4th of July is always fun for me! I have fond memories of parades, picnics and fireworks with friends and family. 3 years ago I decided to make a new tradition on the 4th - the running of the Peachtree Road Race. I was pregnant with Ethan when I ran that first Peachtree. What an experience! You wake up at the crack of dawn in order to get to Marta early enough to park and get to Buckhead before the race starts. Mark went with me - saw me to my group and then headed to the start line to try and catch a glimpse of me running by and finally made his way to Piedmont Park to the finish line to make sure I made it safely. I did it - I ran my first Peachtree! And now I have 3 under my belt!
This race is the largest 10K in the world - 55,000 run this every 4th of July. You have to get an application in the Saturday edition of the Sunday AJC and send in the application that day or you don't get a number - and this is in March. Then you watch your checking account for the next few weeks to see if your check clears - this is the only way you know that you actually received a spot in the race. The whole process is just fun and exciting for me! But the most exciting part is seeing the coveted Peachtree t-shirt. No one knows what it will look like until they receive it at the finish line. Sometimes runners from earlier groups are walking back down Peachtree with their t-shirts on or waving them to encourage runners going by - but I try not to look because I want to see it for myself once I've finished!
The race starts at 7:30am - but that's group 1. The first year I was in group 9, so I didn't start running until almost 9am. 1000's of people line the entire 6.2 miles to cheer on the runners. The churches are ringing their bells - holy water is sprayed on those who wish to run under it - kids are looking for their parents to run by. It's really quite an amazing thing. Normally when you're on Peachtree Street, you're in a car, bumper to bumper with other cars and you just don't get to enjoy the beauty of the street. Running the 6.2 miles from Lenox Mall to Piedmont Park, you really get to see how beautiful the street is - all the old churches, new condos that are way out of my price range, art museums, restaurants, etc...what a neat way to view the city! Half way through the race is what is known as Cardiac Hill - located at Piedmont Hospital. When you drive up the hill you just don't notice it...but it is quite a steep hill and quite something to accomplish running up in the intense heat and humidity.
I took the next year off since I had a 6 month old. Then last year, I signed up again, but recruited Mark and our friends Chris King and Romeo Brinkley. We all had fun - now it's their tradition as well! I wasn't sure if I would sign up this year since Nina was due the beginning of May...but I did - I figured if I signed up and my check cleared this would be my incentive to get back in shape and start running as soon as possible after she was born. I finished this year in 1 hour and 15 minutes - respectable for having an 8 week old nursing baby! I hope that even though living in Memphis Mark and I will be able to continue running in the Peacthree. It's something that I look forward to every 4th of July - I have 3 of the coveted t-shirts and I hope that I will have many more! Come run with us next year - it's so much fun!!!
Needless to say, we still enjoy picnics and fireworks...but my favorite 4th of July tradition is the Peachtree Road Race!
This race is the largest 10K in the world - 55,000 run this every 4th of July. You have to get an application in the Saturday edition of the Sunday AJC and send in the application that day or you don't get a number - and this is in March. Then you watch your checking account for the next few weeks to see if your check clears - this is the only way you know that you actually received a spot in the race. The whole process is just fun and exciting for me! But the most exciting part is seeing the coveted Peachtree t-shirt. No one knows what it will look like until they receive it at the finish line. Sometimes runners from earlier groups are walking back down Peachtree with their t-shirts on or waving them to encourage runners going by - but I try not to look because I want to see it for myself once I've finished!
The race starts at 7:30am - but that's group 1. The first year I was in group 9, so I didn't start running until almost 9am. 1000's of people line the entire 6.2 miles to cheer on the runners. The churches are ringing their bells - holy water is sprayed on those who wish to run under it - kids are looking for their parents to run by. It's really quite an amazing thing. Normally when you're on Peachtree Street, you're in a car, bumper to bumper with other cars and you just don't get to enjoy the beauty of the street. Running the 6.2 miles from Lenox Mall to Piedmont Park, you really get to see how beautiful the street is - all the old churches, new condos that are way out of my price range, art museums, restaurants, etc...what a neat way to view the city! Half way through the race is what is known as Cardiac Hill - located at Piedmont Hospital. When you drive up the hill you just don't notice it...but it is quite a steep hill and quite something to accomplish running up in the intense heat and humidity.
I took the next year off since I had a 6 month old. Then last year, I signed up again, but recruited Mark and our friends Chris King and Romeo Brinkley. We all had fun - now it's their tradition as well! I wasn't sure if I would sign up this year since Nina was due the beginning of May...but I did - I figured if I signed up and my check cleared this would be my incentive to get back in shape and start running as soon as possible after she was born. I finished this year in 1 hour and 15 minutes - respectable for having an 8 week old nursing baby! I hope that even though living in Memphis Mark and I will be able to continue running in the Peacthree. It's something that I look forward to every 4th of July - I have 3 of the coveted t-shirts and I hope that I will have many more! Come run with us next year - it's so much fun!!!
Needless to say, we still enjoy picnics and fireworks...but my favorite 4th of July tradition is the Peachtree Road Race!
2 comments:
I am impressed!! I always begin my fourth of July by "watching" the start of the Peachtree Road Race on channel 11. I really do wish I had done things like that when I was young. Too many of my hobbies and interests are done sitting down.
Way to go! I really need to get out my running shoes...
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