Jet Linx Atlanta Makes Strides in AJC Peachtree Road Race

The Jet Linx Atlanta team hit the ground running at the AJC Peachtree Road Race this weekend! The AJC Peachtree Road Race, organized by the Atlanta Track Club, is the largest 10k in the United States. Participants from all over the globe join together to run through the streets of Atlanta. This year marked Jet Linx Atlanta Base President Ron Smith’s 23rd year running the race (shown at right).

“This is the world’s largest 10k road race, with over 70,000 participants,” Smith said. The Atlanta Track Club first held the event in 1970 with approximately 110 runners participating. Over the years, the race has grown to its current size of over 70,000 runners plus an additional 150,000 spectators. The race is sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “This is the region’s most celebrated Fourth of July event, and it takes place the morning of the Fourth every year, rain or shine. It is a true Atlanta tradition.”

The Jet Linx Atlanta team was six members strong, and they took a moment to pause in front of a familiar sight – the Jet Linx Atlanta digital billboard! “All participants passed by the Jet Linx billboard at the corner of Peachtree and W. Paces Ferry. The billboard is so wonderfully bright, it cast a warm glow through the rain on the runners crossing beneath it,” said Smith. “There is nothing more patriotic and fun to celebrate the Fourth of July than this event.”

Since its inception in 1970, the Peachtree Road Race has continued to grow in size and popularity. The Atlanta Track Club began distributing T-shirts at the second race, and demand exceeded supply for the first few years of the event. Since then, the shirts have been given only to those who cross the finish line, and are a status symbol among Atlanta runners.

The race has welcomed participants from across the globe, including groups from Africa, Europe and Asia competing against Team USA in the inaugural Peachtree Cup competition at the 2015 AJC Peachtree Road Race. The teams of three men and three women competed in combined time, and Team Africa prevailed in 3:06:29 to Team USA’s 3:07:35. Team Europe came in third and Team Asia finished fourth. The Peachtree Cup awarded Team Africa $42,000 of the $81,000 prize purse.

The race has includes a wheelchair division, one of the largest and fastest wheelchair 10k races in the country. The Peachtree Junior offers three children’s races, varying in length for children up to age 14. Satellite races have been held for United States soldiers stationed overseas, including races in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, with the Atlanta Track Club sending race supplies to the runners.

“It was wonderful to have a large group sporting the Jet Linx colors this year,” said Smith. “I can’t wait to tackle the race for a 24th time in 2016!”