Ten years ago Shannan and I had plans to spend the weekend camping at Stone Mountain Park. This marked the third year I had given lip service to running in the Atlanta Track Club’s Grand Prix series of eighteen plus races throughout the year. The five/ten mile Singleton races at Dekalb County’s Big Rock marked the kickoff event. I figured if we camped out there I’d have no excuse to avoid running the race.
Then the Tuesday of that week etched itself firmly into world history and American memory. It was September 11, 2001. You know the rest of the story. Like other people in the country we took pause in our activities both for safety and out of respect. The Atlanta Track Club updated their phone message (yes, there was a time before Twitter and Facebook, when we had to give a little effort to get information). They planned to continue as planned with the race and not to cave into terrorism. We followed suit.
A small band of folks camped out that weekend. Each site was given an American Flag. All the runners who arrived Saturday morning were given a red, white and blue ribbon to wear, and we did proudly. Though small in numbers, we were strong in spirit. I think people ran that day for more than personal records or to participate in the series. I know I did.
Here we are ten years later. Shannan and I plan to mark the day by going to support friends and students in the Iron Kids triathlon. We celebrate this fine country where such events exist, as well as the spirit of healthy competition and young people getting out and being active, especially on a day like this one.
Running won’t stop terrorism, but make no mistake, terrorism will not stop running.
Run and Remember.
Tom
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