Walking AJC Peachtree 2017 Road Race

I could not believe that this day finally has come! My first time walking the Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race! I am excited and hype up that I am one of the 60,000 + racers that are participating in this historic coveted race! As you know being a part of this race is one of my bucket list goals so I knew that I will not let anything stop me for doing this race!

Before I left out the house to drive to the Marta train station, I heard on the radio that weather was going to be a code red. Code red is the highest code of very high humidity and heat. This is not the good news that a runner and walker wants to hear before going outside to do a 10K race!

I knew that I must remember to hydrate myself by stopping at each water station along the race route in order to prevent severe dehydration. I also knew that I had to pace myself and not start off the race running like the other walkers do. The worse thing that I could not is tired myself during the 1st leg and not being able to finish the race.

Once the race started, I could not believe some of the things that I saw along the race route. Some of runners were dress very patriots while others worn the most crazy costumes.

It seems that the combination of race, heat and humidity cause some people to do some of the most weirdest things. I knew that I had to keep going even though there were so many funny and crazy distractions.

I continued with my walking while I was drench in sweat until I saw a make shift watering shower. I noticed through out the route that there were dozen of these watering showers that I immediately head for the sides of the streets and jump right on in there! Who cares if your hair and clothes get wet! It is over 90 degrees out here which feels like 100 + degrees!

As the temperature was climbing, I started to feel more tired until I saw the miles signs. Seeing those mileage signs gave me that extra push that I needed to complete the race. It may seem crazy to rely on a sign to keep you going but it works for me.

When I finally arrived to the 6 mile part of the walk, I started to see the famous hill called Cardiac Hill. I knew that once I get up this hill that I will finally see the finish line. I walked up slowly with a steady pace up cardiac hill while saying to myself that I am going to complete this race. When I reach the summit of this heart wrenching hill, I was able to see that wonderful finish line below! After crossing the finish line, I was able to walk into Pediomont Park to celebrate my victory and my new AJC Peachtree Road Race 2017 t-shirt! Thank goodness!

As quickly the race was finished, the Atlanta Sanitation Services immediately started to clean the streets once the last walker and runner arrived at the finish line.

Atlanta is such a beautiful city and I am so glad that I took the chance to see some of the sights in places that I would normally never have a chance to see. Along the racing route, I was cheered and had encouraging shout outs for the racing bystanders. These bystanders were so devoted to the Peachtree Road Race that they would sit out there in the hot humid sun clapping and shouting motivating words to each racers until the race was over. I do not know what I would have done without them! Their inspiring words kept me going through out the race and allowed me to finish! Also, some of these bystanders gave walkers and runners ice cubes from their igloos for us to cool down.

Gotta love that southern Atlanta charm !