By Tim Sullivan
Nathan Bolster will rise in the wee, dark hours of the morning on Nov. 5 to help set up one of Atlanta’s favorite festivals and then he’ll lace his running shoes up for the 8 a.m. start. He’ll cross the finish line in the 6th annual Romp and Stomp 5k in roughly 18:30, and then he’ll settle in for a full day of festival volunteerism.
Just how heavy sits the crown of being Cabbagetown’s Fastest Man, 2009-2010?
While it is a very geographically constrained title it is still a great responsibility. Hard to walk the streets of Cabbagetown without whispers and comment in my wake.
You will defend your title at the Romp and Stomp 5k on Nov. 5. What’s the latest on (2008 winner) Jim Prible’s secretive, midnight workout routine?
What??!! I thought there was a curfew in Cabbagetown due to the graffiti ordinance. No matter – I get my workouts in chasing my daughter’s (Livia, 5) “two wheeler.” That should be sufficient.
What year did you move to Cabbagetown and in what ways would you say it has changed for the better?
I moved here in 2000. There are more services and activities. We can get a pizza delivered, buy wine legally, grow organic vegetables, meet neighbors at the community center and send our kids to a preschool across the park. None of that existed when I first moved here.
And for the worse?
We’ve lost a lot of great people that knew the roots of the neighborhood. Their spirits live on, but I do miss seeing those that gave Cabbagetown its edge and knew its history. There are still characters around but they are not as abundant as before.
What is it about the Cabbagetown aesthetic that just begs for its picture to be taken?
Cabbagetown beckons artists. It is tight, urban, relatively inexpensive and full of weirdos. Perfect! Cabbagetown is a mix of the other side of the tracks and the fresh and hip. It makes me smile to see Facebook pics from the Krog tunnel.
You were part of the small group of neighbors that started the uber-popular Chomp and Stomp Festival some nine years ago (chompandstomp.com ). Did you ever imagine it would become so big? I’ve been telling friends to show up two days early to make sure they get a good spot in the park.
The first year we were going to be happy with 100 neighbors showing up and we got 1,000 (from all over Atlanta). The festival was over in four hours because we ran out of everything. Now we need satellites to get an accurate count. We knew we had something really special immediately and I have thought from year two that our battle would be to keep it small and familiar.
I’m wondering how, after all those years of chili and beer, you’ve actually gotten faster?
Running has been my mainstay since age 5. Triathlons are the hot thing now and I love all three challenges and trying to string them together but they are seasonal and I do not like cold water. So for fall and winter, Cyclocross is taking my energy. Nothing like a bunch of bike dorks going as hard as they can for 45 minutes in dirt, sand, and obstacles for a spare tube or the like as a prize (georgia-cross.com)
And while I know nothing compares to the glory achieved on the streets of Cabbagetown, any PR’s or other accolades you can share with us from all of your efforts?
The Romp and Stomp was a big one – that was my fastest 5k time since high school. I’ve got some half-ironman efforts that I am proud of but truthfully I want a strong full ironman race to my credit and then you will hear some serious shouting from the rooftops.
If the Chomp and Stomp is a triathlon, what are the three main achievements all attendees need to go home having completed?
Romp and Stomp 5k (run for glory), Taste Chili (swim the sea of people), Enjoy Beer/Music (bike home)
