I want to see you at the Berry races next year

ran an actual competitive race for the first time in a long time this past weekend, at Berry College.

I had forgotten how many people are drawn to the event.

It’s one of those things that I think our little community can be really proud of — we host an event every year that brings people from all over the state and region to Rome. It promotes health and fitness and shows off one of the really beautiful parts of our community.

Y’all remember a couple years ago when the race’s website CLEARLY said the race would go on rain or shine, but then come race time the weather got bad and it started raining and lightning and they canceled the event and a whole lot of people were mad about it? Well let’s pretend I didn’t just bring that up and put that debacle behind us.

I’m sure there were very good reasons why the race organizers thought it was unsafe for participants.

Fast forward to this year. My friends Dave Roberson, Ghee Wilson Brandon Elrod

William Schwartz, Dave Roberson, Ghee Wilson, Peyton Schwartz, Brandon Elrod and Severo Avila at Saturday’s Berry races.

I saw friends I hadn’t seen in years. And I saw lots of familiar faces in the crowd — friends and friends of friends. So many people of all different ability levels were participating.

I saw Sally Hagge-Bailey, Katherine Jenkins, Danny Price, Alice Stephens, Justin Karch, Tricia and Ryan Smith, Laura and Shane Walley, Cameron Steen, Kate Walton and Brad and Kimberly Bushnell just to name a few. Bryan Pierce did a great job being the race announcer, getting the races started and calling out participants’ names as they finished.

It was a little cold at the start of the race but the sun came out and warmed things up a bit.

I loved seeing all the people of all different ages and fitness levels participating. It never fails that as fast as I think I’m going there are always three groups of people who pass me who I would never have thought could pass me — very old men (some of whom are carrying oxygen tanks), heavily pregnant women pushing strollers, and middle school children. I swear I think I’m making good time and one of these people will just fly past me like I’m standing still. It’s very disheartening.

But it’s always great to see so many people from all walks of life out there for the same reason.

I finished in about 27 minutes, then here comes Ghee close behind and Dave just behind him. Brandon CLAIMS that the reason he was farther back is because he stopped to help a sick child.

Now, at first I was skeptical about this excuse so I did a little investigating and lo and behold Contributed photo

Brandon did in fact help a kid out. William Schwartz and his son Peyton had met us near the starting line and somewhere on the course the little boy became ill. Brandon, being a dad himself, immediately stopped to make sure the kid was ok until his dad caught up with them. Only then did Brandon continue running. So, I’m grudgingly allowing that as a viable excuse for him coming in a little behind the rest of us.

The boy and his dad did finish the race together which was pretty cool. We met them at the finish line and the kid was smiling so I think he was feeling much better by that point.

If you haven’t run the Berry races, I encourage you to sign up for next year’s event. There’s a half marathon, a 10K and 5K. Like I said, people of all ages and fitness levels participate. Some are super fast and some walk the entire thing. Some are there to run a good time and some are there just to get out and have a good time.

I loved seeing all the families out there with kids running right alongside their parents.

My hat’s off to all the event volunteers who stood out in the cold to make sure all the participants were well taken care of.

My group of friends has already decided to run the 10k next year so maybe I’ll see y’all out on the course. However, if you’re older than 80, younger than 8 or if you’re 8 months pregnant and you see me running, please don’t pass me. It’s very rude.