Peachtree Road Race 2011

I did it! I ran the Peachtree Raod Race July 4th. Yay me!

A couple people from work and I all decided to enter the lottery to see if we would get a number for the Peachtree. Everyone else had already ran it at least once before except me, so I honestly wasn't expecting to get a number. Come to find out, I think most everyone who entered got one. So training I began but 90% of it was on the treadmill, in my air-conditioned home and no hills. A few weeks ago I posted about the IPhone AP RunKeeper that I had used to assist me with my outside runs. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a device to help track mileage, pace, etc.

The race started @ 7:00am Monday; however, my group was X (the second to last group) and we started @ 9:00am. Brian, Mr and Mrs Wages accompanied me and I was so grateful. No one else I knew was running in my coral and I was kind of sad about that at first but it really did not matter once the race started. There were so many people which made running a slight challenge. I was constantly weaving in and out trying to dodge people, especially the ones walking.

Brian and I had studied the course and decided that after he left me at the start, he would go up to the Arts Center near 15th street to see if he was see me pass there. Once I hit 17th street I started looking for him. This was around mile 4.5 or 5 and I was started to fade a bit. I was so excited when I spotted him, right in front of the Arts Center, waving and smiling at me. It definitely gave me the extra motivation to finish strong.

Do you see me? It's like Find Waldo.

Voom, voom, voom. Here I am

The last stretch was packed with spectators and people cheering. Crossing the finish line, I was directed immediately into Piedmont Park to a water station, tee shirt line, photo area, and many snack booths of fruit, popsicles, granola bars and poweraids. The entire park was packed! Thankfully there was a family meet-up spot with large lettered balloons where I meet up with Brian and Miss Marie @ the W balloon.

It was so much fun and am thrilled that I was talked into signing up for the race, against my will to be honest. All on all it was a great experience and I am already looking forward to next year.

Sorry those are the only pictures I have.

My Brian, who does not really enjoying running, got excited watching the race and we have signed up for a 5K together next weekend. Wish us luck!