LISTEN: People from around the country and right here in Georgia trained for the Peachtree Road Race, one of the most popular 10K races in the nation. Visiting with members of the Atlanta Run Club as they prepared, GPB's Amanda Andrews takes us to practice.

Members of the Atlanta Run Club wore custom shirts to the race and ran through confetti as they passed the "cheer station" during the 55th Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2024.

Members of the Atlanta Run Club wore custom shirts to the race and ran through confetti as they passed the "cheer station" during the 55th Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2024.

Credit: Atlanta Run Club / Facebook

Members of the Atlanta Run Club range in ages and experience levels, but many of them are working toward the same goal: running the 55th annual Peachtree Road Race. The event is largely considered one of the most popular 10-kilometer races in the country with registration being capped at 60,000 runners each year.

Ayana Ward joined the run club in 2023 and she said she was preparing to run her first Peachtree Road Race.

“I don't care how fast I am,” she said. “I actually don't have a goal time. I just want to make sure I can get from point A to point B.”

Ward said she originally joined the run club for community and now she’s looking into running longer races.

“I was like, well, might as well do my first 10K as one of the biggest 10Ks, which is Peachtree,” she said. “I plan on also doing a 10-miler and doing a half marathon next year.”

Ahead of this year's race, Camilo Troncoso said he has run the Peachtree Road Race a total of six times. Since he joined the Atlanta Run Club two years ago he said the support of the other members is what he looks forward to during the race.

Zach Smith, Brittany Smith, and Camilo Troncoso have each all been part of the Atlanta Run Club for two years and competed in the Peachtree Road Race this year.

From left: Zach Smith, Brittany Smith and Camilo Troncoso have each been part of the Atlanta Run Club for two years. They competed in the Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2024.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

“Once we get done running, we go back to the cheer station,” he said. “We have our full-blown out DJ. We have a just a big old party, and we just cheer on the rest of the runners and bring the vibes.”

Troncoso was planning to run a personal best at the race. He said it's what he’s been training for.

“The day of, it's pretty much a celebration of all the hard work you put in throughout the year.”

Even for runners from outside Georgia, the Atlanta Run Club has become a source of community. Kevin Doan is a member who recently moved from Florida. He said the energy of the club helps him

"I'm feeling sweaty; I'm feeling tired, but overall just feeling and feeling really excited," he said during a recent training session.

The Atlanta Run Club ran the 55th annual Peachtree Road Race, which was held the Fourth of July.

Tags: running  Georgia  Atlanta  jogging