The Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon, USA NOVEMBER 23 Giving thanks 2006 subsequently argued it might heal the nation’s raw wounds. Its theme The first half of was to recall the friendship shown by the Wampanoag Indians to the the course passes English pilgrims in 1621, when the Indians shared their food with the by Auburn Avenue, beleaguered little outpost at the birthplace of Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, whose supplies were running low. Martin Luther King Jr. Though the original menu was different - venison, duck, shellfish - the intent was the same: gathering which is also organized by the together in friendship over a Atlanta Track Club, and takes place celebratory meal. on Independence Day, July 4th. The Peachtree course finishes at The organizers were proven right in Piedmont Park, around the 35km moving the date. Thanksgiving point in the Marathon. The final morning is the perfect time for the 7km of the Marathon takes runners Atlanta Marathon, and its back through thriving Midtown, accompanying Half Marathon resplendent with chic restaurants (which began in 1984). The field and boutiques and towering post- has grown steadily, especially in the Modern office buildings, past the Half Marathon, which this Margaret Mitchell House (writer of November attracted over 7600 “Gone With The Wind”), the runners. The Atlanta Marathon gloriously restored Fox Theater, itself usually has around 800, and the major hotel district of including a number of foreign Downtown Atlanta. In the final nationals, attracted to this very kilometer, runners pass by the 1996 American race on this very Olympic torch, and go under the American holiday. five golden Olympic rings. Foreign runners are also drawn to On a bright, cool perfect day for the Atlanta Marathon and Half running, the 2006 Atlanta Marathon because the present course Marathon and Half Marathon once was developed by the Atlanta Track again enjoyed the international Club for the 1996 Olympic flavor that has embellished the event marathons. This loop course was since it became closely associated first used in 1992, and it showcases with the Olympics. The winner of many of Atlanta’s landmarks. It the 45th running of the Marathon starts and finishes at Turner Field, was Maurits Van Der Veen of the the baseball stadium which evolved Netherlands, a professor at the out of the 1996 Olympic Stadium. University of Georgia in nearby The first half of the course passes by Athens, GA., while the winner of Auburn Avenue, the birthplace of the Masters category was Gabriel Martin Luther King Jr., and rolls Helmlinger, a Frenchman who lives upwards on Piedmont Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts. through trendy Midtown to British-born Michael Green of Peachtree Road in the middle of Atlanta won the Half Marathon, Buckhead, Atlanta’s chief financial while Canadian Brandi Pozniak and shopping district (at about 16 won the women’s race. In the past km). The course turns right on five years, event winners have Peachtree and goes out past included a Swiss, a Mexican, and Picture: Norm Drews Picture: Oglethorpe University and lavishly two more runners born in the UK. By Julia Emmons the fourth Thursday of November, its central theme is the coming together of family and friends to The first Thanksgiving holiday The Atlanta Marathon, begun in share an elaborate meal which 1963, is the oldest marathon in the traditionally features a stuffed occurred in 1863, at the height American South. During its first turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry twenty years, it was held in sauce, several vegetable dishes made of the American Civil War December on several different from recipes handed down through courses, the most infamous being a generations, and pumpkin pie for double loop course up one of the dessert. Thanksgiving is seen as the elegant residential neighborhoods. Though the internationally tougher hills in this very hilly city. beginning of the holiday season that The turn around point is in renowned Peachtree Road Race, the Little wonder the field remained culminates in yet another elaborate Chamblee, a pleasantly laid-back world’s largest 10km, is most small. In 1980, the Atlanta Track meal: Christmas Dinner neighborhood on the fringe of responsible for making Atlanta a Club decided to move the Buckhead, best known for its modest famous running town it is the Marathon to Thanksgiving The first Thanksgiving holiday antique stores. Remaining on Atlanta Marathon and Half morning, when traffic in this car- occurred in 1863, at the height of Peachtree, Atlanta’s wide and elegant Marathon which most closely dominated city is light, and runners the American Civil War. Abraham signature thoroughfare, the course captures its heart. Runners come could enjoy a long, hard run before Lincoln’s proclamation of the heads back through the center of from most of the 50 U.S. states as an afternoon of over-indulgent national holiday was the result of Atlanta towards Turner Field. well as a dozen foreign countries. calorie consumption... 17 years of lobbying by Sara Offering no prize money, the event Josepha Hale, a magazine editor The second half of the course picks attracts citizen athletes eager to Thanksgiving is the most joyous of who believed such a holiday might up the route of the Peachtree Road share the holiday, and to give American holidays. Celebrated on avert civil war, and then Race, the 55,000-runner 10km thanks for the ability to run 38 Distance Running January – March 2007 MEN: 1 Maurits VAN DER VEEN NED 2:33:58 2Scott P LOWE 2:38:10 3 Benjamin T CORONA 2:40:14 4 Mark COUGHLIN 2:44:35 5Ken CSIPO 2:46:07 6 Timothy NIJAKOWSKI 2:53:30 RESULT 7 Modesto ZEFERINO 2:55:38 8 Andy MEYER 2:56:18 9 Chuck JONES 2:57:23 10 Jonathan OBST 2:57:25 WOMEN: 1 Bethany HALL USA 3:20:09 2 Jessica MORRIS USA 3:22:04 3 Abby MATSON USA 3:22:18 4 Lauren GILES USA 3:26:46 5Connie NELSON 3:27:08 6 Nancy ROLLINS USA 3:28:41 7 Brittney JETT USA 3:30:00 8Wendy DONNAN 3:31:21 Picture: Norm Drews Picture: 9 Sally J BROOKING 3:31:48 together in celebration of fitness. In the 1200 seasoned volunteers who 10 Susan MOSS 3:35:37 a time of both national and share their holiday morning as international discord, it is an course monitors, water station HALF MARATHON additional pleasure to run together, crews, and finish area personnel. MEN: be it for 21km or for 42, all 1Michael GREEN USA 1:06:29 pointing in the same direction with Just in case one might forget what 2 Belay TEKA-KOSSA 1:06:49 the same common goal: to do one’s holiday it is, the pack of runners 3 Jared NYAMBOKI 1:08:22 best and finish well. This joyous always includes a runner or two atmosphere is also evident among dressed as pilgrims. WOMEN 1Brandi POZNIAK CAN 1:19:54 RACE CONTACT DETAILS 2 Donna GARCIA 1:21:56 The 2007 Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on Thursday, November 22. 3Kate E BRUN 1:25:25 Applications will be available on-line starting in June at www.atlantatrackclub.org. Because of the holiday, and the need to free the volunteers to enjoy their festive meals, there is a five hour time limit for the Marathon. Full race contact listings start on page 74 Distance Running January – March 2007 39.