Quote: "This one will be special for me — my 20th consecutive Peachtree Road Race. I'm thinking of having a special shirt or signage made to wear during the race."
Occupation: Building-services administrator for Standard Register
Age: 54
Residence: Clarkesville
Why I run? The Peachtree is an annual event for most of us up here in the sticks of extreme northeast Georgia. With July 4 as the target date, some of us really begin to work on our physical training. We call it ‘the hillbillies go down to the big-city holiday.’ My friends and I make the most of it and attend the expo, buy new running gear from the vendors, and sample the latest in energy boosters.
Why did you start running? I began running in 1991 for fitness and weight loss.
When was your first Peachtree? 1992. A few years prior to running it, a chiding co-worker kept pressuring me to run. He had no intention to run, but wanted to see if I was stupid enough to do it. He even offered to pay my entry fee. The thought of coming to Atlanta to run a 10K race certainly scared the heck out of me. Within a year I began running and entered local races. The following year I entered the Peachtree and turned in a 46-minute time. His chin hit the floor. But overall I'll never forget my first trip down Peachtree Street on that first race. Some people ran in costumes. There were mannequins hanging from the side of tall condos. There were people cheering us on from the balconies of condos, too.
What do you like about the race? The fun, ambiance and scenery.
What is your favorite tradition? A room on the start line, the expo, the pasta meals, and the gosh-awful stinky ride back to the start line on MARTA — but we love it.
What is your favorite race T-shirt? My first one: the peach-colored shirt of 1992.
What is your best time? I ran it in 44:06 in 1993.
What's your favorite spot on the course? The long downhill toward Peachtree Battle just before Cardiac Hill. That stretch is usually still cool and shady. At this point — mile 2.5 — all systems are go. My breathing has regulated itself, and the muscles are in-tune and happy.
Advice for first timers? Check your ego at the start line and have fun. This is not a race to get a new personal record. This is a classic race for having a great time and celebrating the Fourth of July and largest 10K in the world in a great city. Go, have fun take and in all the sites and enjoy the heck out of it.
What do you eat before and after the race? We've always gotten a pasta meal the night before the race, either at The Old Spaghetti Factory or more recently at the Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church on Peachtree Road. Postrace meal is usually a medium steak.
Superstitions? Never wear new running shoes for the Peachtree without breaking them in first. One of most notable things we've done is we have usually managed to bring a first-time Peachtree runner with us on almost all the past 20 races. This enables us to "put on new eyes" and experience it new again each year.
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