The 4,500 participants of the Atlanta 10 Miler and 5K presented by American Family Insurance enjoyed cool temperatures and clear skies, making Sunday, October 26 the ideal fall day for a road race. This year marked the second running of the events, which both started and finished at Atlantic Station.
The Atlanta 10 Miler unveiled a new course this year, leading participants through the streets of
Buckhead lined with cheer zones and a new on-course challenge. After crossing the finish line at Atlantic Station, runners and walkers of both events received medals, free massages and celebrated their accomplishment with fellow runners and spectators.
Darren Brown and Lauren Blankenship took home victories in the Atlanta 10 Miler, finishing in 52:03 and 1:02:47 respectively. Brown is from Solana Beach, California, while Blankenship lives in Marietta.
The Atlanta 5K presented by American Family Insurance boasted young winners, with the female as the overall winner, and the leading male. Bethany LeBlanc, 16, of Powder Springs broke the tape in 18:39. Thomas Langstraff, 17, of Albany, Georgia finished first for the males in 18:44.
“To see the size of this event double in it’s second year and attract participants of all ages and from a variety of places is rewarding to our staff and volunteers,” said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club’s executive director. “From the Adopt a Mile cheer zones to the new challenge, Conquer Cardiac Hill presented by Mizuno, Atlanta Track Club was proud to offer an exciting race day experience to participants in hopes of reminding them that while it’s competitive, running is also fun and meant to be celebrated.”
Atlanta 10 Miler overall winner Darren Brown and second-place female Kathleen Casto were named King and Queen of Cardiac Hill in the new on-course challenge, Conquer Cardiac Hill presented by Mizuno, conquering the infamous hill in 5:22 and 6:34 respectively. The challenge tested the hill-climbing ability of Atlanta 10 Miler participants on one of the most recgonizable stretches of Peachtree Road, Cardiac Hill. Cardiac Hill rises more than 12 stories in elevation in less than a mile and is best known from Atlanta Track Club’s flagship event, the AJC Peachtree Road Race. The challenge provided timed splits from the bottom to the top of the hill. Awards were presented to the top 100 fastest participants up the hill.
Atlanta 10 Miler participants were treated to cheer zone support from 10 local nonprofits that were selected to be part of Atlanta Track Club’s Adopt a Mile program. The organizations were selected based on their work to improve health and fitness in the metro Atlanta community through walking and running, with a special emphasis on those serving youth. Each organization adopted a mile along the course and provided volunteers to support an aid station and cheer zone within their mile. Atlanta Track Club will donate a total of $50,000 to the organizations in various amounts depending on the level of their participation. An additional $500 will be donated to the organization that is voted “Best of the Best” by Atlanta 10 Miler participants in the post-race survey.
Complete results for the Atlanta 10 Miler and 5K Presented by American Family Insurance are posted here.
About the Atlanta 10 Miler
In its second year, the Atlanta 10 Miler features an exciting new course that starts and finishes inside Atlantic Station and takes participants on a tour of unbeatable skyline views and tree-lined Buckhead streets. As the featured second stop for participants in Atlanta Track Club’s Triple Peach, this event is a perfect next step after the AJC Peachtree Road Race and a great final tune-up for the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. Held along with the Atlanta 10 Miler, the Atlanta 5K presented by American Family Insurance and the Kilometer Kids Fun Zone provide an event for runners of all abilities and ages to participate. For more information and to register for the event, visit atlantatrackclub.org.
About Atlanta Track Club
Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. With more than 21,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world and the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (atlantahalfmarathon.org), Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.