Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 31

from shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Ozzie Albies.
"They like to give me a hard time," he says. "You
know: 'You can't let that fan beat you.'"
While Beat The Freeze started out as a tie-in to
Atlanta-based gas station RaceTrac's frozen drinks
and sweet treats, it's become a ballpark favorite,
says Megan Shannon, RaceTrac communications
manager.
"Braves fans and our guests alike love [Beat The
Freeze], and we are looking forward to this season,"
she says. "The Freeze ices out the competition,
despite his competitors' significant head start."
Braves staff members determine that head start
for the race around the outfield warning track. Contestants often get shouted advice from players in the
home and visitor bullpens.
Talton isn't sure how many fans have outrun
him, "but it's not many."

Running for records

COURTESY NIGEL TALTON

That amazing speed comes from a lifetime of
playing sports. Talton, who lettered in football and
track at Peach County High School in Fort Valley,
walked onto the track team as a freshman at Iowa
Wesleyan College (now University) in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. There, he won the Midwest Conference in

COURTESY NIGEL TALTON

Nigel Talton is training with a
group of athletes, including an
Olympic gold medalist, in hopes
of earning a spot on this year's
U.S. Olympic team.

the 100-meter dash and still holds the school record
in that event.
He transferred to Shorter College (now University) in Rome, where he set the NAIA records that got
the Braves' attention. He finished his college track
career as a five-time NAIA All-American and graduated from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw in
2013 with a degree in sports management.
Talton's best Freeze race may have come in
2017, when a contestant threw up his hands in
victory just steps from the finish line-only to be
so startled as Talton sped by seconds later that he
stumbled and fell. As video of that race went viral, so
did Talton's fame. He regularly poses for pictures at
games and sometimes is recognized off the field. 
"It's fun, and I love the fans," he says. "It's all
about them."
One such fan in Iowa reached out to "The
Freeze" for advice in her own struggle with 5K races.
"She saw me running and chasing my dreams,
so she said she would continue to do hers," he says.

International hopes
Talton's major dream is to make this year's
Olympic track team. He trains five days a week at
venues around Atlanta with a group of athletes,
including Dwight Phillips, who won a gold medal
in the long jump at the 2004 Olympic Games. He is
working on both indoor and outdoor events with an
eye on the Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., in June
and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
He balances this rigorous schedule with his
Braves duties and an overnight shift at an Amazon
warehouse, often hitting the track straight from
work.
All of this doesn't come cheap. To help defray
training costs, Talton has a GoFundMe account and
is selling T-shirts printed with the personal motto he
created with his mother: "I can, I am, I will finish the
mission."
"I'm not stressing about it," he says. "The hard
part isn't working overnight and going to training; I
have to do that to chase my dream. The bigger challenge is finding a sponsor. But I'm not going to let
that stop me."
In the meantime, Talton is gearing up for
another season with the Braves and hoping that this
year he gets to fulfill yet another dream.
"I want to do The Freeze in the World Series,"
he says.
Rosalyn Dunn is a freelance writer who lives in
Atlanta.

To contribute to Nigel Talton's GoFundMe fundraiser, visit
bit.ly/gofundtalton. His T-shirts are available at bit.ly/taltontshirt.
www.georgiamagazine.org

30-31_The_Freeze_0420.indd 31

31

3/11/20 1:06 PM


http://www.bit.ly/gofundtalton http://www.bit.ly/taltontshirt http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2020

Contents
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - Intro
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - Cover1
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - Cover2
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - Contents
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 4
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 5
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 6
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 7
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 8
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 9
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 10
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 11
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 12
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 13
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 14
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 15
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 16
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 17
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 18
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 19
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 20
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 21
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 22
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 23
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 24
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 25
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 26
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 27
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 28
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 29
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 30
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 31
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 32
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 33
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 34
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 35
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 36
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 37
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 38
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 39
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 40
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 41
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 42
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 43
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 44
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 45
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 46
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - Cover3
Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/libertynotes_billofrights
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_realitycheck
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200910
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com