Three Runs or Walks to Prepare for the AJC Peachtree Road Race

Three Runs or Walks to Prepare for the AJC Peachtree Road Race

ATLANTA - May 4, 2017 - Training season for the AJC Peachtree Road Race is underway. How are you preparing? With about two months left, there is still plenty of time to get race day ready. Whether you’re a first timer or a Peachtree veteran, here are three runs or walks you can do to get you ready for the 10K on July 4.

Practice Hills
It’s no secret that Atlanta has its fair share of hills. The AJC Peachtree Road Race features a rather infamous one, Cardiac Hill, which climbs more than 12 stories in less than a mile. And that’s not the only rise in elevation along the 6.2-mile course.

As you train, make sure you incorporate hills into your routes. If you run on treadmills frequently, increase the incline during some of your workouts. It’s also a good idea to practice hill repeats – find a long, gradual hill, then run up the hill at a hard effort and slow down to recover on the way down. Repeat this several times, and be sure to warm up before the workout and cool down afterwards.

Find a Tune-Up Race
If you want to see just how far you’ve come in your training, register for a 5K between now and July 4. Racing a shorter distance can help you build confidence and get used to pacing without taxing you too much before the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

Three Runs or Walks to Prepare for the AJC Peachtree Road RaceAtlanta Track Club offers a fun 5K that falls on the perfect weekend for a pre-Peachtree tune-up: the Braves Country 5K presented by Mizuno held on June 10. With a 5K, One Mile and 50m Dash, it’s also an opportunity for the whole family to participate and check out the Braves’ new home.

“This year’s race is made even more exciting as it will be the first in our new home, SunTrust Park, said Adam Zimmerman, vice president of marketing for the Atlanta Braves. “Beginning in The Battery Atlanta and ending right on the baseball field, the race gives our fans and Atlanta’s avid running community a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see SunTrust Park from a whole new perspective.”

Each 5K registration comes with a ticket to a home game, and all participants receive a commemorative Mizuno T-shirt. Those who select the June 10 game tickets are also invited to walk in the pre-game parade on the field. Online registration is open through June 6 at atlantatrackclub.org.

Preview the Peachtree Course
Some runners get race-day jitters if they are running a course for the first time. It can be helpful to turn one of your long runs into a course preview by running it start to finish.

During the month of June, Atlanta Track Club even offers water stops along the AJC Peachtree Road Race course on weekend mornings. You can find the course map here