Peachtree Road Race facts for kids

Quick facts for kids AJC Peachtree Road Race
Logo unveiled January 2016.
Date	July 3–4, 2021
Location	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Event type	Road
Distance	10 kilometers (6.2 mi)
Primary sponsor	The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Established	July 4, 1970; 54 years ago (1970-07-04)
Course records	Men: 27:01 (2019) Rhonex Kipruto Women: 30:21 (2019) Brigid Kosgei
Participants	60,000

The Peachtree Road Race is a famous 10-kilometer (about 6.2 miles) running event held every year in Atlanta, Georgia. It's also known as the AJC Peachtree Road Race because of its sponsor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. For many years, it took place on July 4th. This race is the biggest 10K race in the world! Over 70,000 runners try to sign up for the 60,000 spots available. The event also includes a special race for people using wheelchairs, which happens before the main footrace. Some of the best 10K runners from around the world come to compete.

Kids can join in the fun too! There's a special Peachtree Junior event with a 1-mile run or a 50-meter dash. These races are held on July 3rd in Piedmont Park.

History of the Peachtree Road Race

Runners at the 2007 Peachtree Road 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 store to Central City Park. A company called Carling Brewery sponsored the race back then.

The race quickly grew in popularity. The next year, 198 runners joined. Organizers bought T-shirts for the finishers. But they didn't have enough for everyone! In 1972, they ordered 250 shirts, but 330 people ran. By 1975, more than 1,000 runners were participating.

How the Race Grew

In 1976, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution became the new sponsor. This helped the race become even more popular. That year, over 2,300 runners competed. By 1977, there were more than 6,500 runners! Central City Park became too small for the finish line.

So, in 1978, the race course changed. It started at Lenox Square and finished at Piedmont Park. In 1979, over 20,000 runners joined! In 1980, the number of participants was limited to 25,000. This limit stayed until 1990. In 1982, a special wheelchair division was created. This division is now known as the Shepherd Center wheelchair division.

The race kept getting more popular. By 1989, all the spots were filled in just nine days! The Atlanta Track Club increased the limit to 40,000 in 1990. It grew to 45,000 in 1992 and 50,000 in 1995. In 1998, it reached 55,000 runners. Finally, in 2011, the capacity was expanded to 60,000.

Runners in patriotic costumes at the 2006 Peachtree Road Race

The AJC Peachtree Road Race is a big 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, often patriotic ones since the race is near Independence Day. The entire race is also shown on TV.

Race Changes Over the Years

2008 Course Change

In 2008, there was a big drought in Georgia. This meant there wasn't enough water for lawns and plants. Because of this, large events couldn't use Piedmont Park. The Peachtree Road Race usually ended there. They thought about moving the finish line to Georgia Tech, but it didn't work out.

So, in 2008, the race finished in Midtown Atlanta. Runners then walked to the Atlanta Civic Center for celebrations. This new course was not very popular. The race went back to its usual course in 2009.

How to Sign Up Changed

Starting in 2009, people could sign up for the race online. Before that, applications were mostly by mail. In 2009, there were some problems with the online sign-up system. But still, 45,000 spots sold out in just a few hours!

Later, 10,000 more spots were given out through a lottery. This meant people could send in an application by mail, and winners were chosen randomly.

Also in 2009, a new timing system was used. All runners, not just the fastest ones, got a special disposable tag to track their time. This helps with placing runners in the right groups for future races.

2010 Race Start Changes

In 2010, online registration opened on March 21st. The first 45,000 people to sign up online got a spot. Another 10,000 spots were chosen from paper applications. The online spots were filled in less than five hours!

A big change in 2010 was how runners were placed into starting groups. Now, your starting group depends on how fast you've run in other official races. This means faster runners start earlier. There are many different starting waves, from A to W.

2011 Lottery System

In 2011, the Atlanta Track Club changed how people registered. Most of the 60,000 spots were given out through an online lottery. However, some people got automatic entry. This included elite athletes, members of the Atlanta Track Club, and those who had run ten or more Peachtree Road Races in a row. Also, if you paid $150 to the organizers' charity, you could get in automatically.

2020 Race Cancellation

In March 2020, the world changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The race lottery and club member registration opened just as sports events were shutting down. Only 45,000 people signed up, so the race wasn't full. The Atlanta Track Club cancelled the lottery and gave all 45,000 people a spot.

On May 1, 2020, the race was moved to November 26, 2020. But in August 2020, the race was officially cancelled for that year. Instead, the Atlanta Track Club moved two other races to private racing tracks outside the county to follow health rules.

51st Peachtree: July 3–4, 2021

In January 2021, the Atlanta Track Club announced that the 51st Peachtree Road Race would be held on two days: July 3rd and July 4th. Runners were assigned to a wave on one of those days. The race still followed its traditional course.

How to Qualify for the Race

The Peachtree Road Race has a list of other races you can run to qualify. Doing well in these races can help you get a better starting spot in the Peachtree.

How to Register and Start the Race

Runners walking to the start of the race

The Peachtree Road Race is currently limited to 60,000 runners. To join, you need to be at least 10 years old by race day.

The race is split into 21 different starting groups. These groups are based on how fast you've run in other official races. You submit your past race times when you register. The fastest runners start first, usually around 7:30 AM. Other groups start every few minutes, with the last group beginning around 9:05 AM.

Because spots are limited, some people try to sell their race numbers. But this is against the rules! If you can't run after signing up, you can return your number to the Atlanta Track Club. They will give you a guaranteed spot for next year's race. However, you won't get your registration fee back. In 2007, three men were caught trying to sneak into the race. They were banned for life and had to pay a fine.

The Race Course

The AJC Peachtree Road Race is a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) road race. It starts on Peachtree Road near Lenox Square Mall. Runners go down Peachtree Road into Midtown Atlanta. Then, they turn left onto 10th Street for the last part of the race. The finish line is at 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive.

After the race, there are celebrations in Piedmont Park. This includes a stage for music and an awards ceremony. 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 used to be there to entertain visitors when Atlanta was trying to host the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The roads used for the race are completely closed to cars. Spectators watch from the sidewalks. Water is given out at every mile. About 500,000 cups and 120,000 gallons of water are used! Around 3,000 volunteers help make the race happen. Many runners use MARTA (Atlanta's public transport) to get to and from the race. This helps avoid traffic and parking problems.

Race Starters

Many important people have started the Peachtree Road Race. In 1970, the first race was started by Spec Towns, a track and field coach. The second race was started by Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter. Since then, other notable people have had the honor of starting the race.

Race T-shirts

The official race T-shirt is a very popular part of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. This might be because in the early years, there weren't enough shirts for everyone. Each year, a new design is chosen through a contest. Only runners who finish the race get a T-shirt. This makes the shirt a special symbol in Atlanta.

Race Events

Kilometer Kids Charity Chase

The Kilometer Kids Charity Chase started in 2014. It features six teams, each representing a branch of the military: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, and the Navy. Each team has six runners. They compete to see which military branch is fastest and which team raises the most money.

This competition happens after the wheelchair race and before the main race waves. The money raised goes to the Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids program. This program helps young people get into running.

Peachtree Cup

The Peachtree Cup is a team competition for elite runners. It started in 2015. Four teams compete: Team USA, Team Africa, Team Asia, and Team Europe. Each team has six athletes, three men and three women. They all want to win bragging rights for their continent. The winning team is decided by adding up the finish times of all its members. The team with the fastest total time wins a prize of $42,000!

Triple Peach Race Series

Current logo of the Atlanta Track Club Triple Peach Race Series

The Atlanta Track Club Triple Peach Race Series is a program for runners in Atlanta. It includes three big running events: the AJC Peachtree Road Race, the Atlanta 10-Miler (in October), and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon (on Thanksgiving Day). This series started in 2013.

The Triple Peach series is limited to 4,000 participants. If you sign up, you pay one price for the Atlanta 10-Miler and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon. All participants get a special Triple Peach finisher's medal and T-shirt. They also get unique race numbers that help them get good starting spots in the other two races. After finishing the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Triple Peach participants meet for a special celebration.

The 2020 Triple Peach was cancelled due to the pandemic. However, the other two races were held at private motor racing tracks.

Triple Peach Junior Race Series

In 2023, the Atlanta Track Club started the Triple Peach Junior for kids aged 14 and under. To earn this award, young runners must complete three in-person events:

• Microsoft Peachtree Junior
• PNC Atlanta Mile & Dash
• Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Mile & Dash

There's no separate sign-up for Triple Peach Junior. Kids are automatically entered once they register for all three events. On Thanksgiving Day, eligible runners get special stickers on their race bibs. After finishing the last race, they receive a 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 footrace, starting at 6:45 AM. Wheelchair racers follow the same 10-kilometer course. This division has become very popular. It now attracts over 78 wheelchair racers from many different countries. It's known as one of the largest and fastest wheelchair 10K races in the country.

Wheelchair Race Categories

The Shepherd Center helps organize and fund the wheelchair division. They provide meals for racers and prize money for the winners. The Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division has several categories:

• Open Men’s Division
• Open Women’s Division
• Open Quad Division (for those with some upper-body paralysis)
• T-1 Quad Division (for those with more paralysis and limited hand use)
• Masters Division (ages 40 to 50)
• Junior Division (ages 12 to 21)
• Grand Masters (ages 50 and over)
• Push-Assist Division (added in 2016)

Overseas Races

Since 2004, special Peachtree Races have been held for US soldiers serving in other countries. The first one was in Iraq. In 2007, five races were held on July 4th in places like Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. About 3,000 soldiers participated. The Atlanta Track Club sends race supplies, including T-shirts, to these runners.

Peachtree Junior

Current Peachtree Junior Logo as of 2016

The Peachtree Junior started in 1987. It has three different races for kids:

• A 3-kilometer (about 1.9 miles) race for ages 7 to 14.
• A 1/2-kilometer (about 0.3 miles) race for ages 5–9.
• The Lil' Peach, a 50-meter (about 164 feet) dash for kids aged 6 and younger.

Starting in 2015, ten Kid-Friendly Decathlon events were added. These fun events happen after the races and are open to participants aged fourteen and under.

The Peachtree Junior is designed to be a shorter, safer version of the main race. All participants can join the Peachtree Jr. Challenge. This challenge gives scholarships to the top three groups that sign up the most kids. The event is usually held in late May or early June. The entire course is inside Piedmont Park. About 2,500 kids can participate. All finishers get a T-shirt.

Peachtree Jr. Course and Date Changes

In 2019, for the 50th Peachtree Road Race, the Peachtree Junior moved permanently to July 3rd. This made it part of the bigger Peachtree Road Race experience. The course also changed to include a small part of the official 10K course for the first time. This meant it left Piedmont Park for a short section.

Past Winners

The 2013 finisher's medal, which runners could buy. The famous Peachtree T-shirt is given to all who finish the race.

The fastest time ever for men in the race is 27 minutes and 1 second. This record was set by Rhonex Kipruto in 2019. 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 38 seconds, set by Saul Mendoza in 2004. The women's wheelchair record is 21 minutes and 14.71 seconds, set by Susannah Scaroni in 2022.

Two athletes have won the most Peachtree Road Races: Gayle Barron won the women's division five times (1970–71, 1973–75), and Lornah Kiplagat won five times as well (2000–2002, 2005–2006).

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

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

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

Images for kids

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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