Next year Atlanta will host the 2020 Olympic marathon trials. This is an exciting event that I plan to volunteer for next year. The Atlanta Track Club hosted the Road to Gold, an 8 mile race to test the last 8 miles of the Olympic marathon course. When the race was announced I could not pass up the opportunity to run the same course as the team that will represent the USA at the 2020 Olympics. How did feel to be an Olympic hopeful for 8 miles?

Packet Pickup
Packet pickup was held at the Atlanta Track Club office the day prior to the race. There was also race day pick up. We received a bag and scarf at packet pick up. There also plenty of props for photo opps at both locations. 

Race Day
The race started near the World Congress Center, which made transportation to the race easy. The race started at 7 am and we lined up in corrals according to our pace. The Olympic hopefuls took off first and then we were all off.

The course first took us down Peachtree Street in Midtown then we head to the King Center. Our last major landmark was Turner Field. At Turner Field we ran through the Olympic rings overpass from 1996. The course was relatively flat compared to other courses in the city. I started off strong, but around mile 3, this bug I have been dealing with reared its ugly head. By mile 8, I just wanted to sit down and go to sleep. 

Overall, it was a great race and I finished in 1:30:35.  I love the medal and my post race Chick Fil A breakfast at the College Football Hall of Fame.