Led by the oldest racer in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road race, “Team Betty” crossed the finish line in 1:52:06 on Wednesday. Betty Lindberg, 93, captained the squad that stuck with her throughout the 10K.
Surrounded by four family members, Lindberg achieved her goal of completing the race in under two hours and improved from her 2017 time of 2:22:46. Her son, Craig, who continued the tradition of running alongside his mother this year, believes that they could have finished in “probably an hour and 47 (or) an hour and 45” if other racers had not stopped along their path.
After the race, Lindberg was all smiles, but there was a moment on the course when she claimed she wouldn’t return to the start line next year.
“She says that at least once every other year,” Craig laughed, adding that his mother declaring that each Peachtree will be her last has become a “running joke” in the family.
Unlike previous years, the announcement that Lindberg was bowing out did not come on Cardiac Hill. Lindberg climbed so well that she “didn’t even realize that (she) had done it.”
The easy incline alone might be enough to convince Lindberg to complete the race a 29th time at 94 years old, and Craig was quick to say “of course” his mother would be running. But the star of “Team Betty” had other ideas.
“No, I’m not. This is it,” she joked before confirming that she’ll “have to” participate next year because it will be the 50th Peachtree.
Then she’ll try for the next year because it will be her 30th race. And then she’ll keep going until she reaches 100 and maybe even a few more beyond that.
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