Bob's Own A2A Day

At mile 50 the dogs are starting to bark, I've had these skates only six weeks and we're still getting to know each other. Between check points 4 and 5 I lose the 5 wheelers I've been playing tag with. Losing a lot of strength up high after that BIG downhill with the tracks at bottom at mile 65, I skate for some time back and forth with three boys and their adult coach. However our skating patterns are very different and it's too hard to stay together as a pack. (They finish a mere three minutes in front of me yet I never see them once we enter Atlanta proper.) Silver Hill--well for a flat lander from Chicago I'm mighty proud of being clocked at 35 MPH. I go past the cop with the radar gun whooping it up just like a Georgia Bulldog after beating LSU by one point.
One sign that needs no explanation.
	What I looked like at 7:49 except I came across on one foot like I had energy to spare. Really when I saw that park come up and crossed that last street into Piedmont I found the energy to kick a bit. I didn't do many cross overs between Athens and Atlanta but I sure did on that last turn in the park . It was great to see that Skate Patroller stop the last bit of foot traffic as the finish line came in sight.
	Finally I'm done, my only problem now is my whole body is cramping. I can't lower myself off my feet. Being from Chicago, I'm not without a street move or two, I find a shady spot of grass, drop down to one knee pad and skid into the curb. That move gets me a bit more applause. Then when everybody looks away, I crawl into the grass. After this shot was taken I need assistance getting my skates off, I cramp too much to bend to untie them.	The Thirsty Dog sticker on my helmet. Just what I felt like on those last miles in Atlanta.
Another sign that needs no explanation. Until next year.