Peachtree Road Race 2009

The runners--bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, bagels in hand, and ready to go!

For a few years now, I have been telling my friends Jennifer and Shane--who are big-time runners--that they need to come to Atlanta for July Fourth and run the Peachtree Road Race. Well, they finally did! YAY!

I was so excited when Jennifer told me they were planning to run. Shane was able to get her registered via the Internet the day registration opened online. (This was the first year for online sign-ups.) However, because of the problems with the online system, by the time he was able to register himself ... it was full.

Next option ... the newspaper registration. The weekend that the form was in the AJC, I got a Sunday paper and completed all the necessary info for Shane. (You have to have an actual copy of the newspaper. Thankfully, you can buy a Sunday paper before Sunday these days, because we were going out of town on that particular Sunday.) Anyway, while I was filling it out, Tanna said for me to complete one for him, too. But I'd only bought one paper. When I told him so, he said not to worry about it, that it was no big deal.

Fast forward a couple of months. The newspaper registration didn't make the cut, so it was sent back to Shane. I told Jennifer I'd be on the lookout for a number for him, and I was. In the meantime, at Jennifer's suggestion, I'd become a fan of the Peachtree Road Race on Facebook--which ended up paying off bigtime! I just happened to be online at the right time--when the fan page for the Peachtree Road Race announced it had a few dozen numbers to give away to the first so many people to respond. I responded right away--and then logged in as Tanna to respond. SCORE! Numbers for Shane and for Tanna! YAY!

Because Shane and Jennifer are experienced runners, they were placed in the first time group. Tanna happened to be in the last time group--but he did great, especially for his first road race (and for not training much). His time for the 6.2-mile course was 67 minutes. Not bad!

I had a fantastic time watching the race with Kate and Abigail, Shane and Jennifer's daughter. (Their son Aiden stayed in Tennessee with Jenn's parents.) We held up signs, took pictures and video, and cheered the runners on! Folks seemed to really like our "God Bless You" and "Run your best in the race of faith / Jesus loves U" signs. I'd say about four or five people stopped to take pictures of us (even runners!). It was so nice to see some friends who were running, too. (Hi, Donna and Luann!)

The Peachtree Road Race is such a fun event--the crowd makes it really memorable. What a fun Fourth of July tradition--hope to see you there next year!

Here are some pictures from our morning:


Early Bird! Look how tired Kate looks. I had to wake her up at about 6:45 to eat breakfast and get ready. And we still ended up running to get to Peachtree. I was so afraid we were going to miss Shane and Jennifer, who were in the first time group. Notice the cool sign that Abigail made for Kate! So cute!


We made it to Peachtree in time to see even the elite runners zoom by. Not too far behind were Jennifer and Shane, but they were too fast for me! This was the only picture I got of them. Maybe next time I will be more prepared. :o)


On Peachtree--Kate waves a flag and watches the race. The weather was wonderful--great racing conditions.


Check out the awesome sign Abigail made! Love her glasses, too!


Here are a few more signs she made to cheer on her parents. :o)


"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2

Wish I could have gotten all that on one sign, but I don't think I'd be able to hold a sign that big. hahaha


Abigail and me--we had a lot of fun! She was a great help with Kate, too!


Tanna stops to say hello and to take a few photos.


Tribute to MJ ...


... and another!


Kate on our walk back home. She had her moments, but overall she did really well sitting in her stroller and watching the race. One gal came up to the girls and gave them these Patriotic leis. So sweet!


The runners--back with their new Peachtree Road Race T-shirts. Hope they will add to their collection next year! Way to go, guys! Great job!