Countdown to Peachtree

Since this morning marked exactly three weeks prior to the Peachtree Road Race, I thought I'd take the opportunity to do a tempo run on the second half of the course. Because of the drought, the race won't end in Piedmont Park, which is kind of sad, because in the six years I've done the race, we've always ended in the park, right at Charles Allen Drive and 10th Street. This year, it will end at Juniper and Ponce.

So, I headed from my place down 25th Street and fifteen subsequent blocks on Peachtree--enduring honking, leers from countless construction workers and dangerous intersections with closed sidewalks. Not exactly the same feeling as race morning. Plus, it was hot (though significantly less so than earlier in the week), and I didn't have any water.

The new route isn't bad--a few rolling hills, but it just seemed anti-climactic. Maybe that will change come race day.

All in all, I got in a five mile tempo run at about 10:30 pace, which is pretty good considering I had to stop at about five intersections and wait for lights to change.

This week also was the start of my Alaska countdown! Six days until we leave (really five, as I'm posting after midnight!). I found out this week that two of my mentees--Sarah and Shay--were the top fundraisers on the Alaska team. All in all, my four mentees raised over $25,000--real money that supports real people in need. I love feeling a part of something bigger than myself and can't wait to cross the finish line in Anchorage next weekend!