Due to the pandemic, the Atlanta Track Club scheduled the in-person Peachtree Road Race for two days, Saturday and Sunday, July 3 - 4. When we registered in March, prior to vaccination, I wasn't sure what things would be like in mid-summer, so we signed up for the Saturday July 3 race expecting a smaller number of runners. Fortunately things have improved in this country over the past several months, although the virus slowly continues its malevolent rampage through our unvaccinated population.
For my part I had planned to run a couple of races in May before formally beginning marathon training. My pre-training was going well, working up to a 12-mile enjoyable long run on May 1, covering the Peachtree Road Race route from finish to start and then returning to the finish. But on May 8, I struggled through an easy 3-mile shake-out run at the hilly park in our neighborhood. I thought that finishing with a set of strides on a flat stretch in front of our neighborhood elementary school might loosen any rust in the legs. But at the end of the third stride, I felt severe pain in my right gluteus. I slowly limped home, a painful quarter-mile even though it was mostly downhill.
After a couple of trips to a chiropractor, two physical therapy sessions, and strictly following the prescribed flexibility / stretching exercise program, I had some improvement, although I couldn't run-walk more than a mile without considerable pain. I was referred to a spine specialist. After the doctor checked my reflexes, examined my posture and listened to my symptoms, including my observation that walking downhill was especially painful, whereas walking uphill almost pain-free, he diagnosed that I probably had some arthritis in the lower spine that was irritating one of the major nerves into the right leg. He was optimistic that I would recover but that it might take several weeks. He said that mild exercise would help with the recovery, as long as it didn't get too painful, and cleared me to start marathon training. In my next physical therapy session, I overheard the term "O.A." several times, from the therapist working on another middle-aged patient at the next table. I had a couple of ideas of what "O.A." stood for. When the patient asked and was told "O.A. is Osteoarthritis", that confirmed my suspicion that "O.A." and "Osteoarthritis" are euphemisms for "Old Age."
The doctor's optimism was justified: Over the past month, I've progressed from being unable to run for more than 30 seconds, to finishing a 6-mile run-walk at a 12 min/mile pace last weekend. Only after completing that 6-miler without too much pain, was I fairly confident that I would finish the Peachtree Road Race. The irritation manifests as if a small lump is deep inside my gluteus muscle. It is no longer really painful in the beginning of an easy run. Although some pain inevitably begins within a few miles, it hasn't grown worse in the 3-to-6 mile run-walk outings that I've recently completed. Brian Minor and I had originally planned for a mano-a-mano race this morning, but a few weeks ago I told him that I had to back out. Today was just for me to run for fun and hopefully build up some mileage in the early stages of marathon training. My race plan for today was to run-walk the first 5 miles (8K) at an easy pace, 4:30 run alternating with 0:30 walk breaks. If I felt good at the mile 5 sign, then I wanted to race the last two kilometers. I discussed this plan with Coach Carl Leivers, who was supportive: he just wanted to make sure that I didn't exacerbate the irritated nerve by overdoing today's run.
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| The first two weeks of the marathon training plan |
I had earned a wave B bib with a 6:40 am start, for runners with a projected finish time of 50 - 56 minutes. Based on my current ability, I probably should have started with wave D or E, but the irresistable advantage of wave B was that an early start would give me a better chance to finish before the temperature heated up. Happily, the weather this morning was beautiful and clear, with temperature of 68 degrees, a bit humid after yesterday's rain, but definitely pleasantly cool for an July morning in Atlanta. We had a minor fiasco getting to the start: our BreezeCards for MARTA had expired, I guess from not using them during the pandemic? In the time needed to purchase single day tickets, a train had come and gone. Fortunately another train arrived within 10 minutes.
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| Incognito on the MARTA train (above); Ready to run (below) |
We arrived at the staging area at Lenox Square Mall with enough time for me to mentally relax and to loosen up my legs with some dynamic stretches. To support physical distancing, the waves were staggered by 10 minutes, with probably only half as many people per wave as in previous years. I took a position in the back and to the right side of wave B, crossing the starting line around 6:41 am.
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| 6:18 am, waiting for the National Anthem |
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| 6:36 am, wave B walking to the start |
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| 6:37 am, we're next! |
The first mile went well. I was running at just above a 10 minute / mile pace, and followed my resolution to walk for 30 seconds when the watch signalled 4:30 elapsed. Although most of the wave B runners were well ahead of me, I was not running alone. As the race progressed, I noticed that I was "leapfrogging" some of the same runners. I could feel the sensation of a "lump" in my gluteus by the end of the first mile, although it wasn't really painful. I finished mile 1 in 10:25, which was initially gently downhill, then gradually uphill. So far so good. Mile 2 was a gentle downhill. Although I noticed a little pain was developing, it wasn't too bad, probably only 2 on a 10-point scale. 10:27 for mile 2, 20:52 elapsed. Those were two of the fastest miles that I've run in the past eight weeks!
Running at a relaxed pace gave me a chance to look around much more, taking in the sights and sounds, noticing some of the new construction in Buckhead since the last in-person Peachtree Road Race in 2019. There weren't too many spectators this year, but enough people were watching to make it a fun experience. If today had been my first Peachtree Road Race, I might have thought this was a fairly big crowd, both runners and spectators. As I wasn't racing and had no time goals for today - other than to avoid running too fast early in the race, I enjoyed smiling and waving back to the people watching us. This was perfect practice for the first five miles of the marathon to come in October. Even though the temperature was not that warm, fire hydrants were set to deliver a fine spray, spaced about every half-mile. I and most other runners tried to avoid the water sprays in an effort to mostly stay dry. The priests and ministers delivered blessings and sprayed holy water on the runners along the right side of the road, as we ran through "Jesus Junction" near the intersection of Peachtree Street with Wesley Road.
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| The finish line is well before the downtown towers in the distance |
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| John Wallace cheering me on! |
Mile 3 was mostly downhill with a bigger elevation drop. I had wondered before the race how the pain might feel running or walking downhill. Fortunately the sensation was constant, no worse than 2 out of 10 for pain. During walk breaks I snapped a few photos with my cellphone, starting with the first view of the high-rise towers of downtown Atlanta in the distance. Then I heard someone behind me calling "Frank, Frank!", turned around, and saw John Wallace cheering me on. He and probably many of the other spectators are scheduled to race tomorrow, so it was really great that he and others came out to cheer us on this morning. I hope to repay the favor tomorrow morning for day 2 of the race! Further along the route, a band was playing The Cure's 1980's hit "Just Like Heaven". Great song, but ... for a long moment, I pondered the irony of hearing a song from an English band on United States Independence Day weekend.
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| Go Hawks!!! |
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| Metro Atlanta population. The city of Atlanta proper has only half-a-million people. |
We crossed the bridge at Peachtree Creek, and began climbing Cardiac Hill shortly before passing the mile 3 sign, 10:29, 31:21 elapsed. I definitely wasn't expecting to run quite that fast, but felt OK for the effort so far, which was similar to my recent marathon pace. I crossed the 5K timing mat at 33 minutes flat, then pulled over to the right side of the road to pick up a bottle of water. I wasn't really thirsty, but thought it would be good to hydrate a bit when I had the opportunity, to ward off any thirst before the next (and last) water station around mile 5. Heading uphill, there was a small tent for the Atlanta Hawks and their cheerleaders, and upbeat music from their sound system. The Hawks (surprisingly!) are doing very well in the NBA playoffs this year. At this writing, they are behind 2 - 3 in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. However, this evening's game 6 is in Atlanta, so there is reasonable hope that the Hawks will play well enough to force a decisive game 7 in Milwaukee on Monday evening. The winner will progress to the NBA finals. Normally the basketball season is over well before July, but ... the NBA season began late due to the pandemic. My fourth mile was 10:45, a little slower than the others, but that was simply because of more walk breaks to take photos, including a couple of short stops. Happily, I had no problem getting up and over Cardiac Hill at the easy pace. I noticed Egg Harbor Cafe on the right side of the street, wondering if we might have brunch there after the race.
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| Bridge over I-85, about 4.3 miles into the race |
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| Water spray in Midtown. Note the orange spray paint marking road hazards! |
We crossed the Peachtree Bridge over Interstate-85, heading into midtown Atlanta. This was another uphill section, but not as steep as Cardiac Hill. I was feeling pretty good, now 100% confident that I would finish. I was even thinking "negative split," if I reached the finish line in less than 66 minutes. A negative split never happens in the Peachtree Road Race (at least not for me) but was definitely realistic for me today. I took one last photo about 49 minutes into my race, then put the phone away, because I was all business. One last walk break, then returning to running as I passed the mile 5 sign. 53:14 elapsed, 10:39 minute / mile average pace for the first five miles, with just two kilometers to go! And now it's ....
HAMMER TIME! It felt a little unfamiliar to run faster than 10 minute / mile pac,e after so many painfully slow weeks. Then I was ecstatic when my watch showed that my pace had dipped below 9 minute / mile pace. That is close to what I can run the sixth mile of the Peachtree Road Race in a good year. Totally focused on running well, I kept up with almost everyone else on the course at this point. Passing Colony Square at the intersection with 14th Street, I heard another person call my name: it was Tommy Daniels, who I first met in Boston at the B.A.A. Half in October 2017. I barely slowed enough to say hello and shouted "See you tomorrow!" and went back to running my 2K race.
Turning the corner at 10th Street is always a highlight of the Peachtree Road Race. That is where I try to forecast my likely finishing time. From the corner to the finish line is just over 1.0 kilometers. In a great year, I may cover that distance in about 4:30. At the turn, my elapsed time was 58:40, so I knew that I would definitely finish in less than 66 minutes, accomplishing the negative split. That last stretch along 10th Street doesn't look very long on a map, but it stretches on and on when trying to run it quickly. Right before crossing Piedmont Road, there was a smaller-than-usual overhead camera stand with a couple of photographers. As I crossed the blue ribbon marking the photographer's target, I raised my hands and smiled at the camera. At the same moment, I heard someone shout "Frank! Frank!" and it was Beverly Minor! Brian had passed before Beverly had arrived, and Beverly didn't have a chance to photograph me - I like to think because I was running so quickly at that point - but I waved and shouted "Hi Beverly!" as I passed, then turned back to business, approaching the western border of Piedmont Park. Only then did I see the mile 6 marker, so I still had 0.22 miles to go, about 2 minutes for me on a good day. I was thrilled to check my time after the race and saw that I had moved at an 8:45 min / mile pace for mile 6.
In the last stretch, I saw a couple just ahead of me to the left: the woman was spitting into garbage cans as she passed them. Then she stopped and vomited orange liquid onto the side of the street. Her partner / friend stopped to check on her. I ran past, fortunately feeling fine myself. The finish line for the Peachtree Road Race always hides just over one final small hill, but knowing it was somewhere not to far away, I continued to run fast, even though I knew that I would still record a negative split even if I walked to the finish line. In the final hundred feet or so, I was shocked to see the same couple passing me to the left. I couldn't believe that I was outrun by someone who had just lost her breakfast on the course. I put on a surge to try to catch up, hoping to pass her. I couldn't maintain the surge, as the couple also sped up to cross the finish line a few steps ahead of me. My official time: 1:04:19; I was delighted to have run the last 0.22 miles at an 8:00 min / mile pace.
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| Bonnie smiling about 1/2 mile from the finish |
Having run easily for the first five miles, I didn't feel exhausted after I crossed the finish line after my two-kilometer race. I was probably more conscious in the finishing area than in previous years, since I wasn't gasping for oxygen. As we walked into the park, a volunteer told us "Pick up your shirts, then leave the park!" Normally the meadow of Piedmont Park is a huge and festive gathering site, but with concerns about the pandemic, the track club discouraged us from spending too much time together, even outdoors, in the space for which they were responsible this morning. I accepted a bottle of water, picked up my shirt, took a few minutes to chat with Bryan Greenberg while stretching, then found my way out of the park to run into Brian Minor, who was waiting for me. Beverly and their young son Brenden joined us in a moment. We circled back several blocks to get around the finish area, to wait to cheer Bonnie into the finish line.
My right leg was pretty sore after finishing. Fortunately, between easy walking for a mile or so, and occasionally stretching when we stopped to watch the other finishers, my leg felt pretty good by the time Bonnie passed. We returned to the park exit to meet up with her, and finished up the morning with a delicious brunch at Egg Harbor Cafe!
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| Brian outran me by 13 minutes. But I was very happy to achieve all of my goals: finishing the 10K without exacerbating the irritated nerve, and enjoying my fastest run in months, in the last 2K! |
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| Official result: negative split confirmed! |
