Peachtree Road Race 2009 in Atlanta

Competition was fierce as the online registration for the Peachtree Road Race 2009 opened at 7:00 a.m. This 10K (6.2 mile race) is an annual event in Atlanta. According to an article by Kathy Jefcoats in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution "Online registration for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

For the first time in the forty year history of this Atlanta based race, potential participants were able to register online. Traditionally, applicants would have found the printed form in their Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. The first 45,000 online applications were automatically accepted. The remaining 10,000 participants would be randomly selected from mailed-in registrations.

Notable Firsts

A first for the Peachtree Road Race 2009, entrants may pay their registration fee with a major credit card. Another first, in past races only the top seeded runners were timed by electronic means, but this year all runners will be timed electronically.

History

The Peachtree Road Race was started in 1970 by the Atlantic Track Club to promote running. The first 110 runners in that race could not have imagined the scope of today's race. The first entrance fee was $2.00 and did not cover expenses. In 2009, the registration fee for the Peachtree Road Race is $33.00. The first race was sponsored by Carling Brewery. In 1976, the sponsorship was taken on by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With increased publicity, the race has grown to its current size.

The race starts at Bleckhead's Phipps Plaza and ends at Midtown's Piedmont Park. Each runner who finishes receives his coveted Peachtree Road Race tee shirt. These tee shirts have become a status symbol in Atlanta.

Peachtree Road Race Fun Facts

Runners can post their statistics and check others progress online at runpeachtree.com

Gayle Barrow holds the women's record for the most wins - five- in the Peachtree Road Race. Craig Virgin, with three wins, is the men's record holder.

Some celebrity runners you might see are Clark Howard and Mayor Shirley Franklin. There is an official fan page on Facebook. You can track the progress of the race, and find interesting trivia there.Peachtree Road Race closed about 2 p.m. Sunday after 45,000 people signed up for the Fourth of July race." Seven short hours meant the difference between success and failure for registrants.www.runpeachtree.com. The oldest runner currently listed there is ninety-four year old Gandalf the Grey. His profile states "A wizard is never knackered, he quits precisely when he means to!". In contrast, the youngest runner listed is just fifteen-years old, and brand new to the race.

Sources
www.ajc.com

www.atc.com