Enthusiastic finisher

Anyone near the finish line at the AJC Peachtree Road Race around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday absolutely saw Eli Hamner.

Hamner celebrated around the finish line with enough energy to run another 10K. He high-fived hundreds of finishers and shouted joyous celebrations like, “this is what we do,” as he congratulated his fellow runners.

“This is only my third (consecutive) run, and I love it,” Hamner said of the Peachtree Road Race. “And I’ll keep doing it until my feet don’t move anymore.”

Hamner’s passion and enjoyment of running became evident to anyone who saw him as he made his way from the finish line into Piedmont Park. It also was evident to anyone that may have been watching his Facebook Live broadcast. While celebrating and doing interviews, he held his phone out to talk with his friends and showcase the aftermath of his run.

Since 2013, Hamner has been running with Back on My Feet, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless people gain independence, living skills and job opportunities. The program is offered to those who have at least 90 percent attendance in the group’s morning runs.

“I run with Back on My Feet, we run 5:45 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning,” said Hamner, who now works at the Renaissance Midtown in Atlanta. “That’s what we do. We run about three miles, we even have walkers. I’m at least three times a week with that nonprofit organization. On my own, technically about six days a week.”

As Hamner walked off to get his T-shirt, he could be heard shouting to his Facebook Live viewers.

“Did y’all hear that? I’m gonna be in the news!” — TYLER DUKE