The 20th Anniversary Running of Athens to Atlanta

The 2001 Edition

While air travel threatened the nerves and patience of many of this year's participants, the weather did everything in its power to make this one of the best years yet. Skaters from around the US and the world came to test themselves against the Georgia asphalt. Sometimes the asphalt won, but in more than one instance skaters picked themselves up, or were helped up by teammates, to sail into Atlanta and the cheering throng (creative license applied for) at the finish line in Piedmont Park.

Two days of fun and festivities... and Henry precede the race every year, here is one skater's perspective.

Tom decked out for Friday's skate.
Tom decked out for Friday's skate. 		Randy of Detroit, and myself; we met at Eddy's workshop this year in Chicago.
Randy of Detroit, and myself; we met at Eddy's workshop this year in Chicago. 		Henry laying out some ground rules. We love you man.
Henry laying out some ground rules. We love you man. 		Don't worry it happens in Chicago too. Someone is always skating out ahead of skate patrol.
Don't worry it happens in Chicago too. Someone is always skating out ahead of skate patrol.
One of those crazy cities, dressed all crazy.
One more city filled with crazy street skaters. 		Pink-haired love goddess
Pink-haired love goddess 		On the bus
Gary, JJ and Robert on the bus to Athens. 		Craig and Monica showing off the new line of Nike skates
Craig and Monica showing off the new line of Nike skates
Proof that Athens is a true southern town. Ham and pecans; throw in some honey and we're cookin'.
Proof that Athens is a true southern town. Ham and pecans; throw in some honey and we're cookin'. 		Henry's um, talk.
Henry's um, talk. 		Eddy and his teammate Sasha (in the yellow shirt)
Eddy and his teammate Sasha (in the yellow shirt) 		Senior Technical Analyst, and one woman cheering section, Patricia and the bobarazzi
Senior Technical Analyst, and one woman cheering section, Patricia and the bobarazzi
Chicago's only two entrants in this year's event, Austin and yours truly
Chicago's only two entrants in this year's event, Austin and yours truly 		Know him by the color of his crepe paper; Eddy once again showing the form that will bring home the bacon in Atlanta.
Know him by the color of his crepe paper; Eddy once again showing the form that will bring home the bacon in Atlanta. 		A Bostonite and Sam Weaver
A Bostonite and Sam Weaver 		Today's officiating by...
Today's officiating by...
Bobarazzi and Brendan from Athens showing no nerves whatsoever
Bobarazzi and Brendan from Athens showing no nerves whatsoever 		The ever-present pre-race milling about
The ever-present pre-race milling about 		Robert shows he can mill with the best of them.
Robert shows he can mill with the best of them. 		And we're off, young and old alike.
And we're off, young and old alike.
Yes the pre-race jitters are showing a bit here in the early shots.
Yes the pre-race jitters are showing a bit here in the early shots. 		Off early without a draft-line I hook up for a short time with Allison from VA.
Off early without a draft-line I hook up for a short time with Allison from VA. 		What did I say about the weather? Beautiful, simply beautiful.
What did I say about the weather? Beautiful, simply beautiful. 		Tom on the road. Looking good man.
Tom on the road. Looking good man.
The early look of confidence.
The early look of confidence. 		A pace line heads into the mist.
A pace line heads into the mist. 		Kyle, at 9 years old, this year's youngest skater.
Kyle, at 9 years old, this year's youngest skater. 		Allan from Jacksonville.
Allan from Jacksonville.
Allan and I skated almost 70 miles together. Most of our draft line finished at the half, leaving the two of us to our own devises. So we chased down lone skaters and built the line up to strength again. Great work Allan you really kept us going.
Bananas and water up!
Bananas and water up!! Coming up on rest stop one. 		Yeah, yeah, yeah, that smile will fade soon enough.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that smile will fade soon enough. 		Dacula, and the
Dacula, and the "half way" finish line. Look mid distance on the left and you'll see our technical analyst there to cheer us on. 		Mark with the ever-present clap skates joins the line.
Mark with the ever-present clap skates joins the line.
...and mugs for the camera.
...and mugs for the camera. I only heard the laughing, I didn't know what mischief they were up to until after the race was over. 		Near rest stop four and the sides start to hurt and the faces get long.
Near rest stop four and the sides start to hurt and the faces get long. 		'Nuf said.
'Nuf said. 		Starting into a downhill and everybody wants to see what's coming.
Starting into a downhill and everybody wants to see what's coming.
At rest stop five my two second stop was all it took to lose the pace line. Allen you came in 5 minutes ahead of me, great work guy. It took about five minutes for another team to reel me in. Seems we passed them on Silverhill, where they stopped to tend their wounded.
Clash with Silverhill.
Part of Team ICB's clash with Silverhill. 		The group of ICB skaters and that wonderful Atlanta city limits sign.
The group of ICB skaters I fell in with for the last 15 miles. Here they are reaching that wonderful Atlanta city limits sign. 		Crossing the finish line holding hands in a tie the ICB'ers Chris, James, Rich, and Andrea let me join in in the glory. That glory brought us in at 5:50, my best time by a long shot.
Crossing the finish line holding hands in a tie the ICB'ers Chris, James, Rich, and Andrea let me join in in the glory. That glory brought us in at 5:50, my best time by a long shot. 		Chris meeting up with his cheering section, or is that the other way around? Susan took third overall for woman.
Chris meeting up with his cheering section, or is that the other way around? Susan took third overall for woman.
The trooper just beginning to realize she might need a medic.
The trooper just beginning to realize she might need a medic. 		Bobarazzi and Eddy
Bobarazzi and Eddy 		Doesn't that just sum it up?
Doesn't that just sum it up? 		Post race milling.
Post race milling.
With Ann from Athens (a winner in her category)
With Ann from Athens (a winner in her category) 		Henry sets the tone.
Henry sets the tone. 		Naomi and Eddy, winners each.
Naomi and Eddy, winners each. 		Kyle coming to collect his booty
Kyle coming to collect his booty
Dennis does the same, great race Mr D.
Dennis does the same, great race Mr D. 		Without time to change, Austin unceremoniously makes it to the awards ceremony.
Without time to change, Austin unceremoniously makes it to the awards ceremony. 		Out for BBQ and blues at Fat Matt's. We could have been in Chicago the way this place hopped.
Out for BBQ and the Blues at Fat Matt's. We could have been in Chicago the way this place hopped. 		Boston's bobarazzi
Boston's bobarazzi
No time for napkins
No time for napkins 		And the band played on
And the band played on 		Naomi and Susan share a few well-earned beers.
Naomi and Susan share a few well-earned beers. 		See ya next year!