Post by marathondude on Jul 8, 2008 13:49:57 GMT -5
Independence Day Racing Memories
Independence Day - it’s the day that Americans celebrate the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. We have barbeques, fireworks and family gatherings as we commemorate the brave men who signed that document. Our country’s forefathers include men such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin and John McCain. Oh, wait a second – I know John McCain is old – but I don’t think he is that old! In recent years another tradition has been established – road racing on Independence Day.
The most famous race held on July fourth is the Peachtree Road Race 10k in Atlanta, Georgia. What began in 1970 with 110 runners has grown to a race with 55,000 participants vying for the coveted finishers race t-shirt. I raced it twice and missed my personal best 10k time by one second in 1981 with a 30:29 clocking. I wonder how fast I would have been on a cool springtime day rather than the sunny, 80-degree morning with high humidity.
My first road race ever was the Florida AAU 15k Championship on July 4, 1973. The race organizers showed little concern for the runners health at it started at 4:00 p.m. under sweltering skies. We even ran part of the race on the soft dirt of Gulfstream Park, a horse racing track. I had to take two days off after finishing in 59:42 for second in my age group. I did race it again two years later, winning my age group in 54:15 and enjoying the course change which omitted the dirt track.
To celebrate our country’s Bicentennial on July 4, 1976, many cities held races at the unusual distance of 7.6 miles. I raced where my parents lived in Titusville, Florida and won the Bicentennial 7.6 miler in a personal best of 40:49. Of course it’s a personal best – I’ve never raced that distance before or since. In fact, if anyone wants to keep setting PRs as they get older, I suggest finding races at obscure distances such as 13k or seven miles!
There is a nice Independence Day 5k race where I live in central Florida. The Watermelon Run 5k now attracts over 3,000 participants to the scenic course in Winter Park that finishes at Mead Gardens. Each year there is a neatly designed t-shirt with a watermelon motif. In my younger days I even won the race one time. A highlight is watching video clips my daughter, Valleri, took of the race that year. As I approach and race by in the lead with a half mile to go, she is filming and yelling, “Woo hoo! Go Dad!” The race has unique awards as the top ten males and females get a large watermelon. In addition to the usual post-race food, unlimited ice cold watermelon is served. And finally, there is even a watermelon eating contest. My days of challenging for an overall race victory are in the past, so I may need to get in training to try to become the watermelon eating champion!
Do you have any interesting Independence Day racing memories???
MarathonDude has 35 years of competitive running and racing experience highlighted by a marathon PR of 2:22:34. He is a regular writer for Florida Running & Triathlon magazine. At www.garycohenrunning.com you will find over a dozen FR&T articles, interviews with running personalities and dozens of “All in a Day’s Run” essays.
Independence Day - it’s the day that Americans celebrate the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. We have barbeques, fireworks and family gatherings as we commemorate the brave men who signed that document. Our country’s forefathers include men such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin and John McCain. Oh, wait a second – I know John McCain is old – but I don’t think he is that old! In recent years another tradition has been established – road racing on Independence Day.
The most famous race held on July fourth is the Peachtree Road Race 10k in Atlanta, Georgia. What began in 1970 with 110 runners has grown to a race with 55,000 participants vying for the coveted finishers race t-shirt. I raced it twice and missed my personal best 10k time by one second in 1981 with a 30:29 clocking. I wonder how fast I would have been on a cool springtime day rather than the sunny, 80-degree morning with high humidity.
My first road race ever was the Florida AAU 15k Championship on July 4, 1973. The race organizers showed little concern for the runners health at it started at 4:00 p.m. under sweltering skies. We even ran part of the race on the soft dirt of Gulfstream Park, a horse racing track. I had to take two days off after finishing in 59:42 for second in my age group. I did race it again two years later, winning my age group in 54:15 and enjoying the course change which omitted the dirt track.
To celebrate our country’s Bicentennial on July 4, 1976, many cities held races at the unusual distance of 7.6 miles. I raced where my parents lived in Titusville, Florida and won the Bicentennial 7.6 miler in a personal best of 40:49. Of course it’s a personal best – I’ve never raced that distance before or since. In fact, if anyone wants to keep setting PRs as they get older, I suggest finding races at obscure distances such as 13k or seven miles!
There is a nice Independence Day 5k race where I live in central Florida. The Watermelon Run 5k now attracts over 3,000 participants to the scenic course in Winter Park that finishes at Mead Gardens. Each year there is a neatly designed t-shirt with a watermelon motif. In my younger days I even won the race one time. A highlight is watching video clips my daughter, Valleri, took of the race that year. As I approach and race by in the lead with a half mile to go, she is filming and yelling, “Woo hoo! Go Dad!” The race has unique awards as the top ten males and females get a large watermelon. In addition to the usual post-race food, unlimited ice cold watermelon is served. And finally, there is even a watermelon eating contest. My days of challenging for an overall race victory are in the past, so I may need to get in training to try to become the watermelon eating champion!
Do you have any interesting Independence Day racing memories???
MarathonDude has 35 years of competitive running and racing experience highlighted by a marathon PR of 2:22:34. He is a regular writer for Florida Running & Triathlon magazine. At www.garycohenrunning.com you will find over a dozen FR&T articles, interviews with running personalities and dozens of “All in a Day’s Run” essays.