Robert Tiller

Hometown: Palm Harbor, FL

Races Completed: 19 half marathons

Best Dressed: When the race was on St. Patrick's day, I ran in green leprechaun gear with a tall hat, carrying a green beer mug--which was gladly filled by some cheering course spectators with a keg near the 10th mile!

Favorite Memory: My favorite memory was when my older friend Clark had recently retired and decided to run his first marathon in Atlanta. His wife Cindy had intended to run the half, but was injured so she bundled up in a cold Centennial Olympic Park and waited for him in a wheelchair. After finishing my half marathon, I quickly said hello to Cindy, then rode MARTA out towards the Piedmont park water station to wait and run Clark home in the closing miles. While waiting, I was too excited by the other marathoners pushing themselves, so I began running alongside some of them for a few turns over and over while giving them fluids and encouragement. When Clark arrived, he was tired but looking good as we ran the final 5k together. Once he moved away towards the finish line, I realized my Garmin had recorded my total miles on the day--24.3! Still, the very best part of that day was seeing Cindy in the post race area, sitting in her wheelchair, smiling with raised arms as she greeted her heroic husband's marathon finish--and Clark bending down for a kiss and to proudly put his finisher's medal around his bride's neck. That was amazing! (FYI--Clark was inspired by his Atlanta marathon experience enough to train more and he later became a full Ironman finisher!)

Most Difficult Obstacle: During the 2020 Atlanta half marathon, I felt a bit winded and the hills seamed more challenging than usual for a flatlander like me from Tampa Bay. I felt glad just to finish and keep my Streaker streak going. A few months later the COVID-19 pandemic was surging and I discovered why I had been tired during my annual Atlanta half...because three of my heart's arteries were blocked 84, 92 & 99%--the last one being the widowmaker! I had a successful emergency open heart triple bypass surgery, but my doctors required me to teach my university students remotely and stay away from crowds... so, I was wondering how to keep my Atlanta Streaker status going at the 2021 event. When race organizers were encouraging runners not to run in person to minimize the crowd, I was assured that a virtual run that year would be permitted to keep the streak intact. With my wife driving ahead few miles as my fluid stations, I ran what was both my hottest and slowest Atlanta half ever. By 2022 my strength returned, I was vaccinated and no longer had to hide from crowds--so it was a thrill to return to Atlanta's streets once again to keep the streak alive.