The AJC Peachtree Road Race has concluded after returning for its 56th year, drawing runners from around the world to the largest 10K in the country.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s live updates provided coverage on everything leading up to the start of the race: street closures, weather updates, prerace events and preparation. Then, once the starting gun sounded, the updates continued from the course.
Check out below for the livestream replay from the race as well as the recap of our live updates for the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
Download the AJC News app to track how your favorite runners fared, check official results and more.
What better way to celebrate the end of the AJC Peachtree Road Race than to sign up for next year's fun?
Yep, we're already talking about the 57th annual event.
Registration for the 2026 races begins today and runs through July 11. During this weeklong window, entry is guaranteed and the $55 fee includes the coveted finisher's T-shirt.
The Atlanta Track Club is also offering a bundle registration package of the Peachtree and the Polar Opposite Peachtree. The winter version of the Peachtree is run in reverse and scheduled for Jan. 3. The bundle package includes an Adidas sweatshirt and finisher's medal.
Register for one or both races at AtlantaTrackClub.org
Sweaty, tired and successful runners filtered into the Midtown MARTA station to enjoy the rest of their Fourth of July.
Sitting outside the station, Donovan Campbell and Cliff Williams caught their breath. The two said they’ve run the race together since 2017 and are now ready to get home.
“Honestly, we’re going to take a nap and then wake up and find some barbecue,” Campbell said with a laugh.
The scene at the station was orderly just before 11:30 a.m. as final stragglers arrived.
Kaden Walker crossed the finish line at his first-ever AJC Peachtree Road Race — and crushed his goal.
"It was amazing. I felt pretty energetic and strong for most of it," said Walker, a wedding videographer.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He said Mile 3 at Hope Hill was "tough," and Mile 4 was a real killer with the hot temperatures.
What kept him going?
“The crowds and energy at Mile 5 were amazing,” he said.
Walker ran alongside friends including Jordan Grimes, a wedding photographer. It was Grimes who first convinced Walker to sign up six months ago — something Walker at the time thought was impossible.
His goal was to average 9 minutes and 30 seconds per mile, but he beat it, finishing the race in 57:08.
Now, it's a quick recovery before heading straight to the airport. Walker is off to shoot a wedding in Michigan, and Grimes has a gig in New Zealand.
The finish line has officially closed as of 11 a.m.
The moment marks the end of the 56th running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
After tens of thousands of finishers, only a few hundred participants are still on the course as of 10:45 a.m.
Organizers have begun to remove tables, a cooling mister and other race infrastructure. People have started to clean up the trash from around the finish line near Piedmont Park as the crowds depart.
The finish line will start to close at 11 a.m.
About 600 runners still have to cross the finish line as of 10:30 a.m., according to the Atlanta Track Club.
Organizers initially said they would close down the finish line at that time, but now they plan to stay open a bit longer to allow more people to complete their goals.
As the flow of participants slowed to a trickle, upbeat songs including “Stayin’ Alive” and “Yeah” kept the energy up near the course's end at Piedmont Park.
Plenty of participants and supporters are still making merry despite a few setbacks.
Yotta Gleaton’s energy remained high as she cheered on everyone who crossed the finish line with the same fervor that she showed hours earlier.
“Way to crush those goals today! You did it,” she said.
One of the misters at the end of the chute marking the finish line temporarily collapsed, prompting volunteers to rush to hold it up so runners could keep passing under it.
Despite the Achilles tendinitis in his right foot, there was nothing stopping Atlanta native Jonathan Lathbury from completing the race he’s done since 1981.
“There’s nothing better than being with 55,000 of my closest friends,” he said. “Born and raised in Atlanta, it just means a lot to show appreciation for being here.”
Some runners have faced exhaustion or dehydration as they crossed the finish line, but a team of emergency responders is on standby.
Crews are responding quickly to every collapse and other minor medical issue that arises. So far, no major medical emergencies have disrupted the flow of runners directly at the finish line.
The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department helped care for a runner who collapsed, though there was no immediate report on his or her condition.
The morning sun is warming up on the AJC Peachtree Road Race course.
A little after 9 a.m., temperatures are teasing 80 degrees. And the heat index, which measures how hot it actually feels, is a few degrees higher.
Highs are expected to approach the mid-90s Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The race day started under a yellow alert level, meaning runners should use caution and be aware of worsening conditions due to heat and humidity. The yellow flag remained in place at 9:25 a.m.
Tons of first-timers are crossing the finish line, but so are plenty of folks who have made the race a July Fourth tradition.
John Howard of Atlanta celebrated his 50th road race by trekking up Hope Hill. He said he ran his first race at age 37.
"I was 6 feet, 220 pounds, and I knew I had to do something," Howard said. "So I started running, and thankfully, my daughters started running with me, and it's been wonderful."
Howard believes anyone can run the race, no matter their age.
"Put one foot in front of the other, until you get at least a quarter of a mile and keep going," he said.
Steve Michael finished his 37th race on Friday.
He doesn’t live in the area anymore, but he still came back to visit his son, who lives in Cartersville.
“It’s the first race I ever ran,” Michael said.
He said he's pulled back each year for the fun, “big party” atmosphere.
“Everybody has a good time,” Michael said. “There’s no pressure on us guys in the back of the pack.”