Anyone Doing (Fingers Crossed) Peachtree?

[AmyBWV99]

DH has attempted to register for the Peachtree. Anyone else run it? How is it? 55,000 plus spectators seems like a madhouse! He's doing the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (35,000 people) so should be a good primer of huge running crowds (biggest locally is the Bix 7 at about 20,000).

 

[gsu1988]

I next day mailed my form in so I guess it is a wait and see if I got in.

I have actually done Peachtree the last 4 years. 55,000 people is a sight to behold. My first year I was in time group 8 which is near the back of the field. Each group has its own "start" so the crowd isn't that bad but you quickly catch up and get into a good bit of traffic. Fortunately the last couple of years I have had times that put me in time group 1. It is fun just to be part of an event like this. The heat and humidity of Georgia in July is not very kind but the past couple of years it has been manageable.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Hey Amy! DH and I are doing the Indy Festival 500 too! We will be wearing our WISH shirts, maybe we will see your DH.

 

[lenshanem]

DH took our applications to the post office Saturday night. Hoping to get in group two.

 

[AmyBWV99]

The whole grouping thing has me confused. They have so many different names for the groups. DH is looking to get into one of the earlier groups - he submitted a half marathon time at 6:15 a mile. Any idea where that might put him?

 

[AmyBWV99]

One other question - I know your cancelled check is verification of entry - how long does it typically take for them to cash your check?

 

[ScoJo15]

Here is the info on seeding right from the atlantatrackclub.org site:

TOP-SEEDED RUNNERS:
Runners who have run a 10K race in the following times on a U.S.A. Track and Field (USATF) certified course on a date after March 1, 2007, qualify for top-seeding.
Open Men: Open (under age 40): 36:30 or faster
Masters Men: (40+) 38:00 or faster
Open Women: Open (under age 40): 40:00 or faster
Masters Women: (40+) 41:30 or faster



SUB-SEEDED (Sub 42 minutes):
All runners (male & female, age 10 & older) who have run a 10K race in 41:59 or faster qualify for sub-seeding. This time must have been run on a U.S.A. Track and Field (USATF) certified course anytime after March 1, 2006.

TIME GROUP 1A (42:00 through 49:59):
All runners (male & female, age 10 and older) who have run a 10K race in 42:00 through 49:59 qualify for Time Group 1-A. This time must have been run on a U.S.A. Track and Field (USATF) certified course anytime after March 1, 2006.

TIME GROUP 1B (50:00 through 54:59):
All runners (male & female, age 10 and older) who have run a 10K race in 50:00 through 54:59 qualify for Time Group 1-B. This time must have been run on a U.S.A. Track and Field (USATF) certified course anytime after March 1, 2006.

In the past, it has typically taken two weeks for the cashed check to show up.

Hope this helps!

 

[AmyBWV99]

Thanks for the info! So there are only 4 seeding groups? Each one must be quite large...

We're staying at the Hilton right on the route - how early does DH need to head out to get to the start?

How hard will it be to find him after the race?

 

[ScoJo15]

There are a lot of corrals in addition to the 4 seeded corrals. I don't know the exact numbers, but there are thousands of people in each corral. With 55,000 entries, it's the largest race in the world.

I'm not aware of a Hilton on the race route, but roads start getting closed off at 5:30am. The race starts at 7am and with the volume of people assembling in one area, it can get pretty crowded and you should leave ample time to get to the start. MARTA is almost the only way to get to the race as the close parking lots are used to stage potties/runners/etc. I'd plan on being at the starting area by 6am to allow for delays.

I'm not sure how easy it will be this year to find him after the race since the race isn't ending in Piedmont Park. They usually have big letter balloons up and you can just meet at a certain balloon. I'm told it's pretty easy (I run it alone).

Keep in mind that they will send out a very informative packet in June that will contain his number and all pertinent information as it relates to where he needs to go and when he needs to be there.

Hope this helps!

 

[AmyBWV99]

Correction - we're at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta - Buckhead. That'll be good. It's not hard to find each other after the big race at home (20,000) because we know the area and set a place to meet.

 

[ScoJo15]

If that's the Grand Hyatt at 3300 Peachtree Road, then you are just a few blocks from the start and won't have to worry about transportation to the start line...

The race is always very well organized so I'm sure the finish line meetup area will be well marked and easy to navigate.

Both your hotel and the finish are near MARTA so you can use the rail transportation to get you back "home" after the race.

Have fun!

 

[Cruella de mom]

The Peachtree is like a 6.2 mile long party. The seeded and early groups are a completely different race than the later time groups. I have run in groups 1b,2,3 and 7. Your husband should have a great experience as long as he isn't trying to PR. The peachtree is NOT the race to run for time.

I have never been offered as much free beer as I have the first time I ran this race (group 7). I even had men in Hula skirts serving as running waiters that time! I was shocked at the number of people that took them up on the beer considering it was barely 9am and HOT outside. I have to admit with the party atmosphere, it was very tempting. They slowed down about midway through the race or I might have had a beer at mile 5....

The real reason I like being in the early time groups is because people let you in front of them in the portapotty line. "Hey, she is in group 1! let her go to the front!" Its the little things that count.

I hope you have a wonderful time in Atlanta.

 

[AmyBWV99]

He's trying to run a good time (2 races so far this year, 2 PRs for him). He's hoping to be seeded toward the front so he can avoid much of the crowd and run a fast race - especially since the 1st half is downhill.

The big race we have here - Bix - is like that. Spectators everywhere handing out beer, etc. The race ends downtown by a ton of bars that have live bads, etc. It's a party race, too.

BTW, I think I know the answer, but is the Peachtree chip timed?

 

[ScoJo15]

The sub-seeded and Time Groups 1A and 1B are chip timed. All others are not.

www.atlantatrackclub.org sponsors the race and has all kinds of info on their site

 

[gsu1988]

I checked my bank account today and my check cleared I am in. I sent in a time that should put me in time group 1A. You have to be very careful on this course. The first part is downhill but then there are some pretty good uphill section combine that with the heat and humidity and PRing is tough. Not saying it can't be done but it is not the best conditions or course to do it on. Just letting him know what it is like so that he doesn't get disappointed. This is a race that I just have fun at and run the best I can and don't really worry about the time.

 

[ScoJo15]

Wow...my check cleared yesterday too! That was quicker than what I remember in the past (maybe the ol' memory is starting to fade though..)

 

[Cruella de mom]

Oh man! The check for DH cleared but not mine! I mailed them from the same place at the same time so how can this be?! I will be so bummed if I don't get in.

I will agree with Ken, this is not a race to try to PR. Even in the seeded groups, you are dealing with crowds, heat and humidity. I usually run it about 5 -6 minutes slower than my usual 10k pace.

 

[lenshanem]

Oh man! The check for DH cleared but not mine! I mailed them from the same place at the same time so how can this be?! I will be so bummed if I don't get in.

I will agree with Ken, this is not a race to try to PR. Even in the seeded groups, you are dealing with crowds, heat and humidity. I usually run it about 5 -6 minutes slower than my usual 10k pace.

The same thing here! DH's check cleared, but mine did not! DH mailed them both out from the same place on Saturday night!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We're from out of state - he overnighted his registration on Monday and it was delivered on Tuesday.

I don't think he's looking to PR, necessarily, but he would like a strong time. He's raced twice this year (one in Albany, GA) and PR'd twice (in the 5k and the half marathon; 17:45 and 1:24 respectively).

Fingers crossed that his check will clear soon and he'll be in!

 

[Cruella de mom]

Holy smokes! he is FAST! I think he will get a chip for certain and then he will be fine.

My check still has not cleared. I was thinking it is because my qualifying time is so close to the cut off (54:58 to be exact) that they might hold it to see how many group 1b runners they are getting.....

but if Shan's check hasn't cleared either then it must just be bias against women.....(Jk)

I better get in!