Three of the big dogs convened on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard for the 13.1 mile run to Turner Field.  This was to be the last challenge in 2001.  Big dog Adams, marching to the beat of his own drummer, decided once again to be contrary and run the full marathon instead of challenging the other big dogs.  Undefeated big dog Finucan had grown bored of beating the other big dogs and decided to start training for the iron human triathlon.  As a result, his mileage had dropped to about 10 miles a week as he concentrated on cycling and swimming.  Big dogs Anderson and Vlastnik had been training almost every morning together, putting in 50 miles a week of speedwork, hill training, and long runs.  Nobody knew what Adams had been up to, since nobody had seen him since the last challenge. 

            Anderson and Vlastnik had agreed to run together for the first 7 miles to Peachtree Battle.  This strategy played right into Anderson’s hand, as the last six miles of the race were mostly uphill.  They hit the 7 mile mark at 6:40 pace, at which time Anderson used his superior uphill strength to start pulling away from Trish.  Finucan had been hovering about 2 minutes behind Anderson and Vlastnik until mile 8, when his lack of mileage caught up to him as he struggled home in 1:37:13.  Anderson held off Vlastnik to finish in 1:29:20 to Trish’s 1:30:11.  

Oh yes, we almost forgot about big dog Adams.  While Anderson and Vlastnik were having their stirring duel, Adams managed to trip himself up in some loose wire loop on the marathon course at mile 5, with both legs locked in a wire grip he fell face first on the pavement.  Bloodied but not quitting, Adams limped home in 3:58.  For the second challenge in a row, Adams avoided the other big dogs only to meet up with a worse fate. Oh yes, we almost forgot about big dog Adams.  While Anderson and Vlastnik were having their stirring duel, Adams managed to trip himself up in some loose wire on the marathon course at mile 5, falling face first on the pavement.  Bloodied but not quitting, Adams limped home in 3:58.  For the second challenge in a row, Adams avoided the other big dogs only to meet up with a worse fate.