In Atlanta’s unrelenting heat, thousands of people are preparing for the Peachtree Road Race.
ATLANTA — Running the Peachtree Road Race, the world’s largest 10K distance race that got its humble beginnings in 1970, usually means two problems: hills and heat.
Cardiac Hill will always be there in the middle of the race. And heat will certainly be a big factor this year as Atlanta continues its string of days with temperatures in the 90s and lows with temperatures in the upper 70s.
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In fact, the Atlanta Track Club, the race’s organizer, expects competition to begin under a red flag, the highest level that nearly shuts down the track.
“Based on current forecasts and in consultation with our medical team and public safety partners, we expect race day to begin under RED Flag Event Alert System conditions,” the club said in a statement. “This high level of alert indicates potentially hazardous conditions and requires competitors to make sound decisions throughout the race.”
The club said it “strongly discourages anyone who is at increased risk of heat-related illness or who is unsure of their ability to safely walk 10km in hot and humid conditions from participating.”
But will he become one of the hottest of all time?
It will be close, but the forecast right now calls for 77 degrees at 7 a.m. and will soar to 80 degrees when the course closes at 10:30 a.m.
The Hottest Races on Peachtree Highway
To break the record, the temperature at the start will have to reach 81 degrees. In the 56 Peachtrees race, runners took off at 80-degree angles six times, including the first race in 1970.
That first year, a total of 150 runners gathered in the old Sears parking lot at Peachtree and Roswell Roads. Of those runners, 110 finished – meaning almost 30% failed to do so, which is a surprisingly high percentage.
This mark was also reached in 1973, 1977, 1980, 1983 and 1991.
Over the past 10 years, starting temperatures have generally been in the low to mid 70s.
In a statement on its website, the Atlanta Athletics Club said:
We have comprehensive plans to combat hot weather conditions. These include weather tracking using our color-coded system (Emergency Alert System) designed to inform current and expected conditions on race day, additional hydration and cooling resources, and ongoing communication of participants on best practices for running and walking safely in the heat.
We encourage all participants to stay informed, listen to their bodies, adjust their race day goals as needed, and utilize the resources available throughout the course.
The race starts early; elite athletes start at 6:60 a.m. to avoid rising temperatures.
The race has 55,000 runners and is run in waves that start approximately every five minutes. The course closes at 10:30 a.m., giving the last runners about two hours to finish once they leave the start line.
In 2024, officials issued a Black Flag warning, closing the track due to extreme heat late in the race. About 200 runners have yet to cross the finish line.
This happened twice, at 62 degrees, in 1986 and 1989.
Peachtree Race Day Timeline
6:12 Shepherd Center Wheelchair Department starts.
6:30 Approximate finishing time for the first male wheelwright.
6:47 Message from Northside Hospital Vice President of Marketing Jerry Tolka
6:48 Message from the Mayor – Andre Dickens
6:35 Approximate finishing time for the first elite female chariot.
6:38 National Anthem by Briar Blakely
6:43 Start of the men’s elite.
6:45 Start of the women’s elite.
6:45 Awards ceremony for the top three competitors in the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division.
6:50 am. High School Elite Division, seeding and wave A start.
6:54 Approximate time to complete first aid for shock
7:11 Approximate finishing time for the first elite man.
7:15 Estimated finishing time for the first elite woman.
7:21 Estimated finishing time for the first man from Elite High School.
7:27 Approximate time of the first finish among women of the Elite High School.
7:40 Awards ceremony for the top three finishers in track, wheelchair and high school.
8:30 Start of the last starting wave.
8:30 Closing of the starting line
10:30 Official closing of the finish line/racecourse.