Nearly a perfect 10

I got back from Denver, where it was so warm, and landed in Atlanta, where the humidity made fall still feel like summer.
So it was so heartening to wake up Sunday morning to cool temps for the PNC Atlanta 10 Miler. Fall has finally arrived in Atlanta!

Wave F is for Finish!

Sunrise over the start line

That 4:45 a.m. alarm seemed awfully early, and it was. The race starts and finishes at Atlantic Station, which has underground parking and only four ingress and egress areas. So, get there early or you will be in a parking line hell when the race starts. I got there by 6 a.m. and sat in the car listening to my audio book until about 7!

Sunrise over Midtown

 I've run this race three times now, twice after a half marathon. Last year after the Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon, I swore I would never run the 10 miler after running a half marathon the week before. But there I was at the start, having run the Denver Half the weekend before. I'll never learn!

Along Collier Road

 The course was changed slightly this year, with an added hill early on. That was an unpleasant surprise.

Gotta catch them all!

 The event has 12 cheer zones, and one of them this year was Pokemon Go! themed. That was fun. Had to get a photo of the squirtle and pikachu!

Pikachu! 

Headed toward the finish

 I was happy to see the Midtown skyline for a second time, this time coming on toward the finish.

All smiles! Finished!

10 Miler medal

I'm looking at races for 2017, and my October race will be early in the month, I think, so I'll have at least two weeks between long distance races. Nevertheless, this year's race was nearly a perfect 10.