Due to all the flags flying and America the Beautiful’s and such, I’m feeling a need to contribute some dialogue to the weekend’s events. A reflection on my patriotism, if you will...
This morning at 7:30 AM, 55,000 runners participated in the 40th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA. The Peachtree is the largest 10K road race in the U.S. and is arguably the best and most prestigious race of its kind. This year, Peachtree hosted the USA Men’s 10km Championship and crowned the country’s fastest 10k runner.
An interesting history…
According to the Atlanta Track Club, a carload of ATC members were heading back from Fort Benning's Independence Day five-mile run when they came up with the idea of Atlanta holding its own Fourth of July race. The next year on July 4, 1970, about 110 runners participated after paying the $2 entry fee.
1980: the field of runners first reached 25,000
1990: a staggered race start lasting 30 minutes was introduced in order to support the field of 40,000 runners
1994: the field was expanded to 50,000. 62,000+ applicants vied for the spots within 48 hours of opening.
1998: the field was expanded to 55,000. Over 70,000 applicants applied within 24 hours of opening for these spots.
2004: in celebration of its 35th anniversary, the 110 original Peachtree finishers were invited back. In addition, Peachtree hosted its first satellite race at Camp Victory in Baghdad. Dubbed “Time Group Ten – Baghdad Division”, 500 soldiers wore Peachtree race numbers to earn the prestigious Peachtree T-shirt – a special edition with “Baghdad Division” on its sleeve.
Course records…
The fastest men's time in the AJC Peachtree Road Race is 27:04, set by Kenya's Joseph Kimani in 1996. The fastest women's time is 30:32 set by Lornah Kiplagat of Kenya in 2002.
2009 race day stats…
Over 900 volunteers helped coordinate the start alone (over 3,200 total volunteers), and it was a full hour and 15 minutes before the final runner got a chance to begin his or her 6.2 mile run down Peachtree Road to finish on 10th Street. As a result, the winner finished a good 50 minutes before the last competitor crossed the starting line.
The 55,000 runners burned approximately 34 million calories running the 6.2 mile course.
There were close to 600 portable toilets to accommodate the runners.
More than 500,000 recyclable paper cups and 65,000 bottles of water were used.
The oldest registered male and female runners were both 88.
3,200 runners participated in the overseas Peachtree editions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.
191 of the 55,000 Peachtree runners celebrate their birthday today.
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If you've read this far... it's been a fun weekend, though quite full... Kaboom Town last night was quite the experience, got some good pictures that I'll have to get uploaded... Cafe Brazil: breakfast at midnight, can't beat that... McKinney Homemade Ice Cream Crank-Off earlier today, Mango Habanero flavor?!, more on that later... off to the gym for awhile and then regrouping to see what else can be crammed into the weekend. Whew! Happy 4th...
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