2024 AJC Peachtree Road Race T-Shirt Revealed

There are many reasons to participate in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, from the sense of personal accomplishment to the sense of community that comes from running alongside tens of thousands of other Atlantans. But there’s one thing that keeps every runner going: the coveted Peachtree Road Race T-shirt.

Credit: Atlanta Track Club

Credit: Atlanta Track Club

As runners cross the finish line of the 55th annual race, we get our first look at the official race t-shirt, designed by Nick Turbo Benson.

Titled “Peach Planet ATL,” Benson’s design captures the feeling of seeing “the entire city in just a few hours, with some of Atlanta’s most iconic landmarks passing by with every step,” Benson says. “I wanted to capture the camaraderie that comes with Peachtree Street as it transports runners through the beating heart of our Peach Planet.”

Benson, an Atlanta-based illustrator, muralist and graphic designer, has previously worked on projects with Run the Jewels, created murals for pizza chain Magic Mushroom and even designed a special Atlanta-themed Pabst Blue Ribbon can.

“Every piece I make tells a story,” Benson told CanvasRebel. “Whether it’s a mural on the side of a building, a poster, a beer label, or literally the cover of a book, it has to be a work of art in its own right while also sparking the viewer’s imagination, hinting at a world beyond the confines of the frame.”

Credit: Atlanta Track Club

Credit: Atlanta Track Club

A tradition since 1976, the official Peachtree T-shirt is a highly coveted item. Before that, in the early years of the race, runners were simply paid 15 cents for the bus ride home! In 1995, the Atlanta Track Club began soliciting design submissions and asking the public to select their favorite.

More than 100 projects were submitted for this year’s competition. A panel of judges from the Atlanta Track Club and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution selected five of them before voting began. Benson will receive a $5,500 prize for his project and the satisfaction of knowing his work is now part of Atlanta history.

“There’s only one Peachtree,” said Rich Kenah, CEO of the Atlanta Track Club. “And there’s only one jersey. There’s nothing like what this race means to the city of Atlanta.”