25-year-old Drew Gardner of Apex, N.C., roused the crowd at least year’s Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo with an energetic finish. A health unit coordinator at UNC Hospitals, Gardner has been running nearly all his life, playing soccer when he was younger and ultimately earning a scholarship to Elon University. When his competitive soccer days came to an end, he went on a couple of runs at the American Tobacco Trail. “I loved soaking up the idyllic country scenery,” says Gardner. “The beautiful sights of open green pastures to closed dense woods, the feeling of a cool spring breeze as I ran, and the ability to escape real world stressors kept me coming back for more.” Long runs with friends are a great way to catch up. Although he’s run two marathons (Disney in January and Rock ’n’ Roll Raleigh in April), Gardner’s favorite distance is a half-marathon. “There is a great feeling of accomplishment upon completing a marathon, but with that emotion comes quite a lot of training and pain. A 10-miler or half-marathon is my race of choice for competing or running for time.”
What Gardner Says About the Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo
“It is probably the best feeling ever to reward yourself with a craft beer from a local brewery after running 13 miles. Along with the beer and idea of food, the people who made this event happen were tremendous. Everyone involved with this race was incredibly friendly and I greatly appreciate the hard work put forth by event planners, city coordinators, volunteers of all aspects, paramedics and police force to kick-start this event.”
