Running is Atlanta author Emily Giffin’s family’s biggest passion

The Peachtree has become a real day out for your family.

Our family’s favorite day of the year was Christmas, but once my sons started running the Peachtree, it became the 4th of July. It’s such an exciting day. Running is my family’s greatest passion: my sons are rising juniors at Columbia University, where they run track and cross country; from the time they were in middle school, they knew they wanted to run for college. They’ve run Peachtree every year since they were old enough, except last year when they both had stress fractures – they were crushed not to participate. Now my daughter is a rising junior at Pace Academy and her goal is to run in college. Edward finished as the top Georgian in 2022 when the boys were 1-2 in their age group, and Harriet will run in the Elite High School division this year. This will be the first year she starts before her brothers.

Any racing goals for this year?

I try to finish in less than an hour. Actually, my goal is less than 55 minutes, but I don’t think I’ve ever done it. It’s just a question of participation.

Do you have a favorite peach tree?

Yes, the 50th, because we won the T-shirt contest. You didn’t know who won until you were done. I shouted, “Harriet, we win!” And these girls were there, and they turned around and said, “Did you win your age group?” And I said, “No, no, no, I won for my T-shirt design!” » We took pictures together and it turned out they had read my books, so that was fun. I can see someone reading my book on the beach and I smile to myself and think “oh, that’s so nice”, without any temptation to go up and say I wrote that, but when I see someone When I wear this shirt, I’m like, “I designed this T-shirt!”

What makes Peachtree special?

Running really brings people together. At every age, at every horizon; some people party and drink beer, others take it very seriously, but you’re all there. Plus, it’s the 4th of July with the patriotic element, the flag flying on the starting line, the flyover… It’s just incredible. We really feel this American pride, but also this civic pride. My love for Atlanta was at its peak on this day.