AJC Peachtree Road Race runners celebrate tradition with costumes and festivities

Credits: Libby Hobbs

Credits: Libby Hobbs

Nearly 50,000 runners of all ages and abilities partied down Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park for the 55th edition of the event, continuing through the heat and humidity that characterize the Atlanta Track Club’s Independence Day event.

Around 10:30 a.m., after most of the participants had crossed the finish line, race organizers displayed a black flag warning of dangerous conditions, with temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius. The approximately 1,000 participants still on the course were allowed to finish, but their results were not considered official.

Runners came from all over, from 32 countries and all 50 states.

Credits: Merrill Hart

Credits: Merrill Hart

They wore race bibs and clown wigs, tank tops, tie-dye and tutus.

Sarah Fraser, 30, of Sandy Springs, wore a peach-colored felt suit. Will Murphy and Matt Antonisse, a 24-year-old duo from Marietta, started in matching banana-colored outfits.

“It’s lightweight, it’s breathable, and if I ever lose it, I know where it is – I just look for the upper,” Murphy said.

Others opted for patriotic attire. At least one woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty, and a group of friends flapped their arms and ran like a gathering of bald eagles, wearing yellow-beaked visors and feather tops.

Credits: Libby Hobbs

Credits: Libby Hobbs

Trey Yearwood, 46, of Sandy Springs, donned an American flag cape and a George Washington mask. It’s a look he’s repeated for several races. He said he hopes his Founding Father style “will give people a little bit of levity in a pretty polarizing time. But also, to be proud of this country.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens ran the course for the second time. The AJC Peachtree Road Race is a big part of his busy holiday schedule, which also included several barbecues. He called the event a “big block party” that puts the city “on display.”

“It’s going to be fun to run out there with all these elite runners, as well as the local joggers, that’s what makes this event so special,” he said before the race.

Runners and revelers gathered on MARTA trains and city sidewalks before and after the race. Along the course, a group of Marietta spectators filled plastic cups with beer. They encouraged runners to drink beer mid-race with a “Free Beer for America” sign and chants of “No water, free beer.”

Credits: Anisah Muhammad

Credits: Anisah Muhammad

At another stop, outside St. Philip’s Cathedral, the Very Rev. Sam Candler, dean of the cathedral, offered a different kind of encouragement.

“Blessings, blessings, blessings!” Candler said, as he sprinkled holy water on the runners. “We bless all of America today. All kinds of human beings, from all walks of life, come down Peachtree Road, and we bless them because God blesses all of America.”

A runner’s response? “Hallelujah.”

At the finish line, runners collected the precious proof of their achievement: the official race T-shirt, a sky-blue design by Atlanta artist Nick Benson. Once finished, they quenched their thirst with ice water, popsicles and peaches.

Each runner had their own reason for running. Families and friends ran in memory of lost loved ones. A couple ran together through the streets to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Credits: Amanda Tobin

Credits: Amanda Tobin

At 99, Betty Lindberg is a regular at the race and has her own fan club. She crossed the finish line for the 35th time. Cedric King, a motivational speaker and one of the many regular runners in the race, tackled the course as a paraplegic.

“You can’t run away from difficulties. You have to go towards them. And going towards those difficulties, no matter how difficult they are, will make you better,” he said.

Others arrived reluctantly. Doug Lydecker, a 33-year-old rookie runner from Atlanta, found himself thrust into the race by fate — specifically, by his penalty for finishing last in his fantasy football league.

Lydecker said he was looking forward to the day, but wasn’t sure he’d be able to race again. He plans to use a highly “algorithmic” drafting strategy next time.

“Looking ahead to next (football) season, it’s a big motivation to do better, honestly,” he said.

Marilou Ledford and Joycelyn Brock arrived at 2:45 a.m. as volunteers for the race. Less than six hours later, they both crossed the finish line as runners. This is Ledford’s ninth race and Brock’s 14th.

Brock arrived from Hawaii on Sunday and planned to fly to Dallas in the afternoon. But she said she wouldn’t miss the race for anything.

“It’s a challenge every time,” she said. “But it’s a tradition and I love it.”

Reporters Jozsef Papp, Lexi Baker, Ashley Quincin, Dawn Sawyer, Caleb Groves, Anisah Muhammad, Sarah Coyne, Libby Hobbs, Nicole Williams, Merrill Hart and Ken Sugiura.