Two Peaches Down. One To Go.

Greetings! Sunday morning’s temperature in the low 40s didn’t have me hyped up to run the Atlanta 10 miler, the second event in the Triple Peach Series. Once I arrived at Atlantic Station the energy of the other runners put me in the mood, even with a chill in the air. Shannan proved much more enthusiastic than me from the very beginning.

The run was a fine one. Before the race, large number of people were taking a variety of photos. This continues once the race started. On a couple of occasions, I encountered guys running with video cameras. I’m for people having fun at every their they do, but the truth is very few people want to see a video of a road race. If any do, a minute or so will certainly satiate any appetite.

Really, I feel confident about that statement. I invite you to go out to a race any given Saturday.  Generally, only a sparse handful of spectators line the streets and these include family members and very loyal friends. If going to those lengths sound much to exhausting, then look up a video on the internet of someone running with a mobile video camera. Watch a segment or two and see if you agree with me. Let’s face it, running is not an engaging or sexy sport.

As for actual running, this Atlanta 10 Miler was terrific race.  The course had a few hills, as is the case when running in Atlanta. Nonetheless, the path snaked through Atlantic Station going and coming, scenic neighborhoods, and of course covered a few miles on Peachtree Street, hence the namesake of the Triple Peach races. As a teenager, I spent a lot of time in the areas crossed by the race. I enjoyed the nostalgia while cruising along the familiar streets.

At the end of the grand race runners received a medal hefty enough to use in a resistance workout.  It’s nice.

One more Peach to RUN!

Tom

Right Before My Eyes

Greetings! Over the last two years I have often visited a small park in Acworth. On every occasion I parked there, ate lunch and read a book. This park has a small track. It looks to be about a half-mile loop. Today, I needed a quick run, so I decided to try the park for something new.  What a delightful surprise I received from changing perspective.

At one end of the park is a trail I couldn’t see from the parking lot. The trail goes about three quarters of a mile winding through a wooded area. There the path divides. One direction connects to another small park, while the other way provides a separate point of entry from a main road in the city. 

I looped back to where I started and found the other end of the parking lot has another trail. This one meanders along a creek bed and a lovely designated greenspace. Like the other direction the path links to three other parks and has a number of access points in the community.

Get out of the car. Run.

Tom

Privilege Run

Greetings! I planned a surprise trip for Shannan to take place later this month. Oddly a number of items kept creeping up for that same weekend, including the only Saturday of early voting in our community. This past weekend Shannan had planned to join a number of her friends for a weekend get-a-way in South Carolina. However, Hurricane Matthew cancelled those plans.

I took advantage of her schedule change and moved the surprise trip to the same weekend.  This worked well as the plan took us out of the way of the storm and of the evacuees. While out running Saturday morning I was mindful of the folks impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The thought immediately gave way to how fortunate we are to be able to travel and to not have been in the way of the storm.

I teach a class on stratification where I refer to the Privilege Walk concept. I’ve included a Youtube link below that shows the activity and includes the questions. I am very mindful Shannan and I enjoy a great many privileges in our life. Being able to take a mini-holiday and go running early in the morning are high among them. I am very grateful and at the same time I understand it’s not one world. Our thoughts remain with those impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5f8GuNuGQ

Appreciate Privileges. Run.

Tom