Running on 10th Street!
After the race in Piedmont Park holding up my coveted Peachtree Roadrace T-shirt
Yeah! I did the Peachtree Roadrace! It was such a great experience! I woke up at 6 am to get ready – eat breakfast – stretch – listen to some upbeat music. I took MARTA to the Lenox station and found my group (8). I had about 40 minutes until my timed group finally took off – but it was so exciting to slowly keep moving closer and closer to the Start line. Once I was there awaiting the countdown – I actually started to tear up. I felt so silly, but I just couldn’t help it. I think I was just overcome by A) All the people + energy and B) Thinking about how far I’ve come with my weight loss and training. To some people, doing a 10K is second nature – maybe they grew up on the Track club or something. But to me, it was really a new beginning. Not only working out – but doing a street race like this with 50,000 other people. It just made me really excited and nostalgic of that time I sat on my balcony and watched it from afar…and now this year…I was finally doing it!I have to admit, it’s the best 10K for anyone to do for a first time. There are so many people that nobody is really paying attention to “you” – unless you were dressed in all spandex (as I saw). It’s a lot of fun with all the people and companies lining the streets to cheer you on. Everyone is in a great mood. And mad props to the Atlanta Track Club (Hi Ben!) for organizing such a great race!
I loved seeing the mile markers and knowing I had just completed 1 mile – 2-3-4-5, etc. Once I got to the High Museum (where I work) I knew it was the 5-mile marker, which meant I only had about a mile and a half to go! Once I turned on 10th Street, I knew I would see Edward and David at the corner of 10th and Myrtle, so that gave me my final push to the end. I just had so much fun. It was hot and I poured a lot of water on my head. I did my walk/jog combo and did my best to just listen to my body as to what I needed to do then. Cardiac Hill sucked (the hill at Piedmont Hospital). I am not even that sore today – it’s crazy. I remember doing my very first 5K 82-pounds heavier, and I could hardly even walk the next day. My legs and abs are sore – but definitely not nearly as bad as I thought they’d be. Which shoes me that my body is in much better shape considering I just did my very first 10K.
I jogged to the finish line and it was at that point I wouldn’t let myself stop. U2′s live version of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” played on my iPod shuffle and it took me to the finish line. It was kind of an exciting + spiritual moment and I was so proud of myself for rocking it out at the Peachtree Roadrace. Of course, the real race is always within yourself – and I am loving seeing how my body is changing due to my weight loss – and my attitude – and I am already thinking about beating my time next year 
This is from my blog Live Live To The Fullest
