The 4th, This Year

Yes, it's the 12th. Let's pretend it's the 4th! Cool.

{July 4th}

After my 1st 5k, I was dying to be able to do the ever so awesome and popular Atlanta Peachtree Road Race 10k on 4th of July. I've always remembered the Peachtree being a part of our 4th. I remember always waking up early, coming down the stairs and hearing the broadcasting of the Peachtree on tv before my bare feet hit the last step. It seemed so exclusive and special for all those people to be apart of this incredible event, never did I think I would ever be in it. Never. Until this past May.

Sales for Peachtree tickets had ended months ago so my hopes of running i thought, would have to wait a year. Until 1 Sunday morning on the way back home from church when I got a text from Mom telling me that a friend was selling all her race numbers. "Do you want 1?"..........WHAT?!?! DO I?!?!- was a small bit of my reaction. I asked her to quickly email her, and then I emailed her the second I got home typing the only thing that could come to mind:"SOLD!"

I started training. I found a route more than long enough to train on and conquered.

I worked to 6 miles being comfortable and even ran 8.2 miles on 1 day. I was prepped, ready, and so pumped. I couldn't wait.

The day came at last. I started it early. Not a bit tired. It was that Christmas morning feeling. I pinned on my green number. This year, I came down the stairs that morning to a quiet home. The last step was met with sneakers and a D-tag this year, not bare feet.

The tv was dark this year. This year, I would be living what I watched all those years. Dad, Taylor and I set out to the Marta to head downtown to my starting section.

It didn't sink in until we hit this:

I was in state I can't describe. I don't know what words can describe the feeling walking the streets with all these others I'd just watched in awe of on tv. Now I was 1 of them. I was here. It was like the streets were filled with celebrities. Thousands. I couldn't...take that in.

After what seemed like the longest 30 minutes, my group was up. Toes at the starting line, announcer counting down the seconds. 3...2........1. All of the sudden the rope was dropped and what I had been waiting for, was here. I turned up my music 1 more notch, took a deep breath, and took the 1st launch forward. My goal was to run the whole thing, never stop, and at least cross the line in 1 hour. I paced myself, took it easy when needed and pushed myself when necessary. The finish line was in sight at last and I bolted to it. Full speed, gave up all the energy I had and finished strong. Time? 1:01:25. That kinda bummed me. But at least I never stopped. I went and got my shirt, met up with everyone, and went home. Done. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to go again.

We finished the day out with each other.

A big american dinner was devoured by all and we headed to Mall of Georgia for fireworks. Things got a bit crazy when trying to find a spot to watch but when the sky started lighting up, everything just kind of stopped. Everything worked out. All froze.

We ended up frozen in the middle of an intersection. We didn't care. We hopped up on the roof of Burb, let this song be the music of the moment,

and watched the fireworks light up the night and end our day.

While the last boom was still echoing, everything was in motion again and in seconds we were all squashed in Burb heading home. Not wanting to give into the end, Cooper, Chandler and I drove out to my spot on the bridge where you can see 5 different fireworks shows, each separated by miles, simultaneously in 1 span of the horizon. We parked, turned the car off, country music on, and sat and watched.

Thinking about all that day, it was awesome. I lived in a dream, conquered some goals, started a new tradition, spent time with the fam, and lived some good memories. I had so much to be thankful for. Thankful this God-given ability to run. Thankful for Mrs. Whitlock. Thankful to my family. Thankful for them putting up with my training. Thankful for my spotter Taylor. Training was not possible without her. I can't really thank her enough for sitting in Burb for hours as I ran my route. Thankful to all who encouraged me and helped me for the race. Thankful for the opportunity. Just thankful for, that day.

I won't ever be forgetting July 4th, 2011.

{16/365}