Just one day remains until the running of the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race. More than 50,000 runners from across the metro — and around the world — are expected to gather for the 57th running of the “world’s largest 10K.”
Today’s schedule is packed with the Peachtree Junior races, the final day of the Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo, and a participants-only concert from Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (of Run DMC fame) and fireworks display.
Running through the banner for the Peachtree Junior Mile was Elliot Browne, taking home first place overall.
Browne has been running since fifth grade, and is an incoming freshman at Roswell High School. His prepared for the mile using his summer conditioning for the school’s track team.
On Friday, Browne said said that winning felt weird. “I was never like the top of my team,” he said. “I was always up there, but never number one. So, it felt weird to run through the banner.”
Browne said he plans on recovering on the couch for the rest of the day.
As the Peachtree Junior races wound down Friday, Madison James was still on the job.
James has been keeping the energy up all morning. This is her fifth year on the hosting committee for the Peachtree Road Race. She also loves announcing the winners of the races and seeing the runners’ support systems cheer them on.
Her favorite parts of the job are meeting the diverse running community, be they from Atlanta or anywhere else.
“The best part is the excitement and the community,” James said. "There’s something about Peachtree, it's like its own community.”
The Peachtree Junior Dash for kids 6 years and under began at 10 a.m. For many young ones this is their first ever race.
Jennifer Burg has been running the Peachtree 10K since she was a teenager. Since she is taking a break this year, she brought her kids, Davis for his second dash and Porter for his first. The kids didn't need much preparation for the run.
“For the little kids, it's a lot of fun, because it's just 50 meters so (Porter) can run that in his sleep," she said.
Dashers are beginning to head to the start line as parents of the mile runners are finding their young runners and celebrating them.
Despite building humidity, many young runners have been excited to hit the course this morning.
Lines are long for the balloon animals and face painting and many parents are lining the course to cheer on their kids. Dean Nordhielm, father of 6-year-old Emma Nordhielm, is running the 10K Saturday and thought it would be a good idea to bring his daughter to come run.
He helped her prepare by a track near his house.
“With today being a holiday for work, it was great to be able to take them out and for them to be able to do the race,” he said.
The Peachtree Junior Mile began promptly at 9 a.m., with members of the Kyle Pease Foundation and kids ages 6-14 crossing the starting line in waves.
Atlanta police and fire officials on Thursday urged people to take precautions amid expected high temperatures during the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race.
"The primary concern for this weekend is the extreme heat," Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick Smith said, during a news conference at Lenox Square. Heat-related collapses often start with forgetting to hydrate long before the event, Smith said. He also advised runners to limit alcohol and caffeine.
Some fire stations will double as "hydration stations" along the race's path, Smith said. The fire department aims to have personnel along the entire race in addition to its bolstered presence from the World Cup already in place, Smith added.
"If you feel fatigued, please listen to your mind and stop what you are doing," he said.
Atlanta police will have over 500 officers assigned to the race festivities, according to Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
The Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo, presented by Publix, is now open at Lenox Square, and while the event is an opportunity for runners to pick up their race numbers for Saturday’s race, the event has a lot more to offer.
“Participants want more than a start-to-finish-line experience,” Atlanta Track Club CEO Rich Kenah said. “We’re creating a vibrant hub where runners can connect, dine, shop and preview their start before race day. It’s about making Peachtree a full celebration, not just a single-morning event.”
The expo continues (in air-conditioned tents!) today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Atlanta Track Club members can get in an hour early.
Get all the details on vendors, entertainment and more in our Expo Guide.
The days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday will keep high temperatures blasting into the 90s, a heat index pushing “feels-like” temps into the 100s and possible scattered storms.
During the Peachtree Road Race, temperatures will be in the upper 70s to mid-80s depending on when you start and finish that morning. By 11 a.m., Atlanta will be at 90 degrees.
The Atlanta Track Club says a red flag is the highest alert level before event cancellation.
Drink lots of water during the race and remember that you can take walking breaks.
“We encourage all participants to arrive prepared, have a race plan that accounts for the weather, and prioritize their health and safety above performance goals,” the track club said in a news release.
For more than 50 years, the Peachtree Road Race has been the city’s signature running event. Let New York and Boston have their marathons — the Peachtree’s 10K distance ensures this race is for everyone, from world-class runners to people participating in their first running event. And that inclusivity is what has made the Peachtree Road Race the largest 10K event in the world.
From picking up your race number to details on the postrace Chill Zone, our Peachtree Road Race Go Guide has you covered.