Kacie Tri-ing: Peachtree Road Race Report!

Here in the ATL where I happily live, the Peachtree Road Race is...well, it's a big deal.

Everyone seems to run it. Or walk it. Or party during it.

Everyone who knows you run asks you if you run it. For example:

A few months ago, I was 9 HOURS into a session before Ironman St. George, and someone asked me if I was training for the Peachtree. hehehehe. If you live in Atlanta, I think everyone thinks this is the ONLY race anyone would ever train for.

On Friday, I did a 10 mile run. I tripped in the last 20 feet and fell on the sidewalk (I have problems staying vertical while running). Some people asked me if I was training for the Peachtree. It seemed a little late to be "training" for the Peachtree if you ask me. No, I am doing it, but I am training for another Ironman. Can't you tell I am a very experienced athlete? I know there was nothing on the sidewalk for me to trip on, and I am incredibly clumsy. I am sure you would never think I am anything BUT an experienced athlete-- but hey, it's my thing. I fall a lot. Let it go. :-)

So the Peachtree--it's an institution here. And I forgot to register. Opps!

So....my awesome father in law gave me a number, my friends are running, and I'm in!

Well, TyTy is pregnant with her first baby (YIPPIE!), so she intended to walk. For any of you that have not witnessed that which is the Peachtree--walking is really fun. It is a 6.2 mile party!

I live right around the finish of the race, and I had a 6 mile run on my schedule, so Sparkles and I left the house around 6:15 and ran to the start. Here we are looking cute after having run the course from finish to start. The whole way, people are already out tailgating, and saying, "you're going the wrong way." But we were not. We were just going the slower way to the start line!

So, we get excited to watch the start, see Ryan Hall, etc, so we hop inside a fenced area and cheer. Yeah, fun, start. By the way. There is a LONG time between the first wave and the last. Like well over an hour. Seriously!

And we are off, to find the starbucks where we are meeting TyTy and Dave. Turns out, we hopped into the WRONG side of the fence, and we have to do an huge lap around Buckhead to get to where we are trying to go.

And then there is another fence.

Well, see, the waves are a BIG deal. Last year, I got to race in A, which is like a badge of honor ;-). But, this year, we wanted to go farther back so we can walk.

Let it be known that I was NOT trying to get into an early wave. I was just trying to find my friend in our meeting place, but everything is gated.

So, we tried one of these numbers:

And before you know it, someone was screaming at me.

Overly enthusiastic volunteer/employee: "You know these fences are here for a REASON!"

Me (very calmly): "I am very sorry, could you tell me how I can cross the street to meet my friends at that starbucks?"

Still angry volunteer/employee: "You CAN'T get into another wave. You have to go ALL the way down and then you can cross."

Me (cool as a cucumber): "No reason to be upset. I just want to cross the street. Where is there a crossing?"

Him (I think he is getting angrier): "All the way down at Oak Valley Road."

Me: "Oh, just a block up? Ok, thanks!"

Sometimes people need to relax a little. I know we look suspicious, but:

1. It is a road race, not a dangerous military operation or heart surgery.

2. Not everyone is trying to do something bad all of the time. Sometimes people are just trying to cross the road. :-)

So, we go the short walk to cross the street, meet up with Dave and TyTy, get an iced coffee, and head to the start

Clearly, I am taking this race VERY seriously!

And we're off. All walking back down Peachtree--and it is a rocking party. Bands, fans, food being passed out, water guns, beer, people I don't even know doing keg stands (total strangers--none of my friends), priests giving out holy water--all in the middle of a race. And when you take over 2 hours to do a 10K, you honestly get to have a TON of fun with it all! Seriously, I think TyTy was worried she was holding us back at first, but that was NOT upset at all....as you can tell by all the fun we had in these picture...

Some bald eagles: