The Peachtree Podcast: The Official Podcast of the AJC Peachtree Road Race

Runners Who Read EP 5: Abdi’s World by Abdi Abdirahman

In the fifth episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Olivia Baker sits down with Abdi Abdirahman, author of the July 2022 book: Abdi's World. Abdi Abdirahman is a 5-time Olympian in the 10,000m and marathon. Born in Somalia, he fled the country along with his parents and 4 siblings in the midst of a civil war at just 13 years old. After spending several years in a refugee camp in Mombasa, Kenya, he immigrated to the United States through a program for Somali refugees. It wasn’t until his freshman year at Pima Community College that he would set foot on his first track but it was immediately clear that he was very talented. As a junior, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he would begin to train under Coach Dave Murray (who is still his coach to this day) and kick off a running career that has seen Abdi consistently compete at the elite level and represent the United States on the world stage for the last quarter of a century through present day.
 
In this episode, we discuss how he got his infamous "Black Cactus" nickname, the ways he continues to find fun in the sport after all this time, and the secret to his longevity in this sport at the elite level among other things.
 
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Abdi:
Twitter: @Abdi_runs
Instagram: @abdiruns
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

Runners Who Read EP 4: Bravey by Alexi Pappas

In the fourth episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Ronnel Blackmon and Olivia Baker sit down with Alexi Pappas, author of the June 2022 book: Bravey. Alexi Pappas is an Olympic runner and award-winning actor and writer. In 2016, she raced at the Olympics in Rio at 10,000m, setting the still-standing Greek national record of 31:36. Since then, she has put her degree in English from Dartmouth and Masters from University of Oregon to good use co-creating two feature films: TRACKTOWN in 2016 which she also co-directed, and OLYMPIC DREAMS in 2019 in which she also starred. In 2021, Pappas published her first book Bravey, a memoir-in-essays that was the number 1 new release in both the sports and film categories and, despite having only been around for less than 2 years is quickly becoming a classic in track and field world.
 
In this episode, we discuss Alexi's advice on finding and being a good mentor, taking care of your mental health, and pursuing a dream wholly and completely among other things.
 
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Alexi:
Twitter: @AlexiPappas
Instagram: @alexipappas
Website: Home | Bravey (alexipappas.com)
 
Follow Ronnel
Twitter: @ronnelblackmon
Instagram: @ronnelblackmon
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Expo Special

Headed to the Georgia World Congress Center to pick up your race number this weekend? Listen as you go for tips on everything from parking to vendors to race day instructions. We'll see you at the starting line on July 4th! 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 6

Many of us are running in record-breaking heat this week, so it might make you feel better to know that even the world’s fastest runners don’t love the heat & humidity. This week, we hear from Abdi Abdirahman, who’s about to run his 9th Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. He tells us how he approaches hydration – and how he’s preparing to tackle the course he knows so well. Plus, Atlanta Track Club’s Kristin Lide-Hall tells us how you can still get two t-shirts by volunteering on race weekend. Check out more opportunities at https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/volunteers.

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 5

Hope you've survived the heat & humidity in another week of training for the Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race! We have some fun guests to go along with your latest training runs. We'll reveal the 4 finalists in this year's "Oh Say Can You Sing" contest with 11Alive. Plus, the American women's marathon record holder, Keira D'Amato, shares her favorite Peachtree memory and tells us why she's running it again. 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 4

If you look forward to seeing what the Peachtree t-shirt looks like at the finish line each year, you’re in luck. That tradition returns this year! This week, we talk with 2 of the t-shirt design finalists, Shay Harbaugh and Russ Vann, who are both making history with their entries this year. Find out what goes into that shirt we all wear on the 4th. Plus, we talk to Peachtree legend Daniel Romanchuk, who’s won the Men’s Wheelchair Division four times!
 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 3

The 2022 Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race has seen quite a few changes over its 50+ years, and Atlanta Track Club’s Elizabeth Unislawski has been there for much of it. This week, the club’s longest-serving employee shares her experience with the race, some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of elite runners, and what traditions haven’t changed. Plus, we’ll hear from Paralympian and past Peachtree champ Susannah Scaroni, who’s overcome a major accident in order to get back to this year’s 10k in the wheelchair division. You won’t want to miss her advice on powering through setbacks!

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 2

BOOM! This week, we have some inspirational guests to help get you ready for this year's Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Peachtree's In-Training Coach Bob Wells tells us where we should be in our training as we countdown to race day. And if you've never heard the story of Kyle and Brent Pease, you'll want to hear why Peachtree is near and dear to the push-assist team that's changed the game for athletes with disabilities. Find more at www.kylepeasefoundation.org. 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 1

Here we go! The Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race is back on July 4th only this year. As we kick off the new season of the Peachtree Podcast, we have some exciting news on how you can still get involved even if you haven't registered and what to expect as we get back to a more traditional Peachtree experience. Atlanta Track Club CEO Rich Kenah details plans for this year's race and gives us a behind-the-scenes perspective on Atlanta's July 4th tradition. 

Runners Who Read EP 3: 26 Marathons by Meb Keflezighi

In the third episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Ronnel Blackmon and Olivia Baker sit down with Meb Keflezighi, author of the April 2022 book: 26 Marathons: What I learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career. Simply put, Meb is one of the greatest marathoners of all time. He is a 4-time Olympian competing at the Olympics in both the 10k and marathon throughout his career. He is also the first person to win both the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon in addition to having an Olympic marathon medal. A beacon of consistency, he ended his career with nine sub-2:10 marathons, the most of any American. Since retiring from professional marathoning in 2017, Meb has created the MEB Foundation through which he engages communities in promoting youth health, education, and fitness among other things.
 
In this episode, we spend time discussing the mental and physical grind of the marathon and how the same mindsets that pull one through a marathon can be applied to life. Meb recounts his magical Boston win and talks about how everything clicked for him that day. He also dives into his "run to win" mindset that applies even when coming in first place in a race is not an option, and how we can use that mindset to produce our best performance on any given day. We end with some words of wisdom that everyone can take home.
 
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Meb:
Twitter: @runmeb
Instagram: @runmeb
Website: Meb (marathonmeb.com)
MEB Foundation: HOME | MEB Foundation
 
Follow Ronnel
Twitter: @ronnelblackmon
Instagram: @ronnelblackmon
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64