Hot and steamy Peachtree Road Race

I ran my 15th Peachtree Road Race 10K on July 4.
Last year it rained down buckets. This year, it was hot as the gates of hell.
Really, I was all set to run the race in my mid-packer place, but I was invited by the Atlanta Track Club to run the "media challenge," which was a race among seven other media types for bragging rights.
Honestly, I wasn't their first choice. I wasn't anybody's choice. Atlanta Track Club asked my big, big boss to participate, but he was out of town July 4th weekend. And he gave them my name. And they looked me up and saw I was an ATC member. And lo and behold, the track club invited me to participate.
And honestly, I was very exited to participate. And I'm still very excited I got to participate. But it as a very different experience.

My new race number

So, I had to give up my original Peachtree Road Race number. Here is my Atlanta Business Chronicle number. We got to start up front, way before my original number.

Wow. Way up front

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

 I was so far up front, I got to see the  behind-the-scenes look at how the race is put together. I got to see Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed before he addressed the crowd before he began his trot down Peachtree Road.

Honor guard getting ready

 Again, I was so up front, I got to see the color honor guard get ready for its part of the ceremony.

Color guard performing at the Peachtree Road Race

Old Glory at the start

I got to see the woman singing our National Anthem, and the elite women and men start their races. It was almost surreal. Then, it was our time to go. We started between waves B and C. Let me just say right here, I was scheduled to run in wave L!! Way in the back.

Getting ready to start the media challenge

Media peeps at the start 

So there we were, eight of us media types to start the media challenge.  In a moment, we were off. And let me just say, all those other folks took off like a shot. Me, on the other hand, knew immediately I was out of my league.
I came out fast, but could not keep up. Soon on, I knew I needed to run my own race, but it was so odd since I was running down Peachtree without anyone around me at first. Soon enough, I was being passed by many a runner in waves behind me.
Did I mention how hot it was for this race? Dear heavens!
Last year I needed water wings to swim down Peachtree. This year, I would have welcomed a little rain.
I had foot and leg problems almost immediately. Calf cramps and toe numbness meant I was not got going to have my best race ever. So I walked quite a bit of the race.
But I got to the finish!
And  I was dead last in the media challenge. Well, drat!

I finished!

Susan, Carolyn and me

 As a track club member, I got to hang out at Park Tavern with fellow track club members, so I met up with friends Susan, Carolyn and Angela.

Headed home with Angela

It was not a race without trouble. I saw two runners down at Peachtree and 14th street. Then  I saw a runner go down well after the race at the MARTA station at Five Points.
In all it was a bittersweet experience doing the media challenge this year. I won't do it again. I want to be back in the middle of the pack where I belong.