An Atlanta Tradition is the Peachtree Road Race. At 7:30 A.M. on what is likely to be a hazy warm morning this coming 4th of July, 55,000 runners in the 39th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race will line up from Lenox Square north to the horizon. Over 900 volunteers will help coordinate the start, and it will be a full hour and 15 minutes before the final runner gets a chance to begin his or her 6.2 mile run down Peachtree Road to finish on 10th Street. The Peachtree is the world’s largest 10K road race and arguably the best and most prestigious.
The race’s inauguration in 1970 held few indications of such future glory. The idea for a Fourth of July race down the city’s main thoroughfare germinated the year before when a carload of Atlanta Track Club members went to Fort Benning for its modest Independence Day run. On the way home, someone suggested Atlanta should have its own Fourth of July event; another added it could go down the main street given the light holiday traffic. Approximately 110 runners gathered together at the old Sears parking lot at the corner of Peachtree Road and Roswell Road and, at 9:30 a.m. on July 4, 1970, headed downtown towards Central City Park in the first Peachtree.
The race’s inauguration in 1970 held few indications of such future glory. The idea for a Fourth of July race down the city’s main thoroughfare germinated the year before when a carload of Atlanta Track Club members went to Fort Benning for its modest Independence Day run. On the way home, someone suggested Atlanta should have its own Fourth of July event; another added it could go down the main street given the light holiday traffic. Approximately 110 runners gathered together at the old Sears parking lot at the corner of Peachtree Road and Roswell Road and, at 9:30 a.m. on July 4, 1970, headed downtown towards Central City Park in the first Peachtree.
In 2001, the year Pat and I met, we both participated in the Peacthtree for the first time. Because of vacation schedules, we have not been able to run (or in my case, walk) the race since then. Well, until this year. The Monday before the race, I was offered to purchase 2 numbers and on a whim, I bought them and broke the news to Pat that we would be "doing the Peachtree" this year. Pat, the smarter of the 2 of us, pointed out we had not trained at all for the race, but I insisted we could do it. And we did. It is an exhilarating event to be apart of. The streets are lined with cheerleaders of all kinds. Live Bands perform at different points along the way.
Some of my favorite memories are the teams that participate together (groups from work, families, friends - you name it - all wearing coordinated colors or uniforms. Some people like to wear costumes, but honestly, it is so hot I cannot understand why. There are firemen who trot the race in full uniform, including equipment. Soldiers will do the same with full pacts and carry flags - what is more patriotic than a troop of soldiers in full uniform, carrying the American flag, running the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th of July?
There was a minister from one of the churches housed along Peachtree Road, who greeted the runners with blessings on our ankles and knees and sprinkled holy water on us as we passed by. By far the most touching is the approach to the part of the trail known as "Cardiac Hill". Ironically, this part of the trail is in front of Piedmont Hospital and is about the midway point. It is hot and the last thing a runner, especially an inexperienced one, wants is an incline. At the very beginning of the hill is the Sheppard Spine Center. Many of the patients are brought out, some on gurneys, some in wheelchairs, depending upon their injuries and what stage of recovery. It is absolutely inspiring to run past them, slapping their hands as you go by because you are thinking to yourself, "I know they wish they could be doing what I am doing right now". That was just enjoy MOJO I needed to push myself. And further on during my walk-run, I came across a runner wearing a t-shirt that said "Sheppard Spine Center Graduate". I did get misty.It is Pat's and my hope we can make this a family event by having the kids participate with us next year, and in years to come.
