Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race

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Event Update: As of 2:40 p.m. on November 3, the Polar Opposite Peachtree is officially SOLD OUT.

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Atlanta Track Club is excited to bring back the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race on January 3, 2026! Experience the Peachtree like never before - in the winter and in reverse. Starting at Piedmont Park and finishing at Lenox Square, the race course will have no left on 10th - you'll be turning right on Peachtree. And instead of climbing Cardiac Hill, you'll run downhill. Finishers will be rewarded with a finisher-exclusive crewneck and medal.


Become a Member
DATE & TIME
  • Saturday, January 3, 2026
  • 8:00 a.m.
LOCATION
  • Piedmont Park, 1000 Charles Allen Drive NE, Atlanta, Ga 30060
DISTANCE
  • 10K (ages 10 & older)
FINISHER SWAG
  • adidas Crewneck
  • Medal

    The adidas crewneck and medal are true finisher items. You must complete the event and cross the finish line in order to receive them.
COST
  • Members - $70
  • Non-Members - $80

Plus additional fees

Event Schedule

6:45 a.m.

Will Call Opens

6:45 a.m.

Gear Check Opens

8:00 a.m.

Race Start

8:15 a.m.

Will Call Closes

8:15 a.m.

Gear Check Closes

9:00 a.m.

Gear Check Pickup at Finish

9:40 a.m.

Awards Ceremony

11:00 a.m.

Gear Check Pickup Closes

Race Number Pickup

Location:
  • Atlanta Track Club Headquarters: 201 Armour Dr, Atlanta GA 30324

Dates:
  • Thursday, January 1 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday, January 2 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

All participants must pick up their number during number pickup hours prior to the event. To pick up on race day, Will Call must be pre-purchased. Participants are welcome to send a friend or family member to pick up their number but they must present your check-in pass.

Race day registration and onsite registration is not offered for this event.

Will Call - Race Day Number Pick Up

Will Call must pre-purchased for $20.00 in order to pick up your race number of race day. All participants who did not purchase Will Call must pick up their number at Race Number Pick Up.

  • Click here to enter your booking confirmation id or start from your confirmation email
  • Click Manage.
  • Under Making Changes click Purchase or view add ons
  • Add Will Call to your basket and check out
Manage Registration

Course Information

Course time limit:

  • 10K: 1 hour and 45 minutes (17 minute per mile pace)
  • Ages 10 and older

Atlanta Track Club is implementing carefully managed, rolling lane closures for the Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race to minimize community impacts along the route. Any participants who fall behind this mark will be asked to move to the sidewalk and may not receive an official finisher's result.

For the safety and enjoyment of all participants, no pets, or wheeled conveyances of any kind, including baby joggers/strollers, roller/inline skates, and bicycles, are permitted on the course. Headphones are strongly discouraged.

Course Map

Additional Information

Registration Details 

  • Early: Registration opened exclusively for Atlanta Track Club members for a limited time on February 6, 2025.
  • General: Non-members had a limited registration window starting July 4, following the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
  • Final Opportunity: The last registration was available on November 3 at 8:00 a.m. with only 1,000 registration spots remaining. As of 2:40 p.m. the event is officially SOLD OUT.

Event Location

Piedmont Park - Start Line
1000 Charles Allen Drive NE
Atlanta, Ga 30308

Lenox Square - Finish Line
3393 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326

Wave Assignments

Atlanta Track Club will be assigning waves based on past performances. Participant will have an opportunity to submit a race time in the fall of 2025 to secure their wave placement.

How to Enter/ Update your Race Submission
  • Atlanta Track Club will send instructions on November 5 with directions of how to submit your race time for wave placement purposes.
  • Only 2025 5K & 10K performances will be accepted.
  • If no time is submitted, participants will be placed in the last waves.

MARTA & Parking

  • All participants will receive a two-way pass at number pick up, Will Call participants will receive on Race Day.
  • MARTA will open at 6:00 a.m. on January 3rd.
  • Participants are encouraged to park at Lenox Square and take MARTA to the Midtown Station then walk to the start line
  • Participants may ride MARTA from their local stop directly to the Midtown Station
  • Limited parking is available at Piedmont Park. Participants may use Sage Parking deck or legal street parking

Gear Check

Gear Check will be provided at the start line on Charles Allen Drive. Participants will use the bags provided at gear check with their bib number. All items will be transported to the finish line, where bags may be redeemed by showing your race number. Items not placed in the clear bag provided will not be accepted. Gear must be picked up by 11:00 a.m.

Clothing or items left in the start area will be removed and donated immediately following the closure of the start line.

Awards

Overall and Masters awards are based on gun time and overall winners are not eligible for age group awards. Age group awards are based on net time.

10K awards & Prize Money:

  • Overall male, female*
    Prize Money: 1st - $500, 2nd - $250, 3rd - $125
  • Overall nonbinary
    Award Only - 1st Place
  • Masters male, female
    Award Only - 1st Place

*Overall winners must be an Atlanta Track Club members in order to receive prize money. Physical Awards will be given on site, prize money will be mailed following the event.

Age group awards will be mailed to the top three finishers in each age division approximately two weeks after the event:

  • 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, and 90+ (excluding the overall winners)

Athletes with Disabilities

In order to serve all our athletes, Atlanta Track Club offers opportunities for Athletes with Disabilities (AWD). If you are an AWD and interested in participating, please email [email protected], to discuss what reasonable accommodations can be made based on your specific needs. Atlanta Track Club officials will provide reasonable accommodation to Athletes with Disabilities on an individualized and event by event basis.

Merchandise

If you pre-ordered a Polar Opposite Peachtree quarter-zip pullover or beanie during registration, your items will be available for pickup at Race Number Pickup on January 1-2, 2026.

Questions

If you have additional questions regarding the event, please email [email protected].

Become a Member

Atlanta Track Club members get access to exclusive races and events, discounts on all Club events and programs and benefits from our partners. They also get guaranteed entry, the lowest price and preferred wave placement in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Join today!

Join Today

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