patrick Mahomes 15000
7.26 FRI SF The Joker BH
7.27 SAT MIL city connect Hawaiian shirt
7.27 SAT Nashville puzzles 1000
7.27 SAT LAA Mike Trout throwback
7.27 SAT Inland Empire soccer jerseys
7.28 SUN BALT Adley Rutschman switch hitter 25000
7.28 SUN Rays Pete Fairbanks BH 12000
7.29 MON NYM Francisco Lindor BH
7.30 TUE HOU Friends theme special ticket
7.31 WED
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