Peachtree Road Race: Changes coming to 2010 event
Online registration for the 41st running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race will open at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 21, the Atlanta Track Club announced Jan. 28. Read the full story here.
Of even greater importance to Peachtree participants, however, may be this event change for 2010:
“For the first time, start assignments will be performance-based instead of randomly assigned, and the number of start waves will nearly double, allowing for smaller waves and better distribution of participants. The track club is hoping these steps will help ease congestion at the start line and along the course.”
YOU TELL US: What’s your opinion of the changes set to happen for the 2010 Peachtree? Do you think they’ll improve the race or is the event losing some of the “come one, come all” spirit that helped it grow in popularity over the years in an effort to appeal to today’s more serious runners?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
73 comments Add your comment
Ataru
February 6th, 2010
11:01 am
For crying out loud, people, yes, the race isn’t perfect, but the amount of whining in these comments is truly gag-inducing. If you don’t like walkers or joggers or non-Kenyans, stay home! If you don’t like the T-shirt or it doesn’t boost your ego enough wearing it, stay home! If you think it costs too much or you hate the qualifiers or you’re such a delicate flower that random snide comments make you hate the whole race, STAY HOME!
Nora
February 7th, 2010
1:20 pm
Actually, I do intend to “stay home”. I have run several PTRRs but really have no desire to do it again this year so I’m gonna pass.
Happy now?
Rene Brown
February 8th, 2010
3:35 pm
Can’t we all just get along?
Who care what time you start? Who cares if people are walking and jogging slow? It is a tradition
in Atlanta to Run the Peachtree Road Race on Fourth of July. If you do not like the way this race is being handled find a marathon to run where people train and will not run you over and will not care if there are joggers in the packed. When did we all become Olympian Winners? Let me know if the Peachtree begins to pay the non winners and Nike or Reebok offer you a million dollar contract. Then you can bitch about the race.
tree rollins
February 11th, 2010
12:32 pm
I don’t want to be classified as a whiner so I’m going to make the following suggestions instead of bitching:
1) Now that the electronics exist to track runners from beginning to end bring back the 55 minute cutoff for t-shirts so it’s clear to all this is not a “walk for charity”. There IS no charity. Reward people for coming to run and make it a fitness event again.
2) Let everyone participate that wants to – runners and walkers. This way it can be an “event” for the walkers also. If they want to participate – great – but no t-shirt just for showing up. They can buy one at the end that’s different if they want. This will allow people that really wanted to run to once again be able to register.
3) Quit paying these Kenyan runners to come over and participate. Nobody cares anymore except the Kenyans that get the money. There are no Craig Virgins or Bill Rodgers or Frank Shorters out there so give up the facad!! Nobody cares or pays the slightest attention any more.
4) And finally, allow the runner to use their prior year’s PRR time as their qualifier for seeding in the subsequent year so people don’t have to run qualifiers just to make the Peachtree a pleasant experience to get out in front of the walkers.
Do these things and it will be fun for all once again and you won’t have to change the name of this spectacle to the Peachtree Road “Event” instead of the Peachtree Road “Race”. No whining!!
walked_it_last_year
February 11th, 2010
2:20 pm
As a person who walked the race for the first time last year while being out of shape and with no training, I am disheartened to see the comments from the seasoned PRRers. I started waaaay in the back so it was hot and it took me close to 2 hours to finish it. I was not there for the tee-shirt…I did not even register for the race. I was there bc I was my mom, who has walked/jogged it for several years, had asked me each year to do it with her and I was finally making good on it. For me the race was eye-opening, such a fun positive vibe…older folks, young kids (my daughter did it too and she was 10), folks in wheelchairs, super fit people and even people out there bigger than me… everyone so friendly and encouraging. It was a health/fitness celebration to me. I was so uplifted that I finished.
I have now subsequently lost over 70lbs and I am training now for this year’s race. (My goal is to do it in an hour but now I feel like that is not enough after reading these comments…yikes!) And I am inviting my overweight and out of shape husband, friends and family to do it with us. The tshirt is not motivation at all, just a tangible reminder of an accomplishment.
I understand that people who train seriously and are fit and enjoy running want a race more tailored to true athletes. And I understand that perhaps the thoughts of someone who is able to complete the race in under 55 minutes are that they do the hard work of preparing themselves and so everyone else could make the same choice and come prepared as well.
Our nation is in the grip of mutiple health epidemics — diabetes, childhood obesity, heart disease, and so on — where consistent exercise such as walking could prevent so many deaths and sicknesses and save so much money. Perhaps the runners could allow that for some this race may be a beginning to make progress in their personal health and fitness. I personally think that helping to usher in our nation’s future by encouraging all to become active (even if just for one day) is a most excellent way to celebrate our independance.
Peyton
February 11th, 2010
5:11 pm
this will be my 20th.. and I’ve hated every change so far.. so I doubt I’ll like these… (and of course wish I was still capable of running it in 47 minutes)
what about people who didn’t run last year? how will their time group be determined?
I wish it was back at 20,000 people.. or 25,000
55,000 is just too much.. for marta.. for everything
Peyton
February 11th, 2010
8:15 pm
as for the ’slower runners staying right’.. it’s been y ears since I was a left hand runner.. but now… how about the runners staying to the left of the joggers… i come home black and blue from the elbows of having people knock the crap out of me as they fly by in areas where there’s not enough room to pass..
it’s the faster guys that need to stay on the left side imo.. the slow ones are having no problem on the right
first timer
February 12th, 2010
12:45 pm
This will be my first PRR but my third 10K. I’m glad they will have the seeded option to get folks grouped but I doubt people will actually be in their perspective groups. I guess I’m an average runner I completed my 10K in about an hours. Professional runners don’t be so hard on the walkers or less experienced folks. But for safety purposes I like the Idea of walkers or very slow runners to be in the back .
For all who are complaining about parking you can park free at most marta stations and the ride on MARTA is only a couple of bucks so unless you’re totoing the whole family down there MARTA is Smarta
See ya at the race!!!!!!!!
Nora
February 14th, 2010
5:50 pm
@tree rollins, thank you. Great ideas and comments!
tree rollins
February 17th, 2010
12:40 pm
One final suggestion for the PRR:
Please take the money we save from the thousands of $’s paid to the Kenyans as an “appearance fee” and use it to pay the fee for mailing the race packet out to the entrants (like the old days). That way – instead of driving an hour into town and paying a $10 parking fee to get into a long to pick up your runner’s packet – those of us that simply want to run are not “penalized” for not wanting to dedicate a half day to pick up the packet. No whining – just good solid smart suggestions to make this race more fun for everyone (except the handful of Kenyan runners that don’t care about Peachtree anyway).
kurt martin
February 19th, 2010
10:41 pm
If you don’t allow walkers in the Peachtree, a lot of runners won’t be there either. Because they won’t want to go if their spouse or best friend isn’t welcome, but that person isn’t in shape for 6 miles of running nonstop.
On the other hand, I think it would be great if the first several groups of runners were organized according to documented performance in other 10K races. Then after a certain point, maybe all those who ran 10Ks in more than an hour, you let them mix in with the walkers and half-walkers-half-joggers.
P.S. I slowly ran the whole thing a couple years ago, only walking when I got cups of water, but it still took me like an hour and 15 minutes. So not everybody who takes longer than an hour is a walker. Could be a slow runner too.
DarenW
February 22nd, 2010
6:07 pm
I don’t understand all the elite runners complaining about walkers and slow folks. It’s the Peachtree, Of course there are walkers, and slow runners. If you want to run without a bunch of folks having a six mile party, can’t you find another race? There’s a dozen every weekend in this town. Why do you have to run a race that has 55,000 people, and then complain about the number of people. That just seems silly.
I’m running the Charles Harris 10k this weekend (if the weather doesn’t suck). Come run that. I don’t expect to see that many walkers there, and it looks like a good course. Why do you choose the Peachtree, and then complain about everything that makes it the Peachtree?.
I don’t understand. I ran the PRR in 1:45, and a couple years later I ran it in half that time. Both times meant something very different to me, but I enjoyed both. And when I ran it under 55, I was happy to pass all the strolling folks. Good for them! Maybe they’ll be running it in under an hour next year.
Rod
February 23rd, 2010
11:14 am
It’d be easy to stop all the folks that jump in the race a mile down the road. Just use the chip and in order to get a tshirt, the chip must have gone through the start line at the time your group went (or later) and it must go through the finish line.
Simple.
NativeAtlantan
March 3rd, 2010
10:15 am
I’ve never seen so many whiners. The PRR is an Atlanta tradition, so naturally it’s undergone a lot of growth and changes over 30+ years.
The start wave time limits are a great idea because they allow everyone who participates to submit a time. Historically you had to run a 10K in under 55 minutes, now you can run any race (5K – Half Marathon) in any time and be placed accordingly.
Online registration isn’t pushed to 1pm to let ATC members sign up early…ATC members can sign up beginning in early March. Maybe it’s pushed to 1pm to accommodate those running the ING that morning? Having registration on the day of the ING does hint of ’sibling rivalry’…the ATC could move it to the weekend before or after.
Moving the EXPO downtown I doubt many people will like, I know I don’t. Buckhead is more centrally located and easier to get to for number pickup, but there’s probably not a location that could accommodate such a large number of people in Buckhead.
@TreeRollins – arrogant ATC staff? Obviously you’ve never actually encountered actual ATC staffmembers. How a handful of individuals run one of the largest running clubs in the world is amazing. And they depend on thousands of volunteers. And the PRR IS all about fitness and running. You’d rather limit the field to 25,000 sub-55 minute runners than encourage all 55,000 to enjoy the morning at their own pace? Talk about arrogant!
@Patrick – you make some silly comments: only a race for elite runners…since when do you have to have a chance to win for it to be called a race? So the Olympians in Vancouver shouldn’t have been allowed to participate if they weren’t a medal favorite? If one has a goal to meet, then it’s a race for that person, whether it’s to finish a 10K in 45 minutes or 90 minutes. It’s not logistically impossible to run a good race either. I’ve run several good races the last couple of years out of TG1-A.
And for those of you fed up with cheaters? Get over it. They’re inevitable in any event of this magnitude. I hate seeing people hop in past the start, but that’s their loss, not mine.
@Thad – it’s a shame the ATC has taken over? Please…don’t you mean it’s amazing how the ATC helped create, and has maintained and tried to improve upon?
@tree rollins (again) – you’re an idiot. Your suggestion is to allow the runner to use the prior year’s PRR time as a qualifier? YOU CAN!
@walked_it_last_year – bravo! congrats! If you can finish in under an hour you’ll be ahead of thousands upon thousands of Peachtree particpants. Good luck!
It’s an event folks. Make it what you want to make it. But stop the complaining and just don’t sign up, because there are thousands who try each year but don’t get in.
Nao_run4life
March 3rd, 2010
10:24 pm
I am very pleased to the most of chages on P’tree Road Race 2010. However, I am not happy at all about the start time of on line registration. ‘1pm on March 21′, I will be running ING Atlanta Marathon and it might be too late to resister on line by the time I get back home from the race based on the fact last year’s on line resistration was full and closed in few hrs. I hate paper resistration. It took me until end of June to receive race packet and made me so nervous! I am sure I am not the only one who is not happy about the date and time of online resistration date!! Please change or at least consider to start resistration at early morning time like 3-4am.
Lucas
March 4th, 2010
2:32 pm
Question: I seem to remember that in years past, if you ran a certain qualifying time you were able to enter as long as you applied before a certain deadline (i.e. you did not have to be one of the first to register or win the lottery). Is that the case this year? Thanks if anyone can answer.
Runnin with the wind
March 5th, 2010
11:31 am
I think you all should just complain a little more. Jeez.
Bill age 64
March 10th, 2010
12:18 pm
I like the staggered start based on demonstrated recent past times. I have run close to 20 Peachtree’s and usually start near the front. (I’m slowing down with age). To me the biggest problem is the thousands of ‘participants’ who stand during the first 3 miles of the race and jump in at their pleasure.
I am concerned more about the rising costs of this event. $33.00 plus $3.00 online fee plus $5.00 mail fee (which is probably cheaper than parking will be for the expo).
Proud Walker
March 16th, 2010
7:00 pm
For all of you that have attitudes about walkers in the PRR…..get over yourselves. The Peachtree is for everybody and everyone who finishes should get a T-Shirt. If you don’t want to run with others who walk, take a chill pill and go find another 10K. I’ve walked the PRR for 5 yrs and have walked 5Ks, 10Ks, Half-Marathons & a Marathon and I am proud of finishing them all (and of getting a shirt from them all). Lighten up and have some fun!
walking is fine
March 17th, 2010
3:46 pm
Just stay to the right? Happy to be seeded in Group 1 this year – my fault for not providing qualifiers years past and random bad luck of the draw staring in 8 or 9 but have normally found it is an incremental 2 minutes per mile over the first 2 while avoiding the walkers spread across 10 feet in waves randomly placed across the road. I do find it hard to believe “I didn’t know” I should stay right is the reality. People rarely think about the whole beyond their wants – this is not just at PTRR. Walk on.
BehindEnemyLines
March 19th, 2010
1:04 am
Fascinating thread. I don’t think I ever realized that “runners” were at least equally obnoxious as cyclists. Reinforces my desire to remain, as ever, someone who will only be spotted running if something extremely dangerous is chasing me.
Frank
March 19th, 2010
11:28 pm
After reading numerous comments, I am still confused. I ran the PRR for 5 years straight back in 80-84. When I sent the application in, I had to report my average 10K time. Then, I received a number, either color coded or with a designated letter or both. I then reported to the designated spot on the start line, corresponding to the color or letter my number reflected. This race must have changed a bit during the 90’s. Yes, I passed some slower people with a letter that preceeded mine, and some folks with a later letter passed me. When you jam 50K people together on one street, you should expect some delays. If you have been on River Street in Savannah on St. Patrick’s day, you can attest to that!
Marty
March 31st, 2010
9:08 am
I would like to see people that start ahead of everyone else stopped…there were runners that came out ahead of the runners with numbers under 50 and there was no way they were faster than those folks. Hopefully that will be curbed and people forfeit their chips if they are caught doing it…