The people of Floyd County held a race on Saturday, August 9th named the Love Your Nabors 5k at the Rome Emperors Stadium to help raise funds for Mrs. Hannah Nabors to purchase a prosthetic running leg. It was a cool and breezy morning. There were many people lined up and ready to run. Mrs. Nabors said, “I got there a little late and everyone was already lined up to run; I went as well. By the time I came back later, a good bit of the people had left, but seeing all the pictures of everybody that came was overwhelming in a good way.” Throughout the race many people ran and walked the course. Some were there to win it all, and others were there just to be supporters. When Mrs. Nabors made her way to the finish line, all the other runners and volunteers were lined up and cheering her on. It was a big moment for her. Mrs. Nabors said, “I was proud of myself for being able to finish; I had worked up to that point for a while, and crossing the finish line was like reclaiming a part of my life I thought was lost.”
There were over seven hundred people racing on that day, but only one came out on top. That person was none other than Armuchee High School’s (AHS) freshman Joel Fredrick. He ran a blazing time of 18:08 for the 5K. Many runners came for different reasons. Joel said, “It was special being my first race with Armuchee; it was also special to win a race dedicated to my coach.” Additionally, this race gave many runners a good feel for the challenges of the upcoming cross country season. Joel said, “This race gave me a confidence boost for my racing season. It helped me figure out my fitness levels, and I ran a PR, (Personal Record) and I’m very ready and excited to break it.”
Many people showed up to support the Nabors family. Some came for a brisk walk; others came for a speedy time. Jack Pethal came here for a speedy time, placing fourth overall with a time of 18:28. Jack said, “It was a pretty good race; it was mostly flat asphalt with a couple of holes, but it was still a fast course.” This race was a chance for people to show off their skill and support for the Nabors. Jack said, “It was like a pre-season time trial; I wanted to see my time before the season.” The race was good for all not only to support the community, but also getting out and exercising in the beautiful nature of Rome. Many people were happy with their times, feeling good due to the breeze by the river. Jack said, “I felt I did pretty good; It was a good starting point for the season, and a great way to support the Nabors.”
The AHS Cross Country (XC) team did very well, having many runners place in a high position. This was the first race of the season for most of the XC team. Mr. Charles Elliott, the AHS head XC coach, was very proud of his runners. He said, “I feel my runners did very well. They all placed in the top 50 out of 700 people.” This race showed what this team is capable of doing this year. Mr. Elliott said, “This race makes me optimistic that our team will have a great season.” Even though this is Mr Elliott’s first year as the XC coach, many runners agree that he is a great leader. Throughout his life, he has held many positions, requiring high levels of leadership. The most recent showing of his leadership was when he become the head coach of the boys track team, and now, he coaches the entire XC team. He is a strong believer in this team and their chances to perform well this year.
Whether it be organizing the event or volunteering to keep everything running smoothly, this race was put together and supported by many caring members of the community, but two stood out with their contributions to setting up this race. These two people were Mr. Chip and Mrs. Cara Williams. Many people believe that they deserved a huge thanks. Mrs. Nabors said, “Having everybody show up helped show me what good of a community we have. It also helped remind me I wasn’t alone in my recovery.”
The purpose for this race being held was to raise funds for Mrs. Nabors to be able to purchase a running prosthetic leg. The cost of the leg was completely covered due to the funds raised from runner entry fees, sponsors, and donations. She is in the process of getting it fitted and is very excited and grateful to be able to reclaim a big part of her life, thanks to the support from the community.
