Peachtree Road Race facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AJC Peachtree Road RaceAJC Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race |
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Logo for the "south" race unveiled January 2016.
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| Date | January (north) July 4th (south) |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) |
| Primary sponsor | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
| Established | July 4, 1970 |
| Course records | South: Men: 27:04 (1996) Joseph Kimani Women: 30:21 (2019) Brigid Kosgei North: Men: 34:35 Lars Pöttgen (2025) Women: 36:25 (2025) Laura Pifer |
| Participants | 60,000 |
The Peachtree Road Race is a super popular 10-kilometer (about 6.2 miles) running event held every year in Atlanta, Georgia. It's so big that it actually happens twice a year! One race is in January, and the other is on July 4th.
These two races use the same course but run in opposite directions. The "South" race, which goes downhill for a good part, started in 1970. It has been the world's largest 10K race since the late 1970s. Over 70,000 runners try to sign up for the 60,000 available spots each year. There's also a special race for people using wheelchairs, which happens before the main footrace. Even soldiers stationed in the Middle East have their own special division! This race attracts some of the best 10K runners from all over the world.
The "North" race, officially called the AJC Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race, was first held on January 4, 2025. This race goes in the opposite direction, starting near Piedmont Park and finishing at Lenox Square.
Kids can join the fun too! The Peachtree Junior race, held on July 3 in Piedmont Park, has a 1-mile run and a 50-meter dash for younger kids.
Contents
History of the Peachtree Race
The AJC Peachtree Road Race began in 1970. It was started by the Atlanta Track Club. In the very first race, 110 runners took part. They ran from an old Sears building to Central City Park. A company called Carling Brewery sponsored the first race.
The race quickly grew in popularity. In 1971, 198 runners joined. Organizers bought T-shirts but ran out because more people showed up than expected! This T-shirt tradition became a big deal. By 1975, over 1,000 runners were participating.
In 1976, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper became the main sponsor. This helped the race become even more famous. That year, over 2,300 runners competed. The race kept growing, and by 1977, Central City Park was too small for all the runners. So, in 1978, the course was changed. It started at Lenox Square and finished at Piedmont Park.
By 1979, over 20,000 runners were joining! In 1980, the number of participants was limited to 25,000. This limit stayed until 1990. In 1982, a special wheelchair division was created for the race.
The race became so popular that spots filled up in just nine days in 1989. The Atlanta Track Club increased the limit to 40,000 runners in 1990. It grew to 45,000 in 1992, then 50,000 in 1995, and 55,000 in 1998. Finally, in 2011, the capacity reached 60,000 runners.
The AJC Peachtree Road Race is a huge part of Atlanta's culture. Besides the 60,000 runners, about 150,000 people line the streets to cheer them on! Many runners wear fun costumes, especially patriotic ones since the race is on Independence Day. The whole race is even shown on TV.
Race Changes Over Time
In 2008, there was a big drought in Georgia. The city of Atlanta decided that large events couldn't use Piedmont Park to protect the grass. This meant the Peachtree Road Race had to change its finish line for one year. Runners finished in Midtown instead of Piedmont Park. This change was not very popular, and the race returned to its usual course in 2009.
Starting in 2009, runners could sign up online. However, there were some problems with the website that year. The race also started using special timing chips for all runners. This helped them keep track of everyone's time.
In 2010, the race made a big change to how runners started. Instead of just a few groups, there were many "start waves." Runners were placed in these groups based on their past race times. This helped keep the race organized.
For the 2011 race, the Atlanta Track Club started using a lottery system for most of the 60,000 spots. This meant people had to enter a drawing to get a spot. Some people, like club members or those who had run many times, could still get in automatically.
The 2020 race was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Registration numbers were lower than usual. The race was first moved to November 2020, but then it was completely canceled. This was a rare event in the race's long history.
In 2021, the 51st Peachtree Road Race was held over two days, July 3rd and 4th. Runners were assigned to run on one of those days. This helped spread out the crowds.
For the 2025 races, the lottery system returned for the "south" Peachtree. Also, the new "north" Peachtree race was officially announced. It was held in January 2025 and sold out very quickly!
How to Qualify and Register
The Peachtree Road Race has a list of other races in the region that runners can use to qualify. These are called "qualifying events."
To register for the race, you usually sign up online. The race is limited to 60,000 entries. Runners must be at least 10 years old on race day.
The race is divided into many starting groups. These groups are based on how fast runners have completed other races. The fastest runners start first, and then other groups start every few minutes. This helps keep the course from getting too crowded.
Because spots are limited, some people try to sell their race numbers. However, this is not allowed by the Atlanta Track Club. If you can't run, you can return your number and get a guaranteed spot for next year's race.
The Race Course
The "south" Peachtree race is 10 kilometers long. It starts on Peachtree Road near Lenox Square Mall. Runners go down Peachtree Street into Midtown Atlanta. Then, they turn left onto 10th Street for the last part of the race, finishing near Piedmont Park. After the race, there are celebrations in Piedmont Park.
The first half of the race is mostly downhill. But then, runners face a tough uphill section called "Cardiac Hill." This hill is about three-quarters of a mile long. The fifth mile of the race is known as the "Olympic Mile." Banners and music were put there in 1990 to impress people when Atlanta was trying to host the 1996 Summer Olympics.
In 2008, because of a drought, the race couldn't finish in Piedmont Park. It ended on Juniper Street instead. This was not a popular change, and the race went back to its traditional course in 2009.
During the race, the roads are closed to cars. Spectators cheer from the sidewalks. Water stations are set up at each mile. A lot of water is used, and about 3,000 volunteers help make the race happen. Many runners use MARTA (Atlanta's public transport) to get to the start and from the finish line.
The "north" Peachtree, or Polar Opposite race, is the exact reverse. It starts at 10th Street near Piedmont Park, goes up Peachtree Street, and finishes at Lenox Square Mall.
Famous Starters
Many important people have started the Peachtree Road Race. In 1970, the first race was started by a track coach named Spec Towns. Jimmy Carter, who later became president, started the second race when he was Georgia's Governor.
The Original 110 Finishers
The 110 runners who finished the very first Peachtree Road Race in 1970 are known as the "Original 110." One amazing runner, Bill Thorn, Sr., completed every single Peachtree Road Race from 1970 to 2022! He was 92 years old when he finished his last one. To honor him, he was given a special crossing of the finish line and his name was put on the Peachtree cup, which is usually only for champions. He was also the grand marshal for the 2023 race.
Race T-shirts
The official race T-shirt is a very special part of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. In the early years, there weren't enough T-shirts for everyone, so they became a symbol of finishing the race. Each year, a new design is chosen through a contest. Only runners who finish the race get a T-shirt, making it a proud symbol in Atlanta.
Race Costs and Impact
The AJC Peachtree Road Race costs a lot to put on, over $1,000,000! This includes things like T-shirts, which cost over $200,000, and the timing system. The race also pays money to the government for their support. The race brings in a lot of money for Atlanta's economy, over $10,000,000! The money earned from race fees and sponsors helps fund the Atlanta Track Club.
Special Race Events
Kilometer Kids Charity Chase
This event started in 2014. It features six teams, each representing a branch of the military: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Navy. These teams compete to be the fastest and to raise the most money for the Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids program. This program helps young people get into running.
Peachtree Cup
The Peachtree Cup is a competition for elite (top) running teams. It started in 2015. Teams from different parts of the world, like Team USA, Team Africa, Team Asia, and Team Europe, compete. Each team has six runners, three men and three women. Their individual finish times are added up, and the team with the fastest total time wins a big prize!
Ultimate Peach Race Series
The Atlanta Track Club Ultimate Peach Race Series is a program for runners who want to challenge themselves. It includes four of Atlanta's biggest running events: the AJC Peachtree Road Race, the Atlanta 10-Miler (in October), the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon (on Thanksgiving Day), and the Atlanta Marathon. This series started in 2013.
Runners who complete the Ultimate Peach series get a special finisher's medal and T-shirt. They also get unique race numbers that help them get good starting spots in the other races.
Triple Peach Junior Race Series
In 2023, the Atlanta Track Club started the Triple Peach Junior series for kids aged 14 and under. To complete this series, young runners must finish three in-person events: the Microsoft Peachtree Junior, the PNC Atlanta Mile & Dash, and the Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Mile & Dash. Kids who finish all three get a special Triple Peach Junior Finisher's medal!
Wheelchair Division
The Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division of AJC Peachtree Road Race started in 1982. This race happens before the main foot race. Wheelchair racers follow the same 10-kilometer course. It has become one of the biggest and fastest wheelchair races in the country. It attracts over 78 racers from many different countries.
The Shepherd Center helps organize and fund this division. They provide support for the racers and offer prize money for the winners. There are different categories for wheelchair racers, including divisions for men, women, different levels of paralysis, and age groups.
Overseas Races
Since 2004, special Peachtree Races have been held for US soldiers serving overseas. The first one was in Iraq. In 2007, five races were held on July 4th in places like Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, with 3,000 soldiers participating. The Atlanta Track Club sends race supplies, including T-shirts, to these runners.
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2007 running of the Peachtree Road Race in Iraq
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2013 running of the Peachtree Road Race in Afghanistan
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2015 running of the Peachtree Road Race in Kuwait
Peachtree Junior
The Peachtree Junior started in 1987 and is designed for kids. It has three different races:
- A 3-kilometer (about 1.9 miles) race for kids ages 7 to 14.
- A 0.5-kilometer (about 0.3 miles) race for ages 5 to 9.
- The Lil' Peach, a 50-meter (about 164 feet) Dash for kids aged 6 and younger.
Since 2015, ten kid-friendly Decathlon events were added after the races. These fun events are open to all participants aged fourteen and under. They include things like a 40-yard dash, High jump, Shot put, and Long jump.
The Peachtree Junior is a shorter, safer version of the main race. It's held entirely within Piedmont Park. All finishers get a T-shirt. In 2019, the Peachtree Junior moved permanently to July 3rd, the day before the main Peachtree Road Race. The course was also changed to include a small part of the official 10K course for the first time.
Race Records and Winners
The fastest time ever for the traditional "south" Peachtree race (from Lenox Square to 10th Street) is 27 minutes and 4 seconds. This record was set by Joseph Kimani in 1996. For women, the record is 30 minutes and 21 seconds, set by Brigid Kosgei in 2019.
In the wheelchair division, the men's record is 18 minutes and 11 seconds, set by Daniel Romanchuk in 2019. The women's wheelchair record is 21 minutes and 14.71 seconds, set by Susannah Scaroni in 2022.
The new "north" Peachtree race, which started in January 2025, also has its first records. Lars Pöttgen set the men's record at 34 minutes and 57 seconds, and Laura Pifer set the women's record at 36 minutes and 25 seconds.
Two athletes have won the Peachtree Road Race the most times: Gayle Barron won the women's division five times (1970–71, 1973–75), and Lornah Kiplagat also won five times (2000–2002, 2005–2006).
