My How Things Have Changed

As we get older, there are many things that happen that make us take notice of how fast the years pass. It is hard to believe that this year will mark the 40th running of the Peachtree Road Race. For avid Georgia runners, the Peachtree is a tradition – an annual event that we look forward to each year. But for those of us who have run the Peachtree year after year, it reminds us of how things are changing.

The first time I ran the Peachtree was with my brother as a teenager, when I was in college. Then as the years went by I ran with my husband, before he was my husband, before I had kids and I was a much faster runner. Now, my kids are almost old enough to run with me, which I hope will start another tradition of running the Peachtree or other races as a family.

But as I think back on when I used to stand on the Peachtree starting line with 25,000 other runners in my teens, it reminds me how time has flown. Now, there are 50,000 others on the start line and I have a teenager myself. How can that be!

The Peachtree is not the only Georgia running event that has become a tradition. The Run and See Georgia Grand Prix is another running tradition that has become a more than just a tradition. It is a community of runners – a family – who all run together and celebrate each year that includes birthdays, births of children, new running achievements, and gracefully moving into new age groups.

Although the milestone running anniversaries remind us that we are getting older, it is a great way to age – staying healthy and fit with a great group of friends who share the love of running.