Macon Labor Day Road Race
The Peachtree Road Race comprises two 10K road races in Atlanta. The primary downhill race occurs on Independence Day, and the uphill “Polar Opposite” version takes place on the first Saturday of the new year. Both races utilize the same Peachtree Street course, run in opposing directions. The established southbound race proceeds from Lenox Square to Piedmont Park. Conversely, the northbound race begins at 10th Street near Piedmont Park and concludes at Lenox Square. The southbound race, initiated in 1970 with 110 participants, evolved into the world’s largest 10K by the late 1970s, attracting over 70,000 applicants for 60,000 available entries. The event is more than a large group run through Atlanta. Elite 10K competitors lead the field, followed by amateur runners in subsequent waves. The Shepherd Center wheelchair division participates before the main footrace. It has also hosted the U.S. men’s and women’s 10K championship. Younger participants have their own Peachtree Junior events in Piedmont Park, featuring a 1-mile run and a 50-meter dash. An early custom originated from an oversight: organizers purchased race T-shirts using sponsor funds, misjudged the demand, and exhausted their supply, making the shirt a valued element of the race's identity.
