Last year we received an email from the Atlanta Track Club about a race on January 4th that would be the opposite of the Peachtree Road Race. The Peachtree Road Race is held on July 4th and is a 10K from Buckhead to Piedmont Park in Midtown ATL. It is the largest 10k with over 60,000 people in the heat and humidity in the summer. It is truly a party down Peachtree Street. While I enjoy the race, it is hot and you never know how race day will turn out.
Running the Peachtree Road Race from Piedmont Park (Midtown) to Lennox Mall (Buckhead) in January sounded crazy, which meant I had to register for the race. I was one of the fortunate 5,000 runners who were able to register on November 11, 2024 for a covenant spot. Running the hills of Peachtree Street in the reverse direction and in cold weather sounded like a great way to kick of 2025.
Packet Pick Up
Packet pickup was located at Atlanta Track Club headquarters. Pick up was easy and quick. We received our race bib and a MARTA bracelet that was good for a roundtrip. Our bib placement was based on last year's Peachtree Road Race finishing time. The expo was small and had items for sale. I went on the last day of the expo so I missed many of the branded race gear. There was also props for photos. My favorite feature was all the fake snow.
They also had a name wall, which is on my favorite race expo props.
Race Day Prep/Flat Lay
I decided to represent Team Beef for the race. The day before the race, I bought a new pair of Shokz headphones since my last pair took a trip through the washing machine and stopped working. This was my first flat lay of the year. I knew it was going to be a cold race, so I pulled out the Turtle Gloves and a long sleeve shirt.
Race Day
It as so cold on race day. I took the first MARTA train from the Lindberg station. My friend and I let early to avoid the crowds that are usually associated with the Peachtree Road Race. Since we arrived at Piedmont Park almost 1.5 hours before the race, we hung out in a warm Starbucks. It was perfect place to meet up with friends and use a real bathroom.
The race started at 8:15 am. We lined up at start at Piedmont Park and then we took off to Buckhead. It was bit crowded since we only ran on half of Peachtree Street, but with 5,000 runners it wasn't that bad. Personally, I think the race terrain was easier than the Peachtree since there are no large inclines like Cardiac Hill. My biggest issue was I was just so cold. I struggled a bit at mile 4 due to the cold (it was hard on my breathing). Just when the cold was getting the best of me, I saw the finish line. I finished in 1:16:59, which was close to my previous Peachtree Road race finishing time.
We were awarded a beautiful medal with confetti and a warm hoodie. This was the best swag that I have ever received from completing an Atlanta Track Club race. The hoodie came in handy and I was so grateful for it.
Overall, I had a great time and look forward to doing the race again. I am also excited about this year's Peachtree Road Race and all the sprinklers.
