Peachtree Road Race

2008 UPDATE: The Peachtree Road Race will not finish at Piedmont Park as it traditionally does, due to the drought. Race organizers have designated a new, temporary finish line that will be at the corner of Juniper and Ponce de Leon. Runners can then just walk about four blocks to the Atlanta Civic Center, where after-race activities will take place. You can download a PDF map of the new race route at the Atlanta Track Club website.

It wouldn't be July 4th in Atlanta without the Peachtree Road Race. While the middle of summer may seem to be an unfriendly time to run a 10k race in Atlanta, this just makes it all the more of a challenge for runners from all over the world. The Peachtree Road Race is part of the Professional Road Running Organization(PRRO) Circuit, a prestigious series of road racing events. In fact, the Peachtree Road Race is the last leg of the "Triple Crown of Road Racing," beginning with the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 miler in the nation's capital, followed by Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k in Spokane, Washington.

The Peachtree Road Race follows a path that winds through the heart of the city, from Lenox Mall in Buckhead to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta. (In 2008, it will finish just south of the park due to the drought). It's a huge undertaking mainly handled by the 3500 dedicated volunteers that are up in the wee hours of the morning of the race, preparing the route so things go smoothly. Restaurants and bars along the route offer specials and many have live entertainment to greet the runners as they pass by.

Every kind of runner, from the amateur to world class champions participate in the Peachtree Road Race. Those that are able to run the entire race and cross the finish line receive the coveted official race T-shirt marking their achievement. As many as 55,000 entrants participate each year, making it the largest 10k in the world.

The toughest part of the race for most people is "Heartbreak Hill," the incline that Piedmont Hospital sits on, as one heads from Buckhead towards Midtown. Many don't make it past this difficult leg of the race, but good conditioning and training in hot, humid weather can help you get over the hump. Keeping hydrated is also extremely important, especially if you are from out of town and are not used to Atlanta's humid conditions.

The Peachtree Road Race is a fun way to kick off Independence Day in Atlanta, and is a local tradition that should not be missed.

Looking for another great Atlanta racing event? Don't miss the ING Georgia Marathon, which held its successful inaugural race in March 2007.