AJC Peachtree Road Race
Logo unveiled January 2016.
DateJuly 3–4, 2021
LocationAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Event typeRoad
Distance10 kilometers (6.2 mi)
Primary sponsorThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EstablishedJuly 4, 1970 (1970-07-04)
Course recordsMen: 27:01 (2019)
Rhonex Kipruto
Women: 30:21 (2019)
Brigid Kosgei
Official sitewww.atlantatrackclub.org/peachtree
Participants60,000

The Peachtree Road Race (branded AJC Peachtree Road Race for sponsorship reasons) is an American 10-kilometer run held annually in Atlanta. After being held on Independence Day from 1970 to 2019, the race was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic after originally being set for Thanksgiving.[1] It is the world's largest 10k race,[2][3] a title it has held since the late 1970s.[4] The race has become a citywide tradition in which over 70,000 amateur and professional runners try to register for one of the limited 60,000 spots. The event also includes a wheelchair race (known as the Shepherd Center wheelchair division), which precedes the footrace. In recent years, the race also has a special division for soldiers stationed in the Middle East. The race attracts some of the world's elite 10K runners and has served as both the United States' men's and women's 10K championship.

Children can participate in the Peachtree Junior 1 mile run or 50m Dash, held on July 3 in Piedmont Park.

History

2007 Peachtree Road Race

The AJC Peachtree Road Race was started in 1970 by the Atlanta Track Club. The first year, 110 runners ran from the old Sears building at the corner of Peachtree Street and Roswell Road to Central City Park (now Woodruff Park). The race was sponsored by Carling Brewery. The next year, the race increased to 198 runners. Organizers used the sponsorship money to purchase T-shirts but underestimated the number of participants. T-shirts were given out to the first finishers, until they ran out. In 1972, the organizers ordered only 250 T-shirts but 330 runners ran the race. In 1974, the event grew to 765 runners; in 1975 there were over 1,000 runners.[2]

In 1976, Carling Brewery dropped its sponsorship of the race and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution began sponsoring the race, bringing it added coverage and popularity. That year over 2,300 runners competed. In 1977 over 6,500 runners competed, overwhelming the capacity of Central City Park. As a result, in 1978 the course was moved to starting at Lenox Square and finishing at Piedmont Park. In 1979 the race attracted over 20,000 runners. In 1980, the number of participants was limited to 25,000 runners, which continued until 1990. In 1982, the Shepherd Center wheelchair division was formed for the race.[2]

The race became so popular that by 1989, the race reached capacity in only nine days and Atlanta Track Club increased the limit to 40,000 in 1990. In 1992, it expanded to 45,000 runners; in 1995, it expanded to 50,000 runners, followed by a 10% expansion in 1998 to 55,000 runners; it would not be until 2011 that the capacity was expanded to 60,000.[2]

2006 Peachtree Road Race participants wearing US-patriotic costumes

The AJC Peachtree Road Race has become an event important in Atlanta culture. In addition to the 60,000 participants, there are approximately 150,000 observers who line both sides of the entire course to cheer and support the runners.[5] Some runners deliberately wear costumes, many of which are patriotic (due to the event's occurring on Independence Day). The entire race is also televised on WXIA-TV.[2]

The race hosted the USA Men's 10 km Championship in 2007.[6]

2008 changes

With the entire north Georgia region facing historic drought conditions in 2008, water conservation measures were enacted prohibiting outdoor watering of plants and lawns. As a result of the watering ban, the City of Atlanta decided to prohibit large festivals (over 50,000 people) from using Piedmont Park in 2008 in order to protect the grass lawns which could not be watered. Displaced events included the Atlanta Pride, Jazz, and Dogwood Festivals as well as the Peachtree Road Race which traditionally used Piedmont Park for the finish line of the race and distribution of T-shirts.[3] The AJC Peachtree Road Race considered moving the finish area to Georgia Tech, but Georgia Tech refused, citing safety concerns.[7] On February 19, it was announced that the race finish line would be at the intersection of Juniper Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown. Runners then walked three more blocks to the Atlanta Civic Center parking area where the awards stage, family meeting area and sponsor village were located.[8] The race returned to its previous course in 2009.

2009 changes

Starting in 2009, and in association with Atlanta Track Club, registration applications began to be accepted online on the Active.com site starting on the third Sunday in March. Controversy ruled over the 2009 registration, as over 800 complaints were filed because of server failures by the outsourced registration. The 45,000 applications sold out within hours.[9]

The following Sunday, applications for the 10,000 slot lottery are published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. These slots are randomly selected from remaining applications post-marked by March 31.

Atlanta Track Club experimented in November 2008 at The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon with implementation of the ChronoTrack D-Tag transponder system, a disposable tag system. Following its success, the organization announced that starting with the 2009 Peachtree, all runners—not just the elite and timegroup 1 runners—will be timed. Doing this will help with positioning runners for future Peachtree events.[10]

2010 changes

Online registration for the 2010 PRR opened on Sunday, March 21, at 1:00 pm. The first 45,000 online applicants receive race entry. Additionally, a paper application appeared in the March 28 AJC. 10,000 entries were to be randomly selected from all paper applications received. The online spots were filled in less than five hours.[11]

In one of the biggest changes seen in race history, starting assignments for all participants will be performance-based. Once the top-seeded and sub-seeded runners start, timegroups 1A, 1B, and 2-9 have been replaced with start waves A-W[12] (19 in total, with letters I, O, Q and V omitted). Applicants are able to submit results from an official race (run on a USATF-certified course), run on or after March 1, 2008, of distances of 5 miles, 10K, 10 miles, the 1/2 marathon, and for the first time, the shorter 5K distance.

2011 changes

Atlanta Track Club switched to an exclusive lottery format online for the 2011 Peachtree. Most of the 60,000 positions were determined by a lottery draw, with selected exceptions for elite invited athletes, the members of the organizing club, and those who have run ten or more consecutive Peachtree Road Races, all of which were allowed automatic entry. Also, those who pay $150 for the organizers' charity would be automatically entered.[13]

2020 cancellation

The March 15 opening of lottery and Atlanta Track Club member registration occurred just four days after the Rudy Gobert COVID-19 positive test at an NBA game that caused a shutdown of sport in the United States. The resulting lottery and club member registration only drew 45,000 entries, with the race only was three-fourths full by the traditional lottery deadline of March 31. Atlanta Track Club cancelled the drawing, awarding all 45,000 entries an automatic entry into the Peachtree.[14]

On May 1, 2020, the Atlanta Track Club announced the cancellation of the Invesco QQQ Half Marathon usually held on Thanksgiving Day and will instead hold the Peachtree on November 26, 2020, a byproduct of the coronavirus pandemic. A second round of member registration will be held in September, followed by registration to fill out the field later in the month, for the November date.[15]

The race was officially cancelled in August 2020, which the Atlanta Track Club used to move two other races that were to be part of the Triple Peach outside Fulton County, which was under restrictions imposed by the county, and into closed-course motor racing circuits (which are private property) outside the county. The PNC 10 Miler in October moved to Michelin Raceway in Hall County and the 2021 Atlanta Marathon was relocated to the perimeter roads and parking lots surrounding, and finishing with laps inside, Atlanta Motor Speedway in Henry County. [16][17]

51st Peachtree: July 3–4, 2021

The Atlanta Track Club announced in January 2021 that the 51st Peachtree Road Race would be held July 3–4, 2021, with runners being assigned to either the July 3 or July 4 wave. The two-day event was held on its traditional course.[18]

Qualification

Qualifying events

The Peachtree Road Race has a list of regional races that serve as qualifiers for the race.[19]

January

  • Resolution Run 4 Miler
  • Braselton Lifeway 8K/5K
  • MLK Day 5k Drum Run
  • Peachtree City 8K/15K
  • Norcross High School Blue Devils Run
  • Dr. James H. Crowdis Run 5K/10K
  • Milton Boys Lacrosse 5K
  • Cool Shark 5K
  • The Frozen 5K
  • First Watch Locomotive Half Marathon/5K
  • East Metro Atlanta 5K

February

  • Atlanta Hawks Fast Break 5K
  • PT Solutions Cupid Chase 5K
  • Run For Angels 5K/10K
  • Suwanee Half Marathon
  • Tartan Trot 5K/10K
  • Hearts & Soles 5K
  • Southsides Fastest 5k
  • The With or Without You 5K
  • Atlanta Mission 5k Race to End Homelessness
  • Wiphan Warthog Waddle
  • Love Run 5K sponsored by DeKalb DA Sherry Boston
  • Augusta University Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K
  • Run for the Son
  • Love in Action 5K

March

  • Awesomesauce 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
  • Chattahoochee Road Race 10K & 5K
  • Dental Dash at Dawn 5k
  • Finish Lion 5K
  • Run Dahlonega 5K
  • Berry Half Marathon/10k/5k
  • Shamrock 'N Roll Road Race
  • Marietta Shamrock Shuffle 5k
  • Gwinnett Life Run 5K
  • Water Drop Dash 5k
  • Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
  • Atlanta Women's 5K
  • Cass Cannonball 5K/10K
  • Refuge Run 5K/10K
  • Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival 5K
  • Run For Ronald 5K
  • Chasing Moonlight/Racing Sunlight, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe 5K in Paradise
  • The Lucky Leprechaun 5K
  • Junior League of Macon Road Race

April

  • The Daffodil Dash
  • Singleton 5K/10K
  • Pace Race 5K
  • Dallas Race for a Cure
  • Annual Sickle Cell Road Race
  • The Fantastic Movie Run 10K
  • Tropical Smoothie Cafe 5K

May

  • Hustle for Hope 5K Run
  • Swift Cantrell Classic 5k
  • Brookhaven Bolt
  • Fast Track 5k
  • Project 82 Kenya 5K

June

  • Turbo Dash 10K
  • Braves Country 5K/10K
  • Odyssey 5K Run
  • Dream Dash 5K
  • Healthy Heart 5K
  • Run with the Badges 5K Glow Run

July

  • AJC Peachtree Road Race
  • The Sports Fanatic 5k
  • Decatur Dekalb 4 Miler
  • Leadership Butts Glow Run
  • Hi-Tech Race Series 5K

August

  • Hero Run 5k
  • Tailgate 5K Presented by Georgia's Own Credit
  • Atlanta's Finest 5K
  • The ATL 10K
  • Walk, Wag, N' Run 5K

September

  • Big Peach Sizzler 10K
  • The Birchmore Memorial Run for Fun 5K
  • Team Maggie 5K/10K
  • ADMH Run for Health
  • Wingfoot XC Classic
  • Great Locomotive Chase 5k
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium 5K/Walk Like MADD
  • Superhero 5K Run Walk
  • Race to End Violence

October

  • ADVF Walk a Mile in Their Shoes 5k
  • Duluth Donut Dash 5K
  • Lily's Run and Family Festival 5K
  • Cobb County 5K to benefit Make-A-Wish Georgia
  • JE Dunn Hammer Down 5k
  • Annual Run Your Tail Off 5K
  • PNC Atlanta 10 Miler & 5K
  • 2017 Gin Run 5K
  • Racin' in the 'Burg 5K
  • 17th Annual Jack O'Lantern Jog 5K
  • Officer's Down 5K - DeKalb County Police Department
  • Big Pumpkin Run 5K
  • Garden Gallop 5K
  • Angel Dash 5K
  • Cupcake RUN! ATL 5K
  • Spooktacular Chase 10K & 5K
  • CLIF Craft Coffee Fest 5K
  • Winship Win the Fight 5K

November

  • Starry Night 5K
  • Holiday Haulin' 5K and Fun Run
  • Stuff the Bus 5K Run/Walk
  • Race for Grace Half Marathon
  • Smyrna Village 5K & 10K
  • Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon & 5K
  • Jefferson First Baptist Church 9th Annual 5K Turkey Can Run/Walk
  • St. Peter Chanel 5K
  • 30A 10K

Race registration and starting group placement

Runners on procession

Until 2008, applications for registration in the AJC Peachtree Road Race were published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the third Sunday in March. The first 45,000 applications received were automatically entered into the race; an additional 10,000 applications are randomly selected from remaining applications post-marked by March 31. The race is currently limited to 60,000 entries. The 2009 registration fee was $33.[20] Atlanta Track Club requires runners to be at least 10 years of age by the day of the race.

The race is divided into 21 starting groups, all based on times verified at USA Track and Field certified courses with the past two years at distances between 5 km and 21.1 km (half marathon) races that the runner must submit to the Atlanta Track Club at time of registration in March. The last groups (W, X, and Y) will be assigned to runners who did not send a verified time from a USATF-certified course. Seeded runners, invited athletes, and the first group (Group A) start at 7:30 AM, while groups are launched at intervals of between four and six minutes each, with the last group (Group Y) starting at 9:05 AM.[21]

Due to the limited number of spaces available in the race, as well as the three and a half month advance registration requirement, some people have attempted to sell their number on eBay and craigslist, although this practice is prohibited by Atlanta Track Club. Runners who are assigned a number for the race, and subsequently cannot run, are able to return their number to Atlanta Track Club in exchange for a card guaranteeing placement in next year's race. (Registration fees, however, are not refunded.)

On July 4, 2007, three men were caught sneaking in to the AJC Peachtree Road Race. In addition to a $1,000 fine, each was banned from the AJC Peachtree Road Race for life.

Course description

The AJC Peachtree Road Race is a 10,000-meter road race. The race starts on Peachtree Road at Lenox Square Mall (just south of Lenox Road). The race continues down Peachtree into midtown Atlanta, turning left onto 10th Street for the final kilometer before ending at 10th St. and Charles Allen Drive. Piedmont Park provides the setting for post-race festivities that include a stage for live performances and an awards ceremony. After a largely downhill first half, runners cross Peachtree Creek and tackle the grueling 3/4 mile-long "Cardiac Hill," which culminates at Peachtree and Collier Rd. in front of Piedmont Hospital. Mile 5 has been known as the Olympic Mile, where banners and theme music entertained IOC members in 1990 during Atlanta's bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

In 2008, because of severe drought conditions, the race was unable to end in Piedmont Park, and runners turned east onto 10th Street before heading to Juniper Street, ending at the intersection of Ponce de Leon and Juniper St, where racers finished by going uphill instead of the older downhill stretch of 10th St. Runners then walked a short distance to the Atlanta Civic Center for finish-line festivities. This unpopular course lasted one year, after which the course returned to the traditional pattern.

As typical of other road races, the roads used are completely closed to vehicular traffic and observers watch from the sidewalks. Water is provided at each mile; approximately 500,000 cups and 120,000 gallons of water are used.[4] Approximately 3,000 volunteers are needed to work the race.[4]

Due to the large crowds, limited parking and road closures, many runners utilize MARTA to travel to the start site and back from the finish line.

Official starters

University of Georgia track and field coach Spec Towns shot the starter pistol to start the first Peachtree Road Race in 1970. Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter started the second race and Georgia Lt. Governor Lester Maddox the third. Since then, many notable people have started the race.[22] Georgia Tech coach and politician Buddy Fowlkes was another official starter.

Original 110

The 110 runners who finished the first Peachtree Road Race are known as the "Original 110". Bill Thorn, Sr., is the only runner to complete every Peachtree Road Race through 2022. However, Thorn, at 92 years of age, chose to not run the 2023 race, ending his historic streak.[23] In honor of the streak, Thorn was granted a ceremonial crossing of the finish line and his name engraved on the Peachtree cup, which is normally reserved for race champions.[24]

  • 1. Jeff Galloway 32:31.6
  • 2. Joel Majors 33:12
  • 3. Michael Caldwell 35:52
  • 4. Charles Patterson 36:21
  • 5. David Senechalle 36:39
  • 6. Julian Dooley 36:42
  • 7. Jimmy Knight 36:46
  • 8. Jim Schaper 36:58
  • 9. Alan Johnson 37:27
  • 10. David Storey 37:51
  • 11. Alan Taylor 37:54
  • 12.Chris Mullis 38:07
  • 13. Kim Dammers 38:16
  • 14. Gary Wilson 38:25
  • 15. Dennis Fifield 38:39
  • 16. Jack Moore 38:55
  • 17. Alan Armstrong 39:38
  • 18. Ken Winn 40:00
  • 19. Billy Collins 40:07
  • 20. Mark Bolt 40:16
  • 21. Phil Gardner 40:19
  • 22. Stan Hess 40:23
  • 23. Talley Kirkland 40:34
  • 24. Don Capron 40:39
  • 25. Jimmy Thyne 40:44
  • 26. Mike Shelton 40:52
  • 27. Virgil Smith 41:16
  • 28. Bob Bennett 41:44
  • 29. Charlie Harris 41:48
  • 30. Jim Beach 42:37
  • 31. Denny Hieber 42:48
  • 32. David Majors 43:07
  • 33. Charles Gilbert 43:07
  • 34. Jon Ward 43:12
  • 35. Ralph Ford 43:16
  • 36. Max Clayton 43:23
  • 37. Ken King 43:30
  • 38. Matt Morrow 43:54
  • 39. Charlie Gibson 44:23
  • 40. John Oeltman 44:27
  • 41. Dave Gamel 44:29
  • 42. Mark Snipes 45:10
  • 43. Don Ray 45:29
  • 44. John Bacheller 45:43
  • 45. Ralph Smith 45:43
  • 46. Jim Wagner 45:55
  • 47. Jim Turner 46:32
  • 48. Wayne Eleton 46:50
  • 49. Weyman Dunahoo 46:57
  • 50. Claude Crider 46:57
  • 51. Tommy Durham 47:02
  • 52. Jim Goldsack 47:31
  • 53. John Head 47:44
  • 54. Michael Halpen 47:57
  • 55. Jim Gaines 48:15
  • 56. John Cantwell 48:30
  • 57. Thomas Butts 48:31
  • 58. Frank Clegg 48:43
  • 59. Robert Barnett 48:51
  • 60. L.A. Larrco 48:55
  • 61. Oliver Porter 48:56
  • 62. Gayle Barron 49:13
  • 63. Ben Barron 49:13
  • 64. Jack McFarland 49:21
  • 65. Richard Smith 49:33
  • 66. Joe Shepherd 49:53
  • 67. Mike Boack 50:12
  • 68. Jon Robere 50:14
  • 69. Ted Sammons 50:30
  • 70. Herbert Zwerner 50:45
  • 71. Duncan MacGregor 50:51
  • 72. W.F. Lawrence 50:53
  • 73. Tom Adderholt 50:56
  • 74. Bob Jones 51:10
  • 75. Charles Rappold 51:12
  • 76. Bill Thorn Jr. 51:20
  • 77. Bill Thorn Sr. 51:20
  • 78. Chuck Gamel 51:25
  • 79. Victor Krampl 52:45
  • 80. William F. Echbert Jr. 52:50
  • 81. Joan Rogers 53:29
  • 82. Harold Canfield 53:30
  • 83. Robert Fink 53:31
  • 84. Sam Clement 53:37
  • 85. Irving Singer 53:43
  • 86. Frank Neil 53:47
  • 87. Lewis Birdseye 55:53
  • 88. Maria Birdseye 56:07
  • 89. Larry Taffel 56:08
  • 90. Harry Woods 56:11
  • 91. Edwin Elrod 56:16
  • 92. Clyde Partin Jr. 56:21
  • 93. Thomas Bolt 56:36
  • 94. Johnny Turrentine 56:41
  • 95. Earl Jones 56:42
  • 96. Donald Vinnick 56:57
  • 97. Alan Salzman 57:06
  • 98. J.D. Collier 57:10
  • 99. Jim Lyons 57:34
  • 100. Bill Maness 57:54
  • 101. Clyde Partin Sr. 58:06
  • 102. Dennis Holloway 59:15
  • 103. Marvin Mitchell 59:30
  • 104. Brian Gamel 61:12
  • 105. Terry Thorn 61:12
  • 106. Leonard Loudermilk 63:11
  • 107. Robert Manning 66:37
  • 108. Brad Rosselle 67:12
  • 109. John Wagner 67:13
  • 110. Dan Ashby 67:15

T-shirts

The official race T-shirt is perhaps the most popular aspect of the AJC Peachtree Road Race, perhaps due to the limited numbers of T-shirts available in the early race years. Each year a different design is chosen through a contest sponsored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and a limited number of shirts are made. T-shirts are available to only those runners who finish the race, and thus have become a status-symbol among Atlanta culture.

Race financials

It is estimated that the AJC Peachtree Road Race costs over $1,000,000, if in-kind contributions are included.[25] The race must pay between $25,000 and $30,000 to government agencies for their costs of supporting the race. T-shirts for runners and volunteers are estimated to cost over $200,000. The race also pays $25,000 for its timing system and $100,000 for contract labor.[25] The AJC Peachtree Road Race was estimated in 2003 to have an economic impact over $10,000,000.[25] Profits from the race entry fees and sponsorships are used to fund the Atlanta Track Club.[25]

Events

Race competitions

Kilometer Kids Charity Chase

First held during the 2014 race, the annual Kilometer Kids Charity Chase features six teams representing each branch of the military: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard and the Navy. Each team will have six runners each, all competing for bragging rights in two areas: the fastest military branch, and the team that receives the most donations for Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids youth running program.[26]

The military competition takes place after the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division of the AJC Peachtree Road Race, and before the Peachtree Cup elite competition and general race waves begin.[26]

The online portion of the fundraiser allows supporters to select a military team at the time of donation. All proceeds go towards the Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids youth program. Starting in 2015, a portion of the donations are to go towards starting a Kilometer Kids program at Fort Moore, the first one to be established on a military base.[26]

Peachtree Cup

The Peachtree Cup is an elite team competition which had its inaugural at the 2015 Peachtree Road Race. The competition takes place after the Kilometer Kids Charity Chase and before the general race waves began their run. The Peachtree Cup features four entries: Team USA, Team Africa, Team Asia, and Team Europe. The roster of each team consist of six athletes, three men and three women vying for international bragging rights. One member of each team is selected as the team captain. The determining of the winning team consists of combining each of the team members’ individual finish times together and the team with the fastest cumulative time is the winner. The team that comes in first place will receive the first-place prize of $42,000 US.[27]

Race series

Triple Peach Race Series

Current logo of the Atlanta Track Club Triple Peach Race Series

The Atlanta Track Club Triple Peach Race Series presented by Mizuno, a program designed to improve the Atlanta running experience, features three of Atlanta's top running events: AJC Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta 10-Miler (in October) and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon (Thanksgiving Day) (all races that were part of the original Atlanta Marathon). The annual race series was started in 2013 by the Atlanta Track Club and partner sponsor Volkswagen Group of America. It was originally called the VW Triple Peach, but Volkswagen of America dropped its sponsorship of the race after only the first year, resulting in the race series' being renamed the Atlanta Track Club Triple Peach Race Series the following year, 2014. In 2015, Mizuno Corporation become the new program sponsor.[28]

The Triple Peach is limited to 4,000 participants. Registration includes one low price for the Atlanta 10-Miler and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon. All participants receive a Triple Peach finisher's medal and Triple Peach finisher's T-shirt. The program also uses unique bibs that allow participants the opportunity to self-seed in the start corrals at both the Atlanta 10-Miler and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon. Upon finishing the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Triple Peach participants meet at a special celebration area to be officially recognized and to fine-tune the program for the coming year.[29]

The 2020 Triple Peach was cancelled as a result of the pandemic; however, the other two races were held at motorsport facilities, the Atlanta 10-Miler (in Braselton at Michelin Raceway) and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon was replaced by the Publix Half Marathon in February 2021 (in Hampton at Atlanta Motor Speedway).

Wheelchair division

Founded in 1982 by the Shepherd Center, the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division of AJC Peachtree Road Race precedes the foot race, starting at 6:45 am. The wheelchair division follows the same 10-kilometer course run by the foot runners down Peachtree Road, starting at Lenox Road and ending on 10th Street at Piedmont Park in Midtown. Since its 1981 founding, the wheelchair division has grown in popularity so that the race now attracts more than 78 wheelchair racers ranging in age from 16 to 69 and representing more than nine countries. Today, the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division of AJC Peachtree Road Race is considered one of the largest and fastest wheelchair 10K races in the country and is a favorite for many racers who return year after year.[30][31]

Wheelchair race divisions

The Shepherd Center and its Junior Committee fund and organize the wheelchair division race in cooperation with the Atlanta Track Club. Funding provides pre-and post-race brunches, defrayed travel and lodging expenses for racers and a $34,000 purse for winners. The Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division of AJC Peachtree Road Race racing divisions are as follows:

  • Open Men’s Division
  • Open Women’s Division
  • Open Quad Division (some upper-body paralysis)
  • T-1 Quad Division (more paralysis with limited hand function)
  • Masters Division (ages 40 to 50)
  • Junior Division (ages 12 to 21)[32]
  • Grand Masters (ages 50 and over)[33]
  • Push-Assist Division - Trials 2014 and 2015, officially added as a division in 2016.[33][34]

Overseas races

Since 2004, satellite Peachtree Races have been held for US soldiers stationed overseas. The first race was held in Iraq. In 2007, five separate races were held on July 4 (one in Kuwait, three in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan) with a combined total of 3000 participants.[35] The Atlanta Track Club sends race supplies, including T-shirts, to the runners.

Peachtree Junior

Current Peachtree Junior Logo as of 2016

Started in 1987, The Peachtree Junior consists of three races:

  • 3 kilometer (1.9 mi) race open to children ages 7 to 14
  • 1⁄2 kilometre (0.31 mi) for ages 5–9
  • Lil' Peach, a 50 metres (160 ft) Dash race for ages 6 & younger

Starting in 2015, ten Kid-Friendly Decathlon events were added to the Peachtree Junior. The decathlon events take place upon completion of each of the three Peachtree Junior races and are open to participants ages fourteen and under.[36][37]

The race is designed to be a shorter and safer version of the longer Peachtree Road Race. All race participants get the opportunity to take part in the Peachtree Jr. Challenge, which awards scholarships to the top three organizations that sign up the most kids. The event is held in late May or early June. The entire course is within the confines of Piedmont Park. The race is limited to 2,500 participants. T-shirts are given to all race finishers. The event has been held for over 20 years.[38][39]

Peachtree Jr. course and date changes

For the First time ever in Peachtree Jr. history and in correlation with the 50th running of the Peachtree Road Race, 2019, the Atlanta Track Club decided to move the Peachtree Jr. permanently to July 3 as part of the Peachtree Road Race experience.[40]

As part of the move to July 3, the course was changed to include for the first time a portion of the official Peachtree Road Race 10K course thus leaving the confines within Piedmont Park for the first time as well. The start of the course would be located at the corner of Charles Allen Drive and Piedmont Park Avenue next to the south portion of Lake Clara Meer within the Piedmont Park boundary. Runners would head west on Piedmont Park Avenue still inside Piedmont Park until they reached 12th Street Gate leaving the park. Portions of the Peachtree Road Race 10K course used for the Peachtree Jr. would be the south portion of Piedmont Avenue from the 12th Street Gate and the 10th Street portion that includes the same finish on 10th Street as the 10K .[41]

Past winners

The 2013 finisher's medal, available for purchase as an additional option at registration. The coveted Peachtree T-shirt is provided to all participants who cross the finish line.

The men's course record is 27:01 minutes, set by Rhonex Kipruto in 2019. Lornah Kiplagat is the women's record holder with her run of 30:32 from 2002.[4] The record for the wheelchair division of the Peachtree Road Race is 18:38:06 (Saul Mendoza) 2004.[4] The women's division record is 22:09:97 (Edith Hunkler) 2009.[4] Gayle Barron and Lornah Kiplagat are the athletes with the most victories in the history of the Peachtree Road Race. Barron won in the women's division on five occasions (1970–71, 1973–75), while Kiplagat had her victories from 2000–2002 and 2005–2006.[4]

Key:   Course record   United States national championship race

Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1970  Jeff Galloway (USA) 32:21.6  Gayle Barron (USA) 49:13
2nd 1971  Bill Herron (USA) 30:58  Gayle Barron (USA) 45:17
3rd 1972  Scott Eden (USA) 31:10  Gillian Valk (GB) 47:42
4th 1973  Bill Blewett (USA) 31:22  Gayle Barron (USA) 40:37
5th 1974  Wayne Roach (USA) 30:47  Gayle Barron (USA) 38:40
6th 1975  Ed Leddy (IRL) 29:52  Gayle Barron (USA) 38:04
7th 1976  Don Kardong (USA) 29:14  Janice Gage (USA) 39:13
8th 1977  Frank Shorter (USA) 29:20  Peg Neppel (USA) 36:00
9th 1978  Mike Roche (USA) 28:59  Mary Slaney (USA) 33:52
10th 1979  Craig Virgin (USA) 28:30  Heather Carmichael (NZL) 33:39
11th 1980  Craig Virgin (USA) 28:39  Patti Catalano (USA) 32:48
12th 1981  Craig Virgin (USA) 28:03  Allison Roe (NZL) 32:38
13th 1982  Jon Sinclair (USA) 28:17  Anne Audain (NZL) 32:36
14th 1983  Michael Musyoki (KEN) 28:22  Grete Waitz (NOR) 32:01
15th 1984  Filbert Bayi (TAN) 28:35  Betty Jo Geiger (USA) 32:55
16th 1985  Michael Musyoki (KEN) 27:58  Grete Waitz (NOR) 32:03
17th 1986  John Doherty (IRL) 27:56  Grete Waitz (NOR) 32:10
18th 1987  Joseph Nzau (KEN) 28:34  Lynn Jennings (USA) 32:22
19th 1988  Jean-Pierre Ndayisenga (BDI) 28:17  Grete Waitz (NOR) 32:09
20th 1989  Ibrahim Hussein (KEN) 28:13  Judi St. Hiliare (USA) 32:05
21st 1990  Dionicio Cerón (MEX) 28:23  Cathy O'Brien (USA) 32:04
22nd 1991  Ed Eyestone (USA) 28:34  Dorthe Rasmussen (DEN) 32:42
23rd 1992  Sammy Lelei (KEN) 27:56  Francie Larrieu Smith (USA) 31:49
24th 1993  Thomas Osano (KEN) 28:06  Uta Pippig (GER) 32:15
25th 1994  Benson Masya (KEN) 28:01  Anne-Marie Lauck (USA) 31:57
26th 1995  Simon Morolong (RSA) 28:00  Joan Nesbit (USA) 32:20
27th 1996  Joseph Kimani (KEN) 27:04  Hellen Kimaiyo (KEN) 30:52
28th 1997  Joseph Kimani (KEN) 27:43  Hellen Kimaiyo (KEN) 31:21
29th 1998  Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) 27:47  Hellen Kimaiyo (KEN) 31:52
30th 1999  Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) 27:45  Elana Meyer (RSA) 31:34
31st 2000  Alene Reta (ETH) 28:04  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 30:52
32nd 2001  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 28:19  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 30:58
33rd 2002  Paul Malakwen Kosgei (KEN) 27:36  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 30:32
34th 2003  Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 28:22.7  Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 31:12.1
35th 2004  Martin Lel (KEN) 28:04  Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 31:55
36th 2005  Gilbert Okari (KEN) 28:19  Lornah Kiplagat (NED) 31:17
37th 2006  Martin Lel (KEN) 27:25  Lornah Kiplagat (NED) 31:13
38th 2007  Martin Mathathi (KEN) 28:01  Wude Ayalew (ETH) 31:44
39th 2008  Terefe Maregu (ETH) 28:30  Nataliya Berkut (UKR) 32:23
40th 2009  Sammy Kitwara (KEN) 27:22  Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 31:31
41st 2010  Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 27:56  Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 30:51
42nd 2011  Sammy Kitwara (KEN) 28:05  Werknesh Kidane (ETH) 31:22
43rd 2012  Peter Kirui (KEN) 27:36  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 32:21
44th 2013  Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 28:04  Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 32:07
45th 2014  Christo Landry (USA) 28:25  Amy Hastings (USA) 32:16
46th 2015  Scott Overall (GB) 29:30  Alexi Pappas (USA) 33:28
47th 2016  Gabriel Geay (TAN) 28:49  Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 32:24
48th 2017  Leonard Korir (USA) 28:16  Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 32:49
49th 2018  Bernard Lagat (USA) 28:45  Stephanie Bruce (USA) 32:21
50th 2019  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 27:01  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 30:21
51st 2020 Held virtually in November 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic
52nd 2021  Sam Chelanga (USA) 28:42  Sara Hall (USA) 31:40
53rd 2022  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 27:26  Senbere Teferi (ETH) 30:49
54th 2023  Charles Langat (KEN) 27:42  Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 30:43

Past wheelchair division winners

Key:   Course record   United States national championship race

Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1982  George Murray (USA) 27:38 N/A 00:00
2nd 1983  George Murray (USA) 26:50  Candace Cable-Brookes (USA) 31:34
3rd 1984  George Murray (USA) 26:45  Sharon Hedrick (USA) 29:17
4th 1985  George Murray (USA) 25:24  Candace Cable-Brookes (USA) 30:22
5th 1986  Jim Martinson (USA) 24:22  Candace Cable-Brookes (USA) 30:21
6th 1987  Craig Blanchette (USA) 25:08  Candace Cable-Brookes (USA) 30:38
7th 1988  Mustapha Badid (FRA) 23:00  Candace Cable-Brookes (USA) 27:54
8th 1989  Craig Blanchette (USA) 21:52  Sharon Hendrick (USA) 26:48
9th 1990  Doug Kennedy (USA) 21:09  Ann Cody-Morris (USA) 25:29
10th 1991  Craig Blanchette (USA) 20:17  Jean Driscoll (USA) 23:46
11th 1992  Craig Blanchette (USA) 20:07  Connie Hanson (USA) 24:01
12th 1993  Paul Wiggins (AUS) 19:58  Louise Sauvage (AUS) 24:12
13th 1994  Craig Blanchette (USA) 20:14  Jean Driscoll (USA) 23:13
14th 1995  Craig Blanchette (USA) 20:10  Jean Driscoll (USA) 24:15
15th 1996  Paul Wiggins (AUS) 19:29  Jean Driscoll (USA) 23:32
16th 1997  Franz Nietlispach (CH) 19:08  Louise Sauvage (AUS) 25:04
17th 1998  Franz Nietlispach (CH) 19:06  Chantal Petitclerc (CAN) 25:21
18th 1999  Saul Mendoza (MEX) 19:05  Chantal Petitclerc (CAN) 24:13
19th 2000  Franz Nietlispach (CH) 19:27  Jean Driscoll (USA) 24:17
20th 2001  Ernst van Dyk (RSA) 18:48  Christina Ripp (USA) 24:29
21st 2002  Krige Schabort (USA) 18:57  Christina Ripp (USA) 23:38
22nd 2003  Krige Schabort (USA) 18:49  Christina Ripp (USA) 24:03
23rd 2004  Saul Mendoza (MEX) 18:38:06  Diane Roy (CAN) 23:57:56
24th 2005  Kelly Smith (CAN) 19:19:22  Edith Hunkler (USA) 23:18:47
25th 2006  Krige Schabort (USA) 18:52:00  Edith Hunkler (USA) 23:22:80
26th 2007  Kurt Fearnley (AUS) 19:25:90  Amanda McGrory (USA) 23:11:05
27th 2008  Kurt Fearnley (AUS) 19:55:50  Edith Hunkler (USA) 24:30:20
28th 2009  Marcel Hug (CH) 19:36:91  Edith Hunkler (USA) 22:09:97
29th 2010  Josh Cassidy (CAN) 18:53:88  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:47:66
30th 2011  Krige Schabort (USA) 19:47:15  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:39:26
31st 2012  Aaron Gordian (MEX) 19:52:02  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:53:08
32nd 2013  Josh Cassidy (CAN) 21:12:86  Manuela Schar (CH) 24:42:39
33rd 2014  Krige Schabort (USA) 20:30:17  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:17:42
34th 2015  Kurt Fearnley (AUS) 20:55:16  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:57:23
35th 2016  Josh George (USA) 20:19.18  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:14.56
36th 2017  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 20:02.76  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 23:15.51
37th 2018  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 18:39.42  Susannah Scaroni (USA) 22:49.05
38th 2019  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 18:11.00  Manuela Schar (CH) 21:28.00
39th 2020 Held virtually in November 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic
40th 2021  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 19:04.09  Tatyana McFadden (USA) 24:07.52
41st 2022  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 18:39.40  Susannah Scaroni (USA) 21:14.71
42nd 2023  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 19:28  Susannah Scaroni (USA) 22:11

Past Peachtree Cup winners

Key:   Team captain   Course record

Edition Year Team winner/time (m:s) Team/Individual Men Time (m:s) Team/Individual Women Time (m:s)
1st 2015 Team Africa 3:06:29
 Daniel Salel (KEN) 28:43  Buze Diriba (ETH) 32:13
 Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 29:42  Caroline Kilel (KEN) 32:30
 Lusapho April (RSA) 29:57  Valentine Kibet (KEN) 33:27
2nd 2016 N/A  Gabriel Geay (TAN) 28:49  Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 32:24
3rd 2017 N/A  Leonard Korir (USA) 28:16  Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 32:49
4th 2018 N/A  Bernard Lagat (USA) 28:45  Stephanie Bruce (USA) 32:21
5th 2019 N/A  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 27:01  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 30:21
6th 2021 N/A  Sam Chelanga (USA) 28:42  Sara Hall (USA) 31:40
7th 2022 N/A  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 27:26  Senbere Teferi (ETH) 30:49

References

  1. ↑ Villarreal, Crystal. "AJC Peachtree Road Race 2020: Final race day and results". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "History of Peachtree". Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  3. 1 2 Sugiura, Ken (2008-01-11). "Peachtree Road Race, 3 festivals moved from Piedmont Park". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Atlanta Track Club | Home of the AJC Peachtree Road Race | Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Atlanta Track Club | Home of the AJC Peachtree Road Race | Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org. Archived from the original on July 22, 2004.
  6. ↑ "USATF - Events - 2007 USA Men's 10 km Championship". Usatf.org.
  7. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (2008-01-31). "Georgia Tech says no to Peachtree Road Race". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  8. ↑ "New Finish Line Announced for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race 2008" (PDF) (Press release). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-09.
  9. ↑ "AJC Peachtree Online Registration closed". ajc.com. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Peachtree Road Race will time all runners". Ajc.com. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  11. ↑ Stevens, Alexis (2010-03-21). "AJC Peachtree Road Race online registration filled". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  12. ↑ "Start Wave Placement". Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  13. ↑ "Atlanta Track Club | Home of the AJC Peachtree Road Race | Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org.
  14. ↑ "AJC Peachtree Road Race Registration Closes". Atlanta Track Club.
  15. ↑ "AJC Peachtree Road Race moves to Thanksgiving Day in 2020". Atlanta Track Club.
  16. ↑ "AJC Peachtree Road Race to Be Held Virtually in 2020". Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  17. ↑ "AJC Peachtree Road Race FAQs". Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  18. ↑ "AJC Peachtree Road Race to Return In-Person in 2021". Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  19. ↑ "| Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org.
  20. ↑ "Atlanta Track Club | Home of the AJC Peachtree Road Race | Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Start | Peachtree Road Race | ATC | Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org.
  22. ↑ "How it All Starts". The Peachtree 50.
  23. ↑ https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/peachtree-road-race-bill-thorn-grand-marshall-finish-line>
  24. ↑ Carney, Abby (2023-06-30). "Bill Thorn Ends His 53-Year Peachtree Road Race Run Streak This July 4". Runner's World. Runner's World. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Bently, Tim (2003-07-18). "Cashing in on race day". The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  26. 1 2 3
  27. ↑ Gambaccini, Peter (18 March 2015). "Peachtree Road Race Adds Elite Team Competition". Runners World. Runners World Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "Atlanta Track Club Announces VW Triple Peach". atlantatrackclub.org. Atlanta Track Club. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Triple Peach Race Series". atlantatrackclub.org. Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  30. ↑ Washburn, Rebecca (August 2012), "Peachtree Road Race Wheelchair Division Celebrates Another Great Year" (PDF), Volunteer News - A Newsletter for the Shepherd Auxiliary & Volunteers, retrieved 2013-09-07
  31. ↑ "2013 Wheelchair Division of the Peachtree Road Race". Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  32. ↑ Washburn, Rebecca (August 2012), "Peachtree Road Race Wheelchair Division Celebrates Another Great Year" (PDF), Volunteer News - A Newsletter for the Shepherd Auxiliary & Volunteers, retrieved 2013-07-15
  33. 1 2 "Fast Facts on the 2016 Wheelchair race". shepherd.org. Shepherd Center. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "Atlanta Track Club previews new additions to AJC Peachtree Road Race". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises, Inc. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  35. ↑ Goodman, Brenda (2007-07-05). "Soldier Enters an Atlanta 10k Run From Iraq". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  36. ↑ "2018 The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Peachtree Junior". atlantatrackclub.org. Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  37. ↑ Atlanta Parent Editorial (20 March 2018). "2018 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Peachtree Junior". Atlanta Parant Magazine. 2346 Perimeter Park Dr. Atlanta, GA 30341: Atlanta Parent Magazine. Retrieved 1 May 2018.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  38. ↑ "Atlanta Track Club | Home of the AJC Peachtree Road Race | Atlanta Track Club". Atlantatrackclub.org. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008.
  39. ↑ "2014 PEACHTREE JR". Atlanta Track Club. Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  40. ↑ "2019 Anthem Peachtree Junior". Atlanta Track Club. Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  41. ↑ "Anthem Peachtree Junior 2019 Course Map" (PDF). Atlanta Track Club. Atlanta Track Club. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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