Peachtree Road Race Observations
Yes, it was hot.
Yes, it was crowded.
There were a large number of extremely cute dogs along the route this year. My favorites were the waving golden retriever and the teeny french bulldog puppy, both dressed in patriotic bandanas by their loving humans.
And what’s up with the smokers lining the route, blowing smoke into runners’ faces between cheers of “almost there!” and frantic cowbell shaking? It’s hard enough with the heat, but — as an asthmatic — unexpectedly inhaling smoke was really not cool.
Congrats to those of you who ran or walked this year, and thanks to those of you who came out to support us with cheers and free beer!
OMG people were smoking OUTSIDE??? It’s still not a crime, yet. In this city it is one of the few places that it is still legal so deal with it. Stop being so overly sensitive and move upwind. Being outside and getting a whiff of smoke isn’t gonna kill you.
I’d bet that more of the runners in this city will have more health problems than you will from outside second hand smoke. I see runners go up and down Peachtree with all the cars driving by so that they can get a good lung full of car emissions.
oh, come one, tony. i am all for ‘smoker’s rights’ having been a two-pack-a-dayer myself once. and i never complain about people lighting up outside.
but i think someone slogging through 6.2 miles of the hilliest stretch of road in atlanta on one of the hottest days of the year and in an organized event with 10’s of thousands of other runners is well within the bounds of fairness to request that smokers not blow smoke in their face as they are running by.
a sense of common courtesy would have compelled me in my day to light up away from where runners would be coming by. once when i was cheering on my friends in the marine corps marathon back in my camel light-huffing days i did exactly that.
I was one of those 55,000 runners and the smoke GROSSED me out! The LAST thing I wanted to be inhaling/smelling as I busted my a$$ during the race!