I’m a fan of events that support local schools. Here’s one that offers something fun for every member of the family.
Oakhurst Preschool Cooperative hosts its 3rd annual Beat the Street for Little Feet at Candler Park. The event includes both a 5K and 1-mile race plus a fun run for kiddies. After the race, stay for the children’s festival. Activities include live music, a costume contest, face painting and food. The 5K route is available at the event site. Register at Active.com or at your neighborhood Big Peach Running Co. Proceeds from the race help the school provide tuition assistance and classroom supplies.
Have an old pair of running shoes lying around? Donate them at the race to Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program. Nike’s site features a cool video showing how old shoes are deconstructed and repurposed for a variety of play surfaces.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
It’s Fall … Get Out and Run Atlanta!
It’s almost the middle of October and Run Georgia’s Race Calendar shows over 50 race events scheduled for the remainder of the month. There’s no excuse not to get outside and run. Here are a few races to consider:
Big Peach Fall 5 Miler – October 17
If you’re in Marietta, don’t miss this race. Big Peach always hosts a great event. The course runs through the neighborhoods of East Cobb. Register at any Big Peach Running Co. location.
Monster Dash 5K and Little Goblin Run – October 17
You gotta love a race with a Halloween theme. The beautiful neighborhood of Grant Park hosts this family-friendly event. While online registration closes October 12, you can sign-up on race day.
Atlanta Dog Jog – October 24
Looking for an easy run with your four-legged friend? This event offers the choice of a 1 or 2-mile course. If you run the 2-mile course, you and your pup are eligible to win. Awards given to the top three finishers in the small, medium, and large dog categories.
Run Like Hell 5K – October 31
What better way to kick-off Halloween festivities than a race through Oakland Cemetery. Run past the headstones and mausoleums of Atlanta’s most notable dead. Proceeds benefit the cemetery’s restoration efforts.
Callaway Gardens Twilight 10K – November 7
It’s not likely you’ll find a more scenic course in November. Spend the evening running through gardens and holiday lights display. The race is limited to the first 500 registrants. It’s a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.
Cabbagetown Romp and Stomp 5K – November 7
Looking for an intown run? Check out the Cabbagetown Romp and Stomp. After running the quick course, race participates can celebrate over a bowl of free chili. Registration is available online at Active.com or at Big Peach Running Co. locations.
Big Peach Fall 5 Miler – October 17
If you’re in Marietta, don’t miss this race. Big Peach always hosts a great event. The course runs through the neighborhoods of East Cobb. Register at any Big Peach Running Co. location.
Monster Dash 5K and Little Goblin Run – October 17
You gotta love a race with a Halloween theme. The beautiful neighborhood of Grant Park hosts this family-friendly event. While online registration closes October 12, you can sign-up on race day.
Atlanta Dog Jog – October 24
Looking for an easy run with your four-legged friend? This event offers the choice of a 1 or 2-mile course. If you run the 2-mile course, you and your pup are eligible to win. Awards given to the top three finishers in the small, medium, and large dog categories.
Run Like Hell 5K – October 31
What better way to kick-off Halloween festivities than a race through Oakland Cemetery. Run past the headstones and mausoleums of Atlanta’s most notable dead. Proceeds benefit the cemetery’s restoration efforts.
Callaway Gardens Twilight 10K – November 7
It’s not likely you’ll find a more scenic course in November. Spend the evening running through gardens and holiday lights display. The race is limited to the first 500 registrants. It’s a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.
Cabbagetown Romp and Stomp 5K – November 7
Looking for an intown run? Check out the Cabbagetown Romp and Stomp. After running the quick course, race participates can celebrate over a bowl of free chili. Registration is available online at Active.com or at Big Peach Running Co. locations.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What it Means to be a Volunteer
I’ve been thinking a lot about volunteering lately. A blog post by my friend Nadine Randall offered a candid, moving account about her experience with Girls on the Run Atlanta. Often times, volunteering leaves us with a sense of pride and altruism. But Nadine’s story didn’t reflect on those factors. Rather, it focused on her uncertainty over her ability to coach and mentor a group of girls. Over time, she gained confidence in her skills and discovered a sense of joy in her role. And that’s an important lesson. While we often view volunteering as a selfless act, we gain in ways we don’t always expect.
This week’s route is the Run for Research 5K course at Piedmont Park:
· Start at the corner of 14th and W. Peachtree St.
· Head towards Piedmont Park
· Follow the path around Lake Clara Meed and through Piedmont Park
· Exit Piedmont Park at 10th St.
· Run down 10th St. toward W. Peachtree St.
· Turn right on W. Peachtree St.
· Turn right on 13th St.
· End at 13th St. and Peachtree Walk
This week’s route is the Run for Research 5K course at Piedmont Park:
· Start at the corner of 14th and W. Peachtree St.
· Head towards Piedmont Park
· Follow the path around Lake Clara Meed and through Piedmont Park
· Exit Piedmont Park at 10th St.
· Run down 10th St. toward W. Peachtree St.
· Turn right on W. Peachtree St.
· Turn right on 13th St.
· End at 13th St. and Peachtree Walk
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Inside Scoop of Volunteering at a Road Race
Over the past 10 years, I’ve run in a variety of races – from fun runs to half marathons. I was always amazed at the number of volunteers who came out to operate the event and cater to runners. For big events, like the Peachtree Road Race, hundreds of helpers are needed. I decided it was finally time to get a different experience from a road race by serving as a volunteer.
The Fall Five was a new 5K race in my neighborhood that benefitted a local school. I’ve helped manage large-scale events for my company, but I figured there was a lot I could learn by volunteering at a local road race.
As with any event, there are many details to coordinate – like a web site and online registration, traffic cones to mark the route, signs to alert neighbors who live along the route, along with safety pins for race numbers and food and water for runners. On top of that, you also have to deal with the weather. Atlanta has seen rain all week and Saturday was no exception for the race. Runners found shelter at Navo Church as they waited for the race to start – a nice offering that most running events can’t easily provide.
I tried to help out wherever I could. Since I’m not the quiet type, I landed the job of race announcer. This meant I got to talk a lot on a bullhorn, which was fun. Along with starting the race, I also cheered the runners as they neared the finish line. I got a glimpse of what it meant to be a race director. You’re the person that everyone looks for to make decisions and keep the show running. It’s a tough, demanding job that requires a lot of dedication. While I’m not looking to lead a race anytime soon, I plan to look for more opportunities to volunteer. It’s a worthwhile experience for every runner.
This week’s running route is the course from the Fall Five. A map of the course is available at WalkJogRun.net.
· Start at the corner of Oakview Rd and Spring St.
· Head north on Oakview, towards East Lake Dr.
· Cross East Lake Dr.
· From Oakview, turn right on Adams St.
· Turn right on Hill St.
· Turn left on McKoy St.
· Run through McKoy Park
· Exit McKoy Park and turn right on Spring St.
· Turn left on Oakview Rd.
· Turn right on 2nd Ave.
· Turn right on 3rd Ave.
· Turn right on East Lake Dr.
· End at East Lake and Oakview
The Fall Five was a new 5K race in my neighborhood that benefitted a local school. I’ve helped manage large-scale events for my company, but I figured there was a lot I could learn by volunteering at a local road race.
As with any event, there are many details to coordinate – like a web site and online registration, traffic cones to mark the route, signs to alert neighbors who live along the route, along with safety pins for race numbers and food and water for runners. On top of that, you also have to deal with the weather. Atlanta has seen rain all week and Saturday was no exception for the race. Runners found shelter at Navo Church as they waited for the race to start – a nice offering that most running events can’t easily provide.
I tried to help out wherever I could. Since I’m not the quiet type, I landed the job of race announcer. This meant I got to talk a lot on a bullhorn, which was fun. Along with starting the race, I also cheered the runners as they neared the finish line. I got a glimpse of what it meant to be a race director. You’re the person that everyone looks for to make decisions and keep the show running. It’s a tough, demanding job that requires a lot of dedication. While I’m not looking to lead a race anytime soon, I plan to look for more opportunities to volunteer. It’s a worthwhile experience for every runner.
This week’s running route is the course from the Fall Five. A map of the course is available at WalkJogRun.net.
· Start at the corner of Oakview Rd and Spring St.
· Head north on Oakview, towards East Lake Dr.
· Cross East Lake Dr.
· From Oakview, turn right on Adams St.
· Turn right on Hill St.
· Turn left on McKoy St.
· Run through McKoy Park
· Exit McKoy Park and turn right on Spring St.
· Turn left on Oakview Rd.
· Turn right on 2nd Ave.
· Turn right on 3rd Ave.
· Turn right on East Lake Dr.
· End at East Lake and Oakview
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Look who's on Twitter ... Lots of Runners
As a Twitter junkie, I occasionally tweet about my blog. When I do, it leads to a few new followers who tweet about running. Which made me wonder, how many running-related twitterers are out there? Apparently, a lot. You can find a listing of the most-followed Twitter accounts at wefollow.com. Here are a few to check out:
@ActiveNetworks – 16, 596 followers
The site that seems to manage registration for nearly every race is on Twitter. Tweets include links to articles and tips on training.
@RunnersWorld – 15,608 followers
Running news from around the world with links to the magazine’s online articles and videos.
@Cool_Running – 11,360 followers
Similar to the @ActiveNetworks, you see plenty of tweets with links to tips and news articles on running.
@Runningnews – 16,109 followers
News and information from across the web, including links to popular blogs and running sites.
@bmorrissey – 8,643 followers
Brian Morrissey is the Digital Editor at Adweek and you’ll find tweets about his training runs in NYC.
@1stMarathonPlan – 3,144 followers
As the name implies, J David Doss posts lots of tweets about marathons and training tips.
@just_finish – 2,031 followers
Hosted by Kevin Green, this Twitter account supports people training to complete events. Plenty of positive tweets found here.
@raygill1 – 3088 followers
A self-proclaimed coach, triathlete and fitness addict, Ray includes several links to interesting running and fitness content.
@runningscoop – 1,413 followers
A good source for links to stories about runners and online race registration.
@peachyruns - 1,122 followers
This is the Twitter handle for Big Peach Running Company. You'll find news on Atlanta events and running gear.
@ActiveNetworks – 16, 596 followers
The site that seems to manage registration for nearly every race is on Twitter. Tweets include links to articles and tips on training.
@RunnersWorld – 15,608 followers
Running news from around the world with links to the magazine’s online articles and videos.
@Cool_Running – 11,360 followers
Similar to the @ActiveNetworks, you see plenty of tweets with links to tips and news articles on running.
@Runningnews – 16,109 followers
News and information from across the web, including links to popular blogs and running sites.
@bmorrissey – 8,643 followers
Brian Morrissey is the Digital Editor at Adweek and you’ll find tweets about his training runs in NYC.
@1stMarathonPlan – 3,144 followers
As the name implies, J David Doss posts lots of tweets about marathons and training tips.
@just_finish – 2,031 followers
Hosted by Kevin Green, this Twitter account supports people training to complete events. Plenty of positive tweets found here.
@raygill1 – 3088 followers
A self-proclaimed coach, triathlete and fitness addict, Ray includes several links to interesting running and fitness content.
@runningscoop – 1,413 followers
A good source for links to stories about runners and online race registration.
@peachyruns - 1,122 followers
This is the Twitter handle for Big Peach Running Company. You'll find news on Atlanta events and running gear.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Get Ready for Fall Road Races
If you’re looking for a running event, you’ll find plenty to choose from in September. Rungeorgia.com lists more than 25 races in the metro Atlanta area. Here’s a sample of the races offered next month.
U.S. 10K Classic – Sept. 7 (Labor Day)
East Cobb is home to this multi-sports event. It hosts runners, cyclists, inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and walkers. Proceeds benefit children’s charities in Georgia and World Children’s Center.
Avondale Estates Labor Day 5K – Sept. 7 (Labor Day)
Avondale Estates is one of my favorite neighborhoods to run. There’s no online registration for this race – you’ll need to send the form by mail or drop it off at city hall.
Corporate Challenge – Sept. 10
Billed as the world’s largest office party, the route runs through Downtown Atlanta. It starts and ends under the Olympic rings on Hank Aaron Drive. CEOs who want to compete against their fellow execs get designated bibs and a separate finish line.
Decatur-Dekalb YMCA Fall Five - Sept. 19
I’m a fan of races that benefit local neighborhoods and schools. The Decatur Fall Five is a new 5K race that raises funds for College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center. The route runs through the Oakhurst neighborhood in Decatur.
East Atlanta Village Strut 5K Run/Walk - Sept. 19
This 5K race kicks-off a day of festivities, music and fun. The route starts at Portland and Brownwood Avenues. Stick around for the day to enjoy concerts, the artists market and the neighborhood parade.
Big Peach Sizzler 10K – Sept. 26
A MARTA-friendly event, it starts at the Chamblee station and ends near the Buckhead station. The race is USATF certified and serves as a qualifier for the 2010 Peachtree Roadrace. Register at a Big Peach store and get your race number before the event.
This week’s running route is the 5K course for East Atlanta Village Strut. Click here to access the route map.
U.S. 10K Classic – Sept. 7 (Labor Day)
East Cobb is home to this multi-sports event. It hosts runners, cyclists, inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and walkers. Proceeds benefit children’s charities in Georgia and World Children’s Center.
Avondale Estates Labor Day 5K – Sept. 7 (Labor Day)
Avondale Estates is one of my favorite neighborhoods to run. There’s no online registration for this race – you’ll need to send the form by mail or drop it off at city hall.
Corporate Challenge – Sept. 10
Billed as the world’s largest office party, the route runs through Downtown Atlanta. It starts and ends under the Olympic rings on Hank Aaron Drive. CEOs who want to compete against their fellow execs get designated bibs and a separate finish line.
Decatur-Dekalb YMCA Fall Five - Sept. 19
I’m a fan of races that benefit local neighborhoods and schools. The Decatur Fall Five is a new 5K race that raises funds for College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center. The route runs through the Oakhurst neighborhood in Decatur.
East Atlanta Village Strut 5K Run/Walk - Sept. 19
This 5K race kicks-off a day of festivities, music and fun. The route starts at Portland and Brownwood Avenues. Stick around for the day to enjoy concerts, the artists market and the neighborhood parade.
Big Peach Sizzler 10K – Sept. 26
A MARTA-friendly event, it starts at the Chamblee station and ends near the Buckhead station. The race is USATF certified and serves as a qualifier for the 2010 Peachtree Roadrace. Register at a Big Peach store and get your race number before the event.
This week’s running route is the 5K course for East Atlanta Village Strut. Click here to access the route map.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
One Inspiring Runner
The first story I read in this month’s Runner’s World profiled Rosie Coates, a Seattle-area runner who achieved some amazing accomplishments. In her quest to become a marathoner, Rosie shed 110 pounds – essentially whole person. For anyone who’s dieted (haven’t we all?), that’s simply remarkable.
But what I found inspiring about Rosie is her devotion to help other women. Rosie conducts health and fitness workshops and provides personal training services that help women gain confidence and self-esteem through fitness.
Apparently, I’m not the only person inspired by Rosie. A quick Google found mentions of her story on Facebook, FriendFeed, Twitter and blogs.
When we take time to look around our own neighborhoods, we’re sure to find examples of inspiration. For me, it’s the teacher who starts a 5K to raise money for schools or a 72-year-old whose race time in a 5K is faster than top finishers who are more than 15-years her junior. Who inspires you?
But what I found inspiring about Rosie is her devotion to help other women. Rosie conducts health and fitness workshops and provides personal training services that help women gain confidence and self-esteem through fitness.
Apparently, I’m not the only person inspired by Rosie. A quick Google found mentions of her story on Facebook, FriendFeed, Twitter and blogs.
When we take time to look around our own neighborhoods, we’re sure to find examples of inspiration. For me, it’s the teacher who starts a 5K to raise money for schools or a 72-year-old whose race time in a 5K is faster than top finishers who are more than 15-years her junior. Who inspires you?
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