ATLANTA - June 26, 2020 -- Atlanta Track Club announced two social campaigns and released new details of its virtual AJC Peachtree Road Race today to kick off the week of July 4. The annual 10K has been postponed until Thanksgiving Day due to COVID-19. Still, the Club, which organizes the race, is taking steps to recognize an Atlanta tradition that spans five decades.
While no race will be held on July 4, runners and walkers in metro-Atlanta, across the country and around the globe are encouraged to commemorate Peachtree history by taking part in a running or walking activity during the day. Participants can share their runs using #MyPersonalPeachtree and all posts will populate here. There is no set course or distance required, however the Club urges everyone, for safety reasons, to stay off the AJC Peachtree Road Race course on the Fourth of July.
"July 4 has always been a celebration of family, fitness and fun and we hope everyone celebrates in their own way this year whether their run is 10 minutes, 10K, or 10 miles," said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club's executive director and race director of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. "But we strongly discourage anyone from gathering on the course next Saturday as we consider the health risks of large crowds and the safety of runners and walkers on Peachtree Road. The streets will be open to traffic."
Runners and walkers in the Atlanta-area can find inspiration by tuning into WXIA-TV, 11Alive on the morning of the Fourth. 11Alive will re-air last year's 50th Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. The re-broadcast will feature updates on the planning of this year's Thanksgiving Day Peachtree as well as feature stories on well-known participants.
July 4 will also begin an attempt to pull off the World's Largest 10K(indness). Beginning July 4, people can share kind acts, words or deeds on social media using #WorldsLargest10Kindness with a goal of showing more than 10,000 acts at the Peachtree Health and Fitness Expo on November 23, 24 and 25. You can see all the posts here.
Atlanta Track Club, which has organized the Peachtree since 1970, also unveiled information about the inaugural virtual running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. Participants in the virtual event will be able to run or walk a 10K in the location of their choosing on Thanksgiving Day. For those choosing to complete the race on a treadmill, the Club is offering free access to a video that allows participants to feel as if they are actually running down Peachtree.
All participants in the virtual Peachtree on Thanksgiving will receive an official race bib indicating they are in "Wave V". They will also have access to an exclusive Peachtree playlist featuring the voices and sounds of Atlanta Track Club events. Following their run or walk, participants can submit their times online and they can anticipate receiving a coveted AJC Peachtree Road Race finisher's shirt within days of the event.
Registrants were given the option to move to the virtual race when the event was postponed in May. New registrants will be able to choose the virtual option when registration re-opens. Limited in-person spots in the race are also available. A second registration window will be held August 31 - September 6 for members of Atlanta Track Club and September 7 - September 13 for non-members.
The 51st Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race will be held Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day. Details on start times and mitigation efforts regarding COVID-19 will be announced in the coming months.