My Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon "weekend" started the Sunday before when Momma K and I volunteered at packet pick-up. With a race the size of this one (10,000+ across the half marathon, 5K, mile, and 50 meter dash), a pre-race packet pickup is necessary.
Due to popular demand, Atlanta Track Club had will-call packet pickup again this year. For a minimal fee of $20 (which half of the proceeds are donated to Atlanta Mission), runners were able to pick up their packet on race morning which was great for out-of-town runners.
If you have never volunteered with Atlanta Track Club, I highly recommend it. I absolutely love volunteering with them every chance I get. The community is so crazy awesome and I cannot speak highly enough about how much they mean to me.
We arrived in plenty of time to eat 'breakfast', use the port-o-potty, and get ready to run without feeling rushed. The half marathon started at 7:30am and the 5K at 8am, so I was able to hang out a bit until shortly after 7am when I headed towards the corrals to meet up with friends.
Between all of the half marathons that I have ran over the past 4 weeks, training, traveling, and the holiday season starting my body has just felt a little worn out. I know this course very well and know the spots that I want to push a little harder and places where i might have to ease off just slightly. It is go time.
Regardless I was still excited to run and earn my turkey, mac-n-cheese, dessert, etc with a few thousand of my running community.
Yes, it is Atlanta and yes, it is hilly, but I absolutely LOVE this race and course. The course support along the way is great with everyone wishing people a happy Thanksgiving and cheering you on along the way.
After running this race the past 4 years and running portions of this course in other races throughout the year, I am rather familiar with the terrain of the course so I know what hills are awaiting us ahead. The first half of the course was where I could really take advantage and get some speed (some slight uphill with a good amount of level and some downhill) and my pace was just slightly faster than what I planned for. I slowed down slightly in the final four miles, but I had planned for a slight slow down as there are a some uphill portions (including Juniper Street which was pretty brutal for me today).
As I approached the finish line, I saw the 1996 Olympic Rings in the distance which you run under just before the finish line. I saw Momma K on the side and I just lost it. It was a full on ugly cry.
I made my way through the finisher chute and collected my recovery jacket, drinks, and snacks. I was a little bummed that Atlanta Track Club didn't do the food boxes this year. Instead, they just had various foods sitting out for the taking. These boxes always help make sure that each finisher gets their post run snack vs. people hoarding ALL THE FOOD and leaving the last finishers with nothing. Granted, it is nice to see what the options are and just take what you are going to eat rather than a whole box that perhaps you just want one thing out of and the rest going to waste.
January 1 - Resolution Run 5K, One Mile, 50m Dash - Piedmont Park
January 7 - Extra Yard 5K - Downtown Atlanta
January 27 - Atlanta Hawks Fast Break 5K - Atlanta
February 10 - Hearts & Soles 5K - Decatur (FREE FOR MEMBERS!)
March 18 - Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon - Atlanta (MY 100th HALF MARATHON)
There are so many benefits to being a member of Atlanta Track Club including race discounts, discounted training programs, and more. Perhaps one of the most sought after perks is guaranteed entry to the Peachtree Road Race 10K on July 4th. Remember, you must me a member as of February 1, 2018 to be eligible for member registration in March. To become a member (or renew your membership), go to the Atlanta Track Club website for more information.