2024 Peachtree Road Race

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 Northside Hospital up 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.