ajcsportstalk

By Wright

February 5, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

The race should end at Atlantic Station

By Sean

February 5, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

I think it should end at Atlantic Station

By Hagood

February 5, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

first

By marknatl

February 5, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

Atlantic Station

By Fan

February 5, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

Should have ended at Tech, but the “NERDS” thought it would upset their little geekie research projects. Way to go, you national university of acclaim!!???

By awestafe

February 5, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Centennial Olympic Park might be a possibility.

By theresa toomer

February 5, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Botanical Gardens near Piedmont Park.

By Simple

February 5, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Two simple options - Leave Lenox, go north on 400, run in the emergency lane and end up a Perimeter Mall. It’s 6.65 miles. I’m sure organizers can make it 6.2 by using Peachtree Dunwoody/Glenridge Conn. Or, Leave Lenox, run around the ring road a couple of times and end at Lenox. People over think this stuff.

By Andrew

February 5, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

the dome parking lot

By salazar

February 5, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Keep the starting point at Lenox, make the race a 15K, end it in the Civic Center area where the last Music Midtowns were held.

By Koz

February 5, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Bowen Homes

By G-Dawg

February 5, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Why don’t they run it backward this year and end it at Lenox?

By wirelessg

February 5, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Why not just reverse the course and end it in the Lenox Square area? Give all of the runners a MARTA pass to get to the starting line near Piedmont Park by train or bus. Block off most of Piedmont Park (minimal race support facilities) and line up the runners on the street only.

By Tony

February 5, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Should change the route all together and end at the Wildwood Development in Cobb County over Ten Parking decks and a beautiful setting ,

By Techie

February 5, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Tech was the perfect scenario. Runners take a right instead of a left on 10th, finish over the interstate, and walk through campus, on a holiday, before most students are awake. And Tech said no thanks, we don’t want the publicity opportunity. And we wonder why most people think Tech is standoffish and doesn’t attract more fans…

To keep the start at Lenox, Atlantic Station is likely the only option.

Or we could keep it at Piedmont. Seriously, the grass is already toast. What’s one morning going to do?

By Koz

February 5, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Bowen Homes

By AH

February 5, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Gotta have a Marta stations. Tech needs to reconsider or it will have to end at Atlantic Station or somewhere in Midtown.

NEXT YEAR HAD BETTER BE BACK WHERE IT BELONGS - PIEDMONT PARK.

By Techie

February 5, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Simple - you can’t run around the ring…the entire ring is full of runners waiting to get to the starting line. This is a massive race, people, the largest of its kind in the world.

By Greg Leathers

February 5, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Let’s finish the race in the Capitol Building. Since no real work gets done there, this race will be the most work ever done in the building.

By Jamie

February 5, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

Centennial Olympic Park. Then you can give families options of going to the new world of coca-cola

By Phil

February 5, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

I really think Tech could have stepped up an accomodated this on either side of the connector. What about the big undeveloped lot across from the Cheetah? Couldn’t they take that over an shut down Spring Street and Williams Street?

Just to throw out another suggestion, could they make Grady High School work? If they took over the parking lot, tennis courts, gym, and stadium, that area is nearly as big as the meadow in Piedmont Park. The entire race could remain unchanged leaving only the logistics of the finish line to deal with. I realize it may not be ideal, but I think it is worth consideration and would cause less disruption to the planning at the other end of the race.

By 25 down, going for 26th

February 5, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Why not simply pay the City of Atlanta for the upkeep/watering of the grass areas at Piedmont Park and keep the PTRR Finish there. How hard could it be to truck water in or use gray water to maintain the various grassy areas, since “water shortage” seem to be the issue. If the UGA would stop using water for 12 hours, they’d save enough to water Piedmont Park for 10 years.

By DB

February 5, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Atlantic Station seems to be an obvious choice — use the parking decks like the Boston Marathon does. But I rather liked the suggestion about running it up to Perimeter Mall. Big parking lot, MARTA — not a bad idea! Up Ashford Dunwoody Road?

By Midtown Native

February 5, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I like the idea of keeping it The Peachtree Road Race, not North Atlanta, etc. A long standing tradition, this event needs to remain starting at Lenox. End it at Atlantic Station, there’s parking, you can walk to Marta and why not break in the 17th Street Bridge? Midtown residents will miss the finish but to be able to be close would keep the tradition alive.

By ed

February 5, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Inside Tech’s football stadium. We all know nobody will be using it for any good.

By katty

February 5, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Why not Woodruff Park? That’s where it used to end in the olden days, right?

By Simple

February 5, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Techie - Althought I’ve never seen the start of the PRR, I do that both the Macy’s Great Tree event and Lenox July 4th celebration have well over 100,000 in attendance with most in the front parking lot. Ring road at Lenox stretches probably 1.5 miles to complete a lap and it’s 2-4 lanes wide. I’m sure just a small section of that road could accomodate the 55,000 runners. If the entire ring all the way around Lenox were actually full of runners at the start, they’d be adding over 1 mile to their run before they start.

By Genius

February 5, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

This is why treadmills were invented.

By Techie

February 5, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

I’VE GOT IT!

Run the race as usual, turn left on 14th like it used to, then a left on Piedmont. It finishes on Piedmont, the runners funnel into Ansley Mall parking lot. That is a huge lot, and the community should rally around it. Smaller races occur in that area throughout the year.

By mike d

February 5, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

end it at grady high school. close down a section of monroe for a few hours and use the football stadium and parking lots

By Jim

February 5, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Cynthia McKinney’s house!

By Rip

February 5, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

I say we ask Sunny for another Rain prayer. We get rain. Grass good to go in Piedmont park. Problem solved.

By jb

February 5, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

NOT ATLANTIC STATION! If you have done the Susan G. Komen walk, you would understand. There is not enough room at Atlantic Station for 50,000 people!

By melissa

February 5, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

I agree why not Woodruff Park? that’s where the ING Marathon ended so the logistics can’t be too much different. i guess it would have to start farther south, like near St. Phillips and Peachtree Hills, but that shouldn’t be a problem right?

By cld

February 5, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

You can’t end at the same place where it begins because the first finishers will be crossing the start/finish line more than an hour before the final group even starts. As a result, you can’t loop or cross the course at any point.

I like the idea of starting at Piedmont and ending at Lenox. They can keep everyone on the streets around Piedmont (just like they do at the current starting point), and avoid using the grass. Then, by finishing at Lenox, we won’t have to wonder for 30 minutes trying to make our way back to the MARTA station without crossing back through the in-progress race! The way they end the race now (Piedmont) does NOT allow convenient access back onto MARTA. I’d rather make that hike BEFORE I run 6.2 miles.

By Techie

February 5, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

It’s a controlled start. Groups walk up to the starting line over the course of an hour. Running loops isn’t realistic. It takes an hour to get all 55,000 across the starting line. It takes the winner less than 30 minutes to finish the race.

And yes, the people that start at the back of the pack to end up adding over half a mile to their overall distance.

By David

February 5, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

I think it should end at the Governor’s Mansion lawn. It’s pristine!

By mark

February 5, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I’m think the simplest solution is to just to continue down Ptree to they hit the 10k distance. The finish line would be around 6th St. The sidewalks are nice and wide in the area which is good for spectators. Place Tshirts and drinks on Ptree down by the Fox. This would encourage people to move out of the way so the finish doesn’t back up and it places everyone a short walk from the North Ave MARTA Station. For the corporate folks there are several surface lots in the area for tents and post race parties.

By syb

February 5, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Turner field

By Truthman

February 5, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Everyone please remember, the Atlanta Track Club wants to keep the start at Lenox Mall, so please make suggestions that keep the start line there.

I suggest ending it at the Botanical Garden’s new parking deck in Peidmont Park. They wanted it so badly, let’s use it!

By Hunter

February 5, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

The Graveyard behind the Aquarium, where all the dead whales are buried…

By KG

February 5, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

Centennial Park

By Kevin

February 5, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Mark, great minds think alike. Barring a change in heart by Georgia Tech, the race should just continue down Peachtree until the 6.2 mile marker is reached. All the post-race festivities could occur further down Peachtree and on all the side streets in the area. It stinks that everyone would have to stand on asphalt and concrete…but at least the tall building would provide shade. Anyone advocating running the race in reverse or a major route change has obviously never run in the PRR. The starting line setup is MUCH more complicated then the finish line setup and would be very difficult to change.

By MDB

February 5, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

Just reading the Lenox to Perimeter idea above, I used Google maps and found that if you started at Lenox, to P’tree to P’tree-D’woody, then stayed on that you can find ways to get to Perimeter in 6.2 miles easily. Also, there would be a monstrosity of a hill at the 3 mile mark that would dwarf Cardiac Hill - looks like a 200+ vertical climb over the course of a mile! Marta stations at both ends…sounds perfect. Would probably have to have more time-corrals to fit people in the much narrower road (not 4 lanes like P’tree is).

By Truthman

February 5, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

You know, a lot of AJC reporters live in Midtown/Virginia Highlands/Decatur.

Let’s finish at one of their houses! The AJC makes tons of money of the race. Let’s have them throw a Peachtree Party at a reporter’s house!!

By scooter11

February 5, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

Start at Lenox, and go the other way on Peachtree.

By Atlanta12

February 5, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

It should be run in reverse or end at Botanical Gardens. Atlantic Station will shorten it. What’s the fun in that? It cannot be run in Cobb county nor in the emergency lane of 400..this is an ITP tradition AND it is called the PEACHTREE Road Race! You can’t take out Peachtree Rd!

By Susan

February 5, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I just have to say they had over 50,000 people watching the Allman Brothers and Dave Mathew’s band in Piedmont Park and the drought had already started!

By John Tackett

February 5, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

To keep the distance, and the start at Lenox, then it has to be Atlantic Staion.. But I cannot see that area supporting 55,000+ runners and friends.

By MaryAnne

February 5, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

If the city of Atlanta doesn’t want the race, I say have it in Roswell. All the local businesses would love the $$ this would bring in!!!

Don’t have it in Atlantic Station. I ran in one event there and it was horrible. One way in and out. The traffic was horrible. I would skip it this year it they had it there. I say go north! Maybe the city of Atlanta would change it’s mind. The grass is toast anyway.

By ajc reader

February 5, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Please NOT ATLANTIC STATION!! That development is not suited for crowds at all. It would be a nightmare to have it end there. I like the idea of reversing the route.

By Rickster

February 5, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Why not move it to U(sic)GA so all the cows can run in it too!! Sorta like a running of the Bulls, only not gender specific!!!

By browngrass

February 5, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Let runners arrive at Lenox via MARTA as usual but walk down to a new starting line at Roswell Road and P’tree. From there it’s about 6.2 miles to the Civic Center pkg lot. Extroardinary times call for extraordinary measures.

By fat guy

February 5, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

How about the race end 100 yards after it starts.

just a thought….

By Denise

February 5, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

If Piedmont park is not available. Centennial Park would be the answer. Marta is close and the finish line would not be that far off the mark.

By cigardawg

February 5, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

End at Lenox. If the start can be accommodated, ten so can the finish, when the runners will be more disbursed than at the beginning. Why make participants go through logistical issues with having to be picked up at some remote location? Geez, this ain’t rocket science, people.

By Southside Stew

February 5, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Stone Mountain, just like the Tour de Ga.

By anne

February 5, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

let’s keep in mind that it’s the peachtree road race and it has been for years. there is no reason to drastically change the course and take it out of that part of atlanta. it’s a tradition and it should always be there. i say end it at atlantic station or olympic park.

By John

February 5, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

How about a 15K? Start at Lenox and finish at Turner Field.

By MAD

February 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Cancel the stupid race. Think of all the water that would be saved not hydrating the runners.

Seriously, isn’t there enough room all along 10th Street in combination with Grady High?

By John

February 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

I think it should end at The Varsity so we can pig out after that long run!

By getthepicture

February 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

start at the intersection of peachtree and piedmont - a long walk up to the start, and finish at centennial park. It’s a straight shot down Peachtree and Spring and it’s 6.2 miles and I think the park can handle the crowd. Marta’s close by.

By Shirley

February 5, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

Close 10th street from Piedmont (The Flying Biscuit) all the way down to Monroe. There are shady spots on 10th. Put a fence along the other side of 10th to keep people out of the meadow. That area has lots of wide open space were Grady High School is.

By katty

February 5, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

If Piedmont park is not available. Centennial Park would be the answer. Marta is close and the finish line would not be that far off the mark.

HUH?

not far off the mark - it’s a difference of TWO MILES!!!!

secondary reason being that there’s too much other fourth of july stuff in centennial that probably wouldn’t be canceled. although, maybe that’s a positive thing.

By Andre

February 5, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Atlantic Station or Olympic Park

By Dave

February 5, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

End at Bobby Jones Golf Course.

By Bobby

February 5, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

I wish Georgia Tech had told me 30 years ago when I started attending various events there that I really wasn’t welcome. I have donated fund to them, bought season tickets often and taken my family to the games. Since we are not safe apparently on the GT campus I donated all my Tech stuff go Goodwill this weekend. Now to find another team to support. TECH SUX! If only Tech had told me 30 years ago they were not the correct local team to support.

By Mic

February 5, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

For those that are suggesting Centennial Park: Piedmont Park is not the only Atlanta park off limits to large events. They all are. The drought hasn’t only weakened the grass at Piedmont. It’s weakened it city wide.

By Jason

February 5, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

End it on the field along 14th Street where the new Symphony Hall is to be located between the IBM Tower and 1180 Peachtree. It’s close to the Arts Center MARTA station, would be about the same distance, and there are several other nearby greenspaces next to the IBM Tower and Arts Center MARTA stations where the overflow can go after they’ve gotten their tshirts and caught their breath.

Just be sure the route to the field isn’t up the staircase on 14th but rather through the driveway further down the street.

By Tech should reconsider

February 5, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

My alma mater, Georgia Tech, should reconsider. I think there lame excuses are ridiculous. Don’t forget that the Olympics were on campus and they have 6 or 7 game days every fall that have the same amount of people on campus. Puh-leaze Ma Tech, use your heads and make the right decision!!

By Tech should reconsider

February 5, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

My alma mater, Georgia Tech, should reconsider. I think their lame excuses are ridiculous. Don’t forget that the Olympics were on campus and they have 6 or 7 game days every fall that have the same amount of people on campus. Puh-leaze Ma Tech, use your heads and make the right decision!!

By Perimeter

February 5, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

DO NOT END AT PERIMETER MALL! 55,000 people would never fit there plus there were be a ridiculous amount of people trapped in their houses who live off of P’tree Dunwoody.

By Kelly

February 5, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

At the Varsity !!!

By National Museum of Patriotism

February 5, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Turner Field!

By Terry

February 5, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Why don’t they just mail us our Peachtree T-shirts and we stay home and drink beer? Most participants would never show up if they got their T-Shirt before the race like most road races. Leave the Peachtree Road Race to the runners not the sorry walkers.

By dean

February 5, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

At The Finish Line!!!

By tradition

February 5, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

It’s the PEACHTREE ROAD RACE.

If a change must be made then the only viable option is simply to reverse the route. It may make it a little harder to get to Piedmont for the start of the race, but getting home from Lenox after the race will certainly be more convenient.

By rlf

February 5, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Not Atlantic Station—-I have run races there and it can not handle that many runners. I would hate not to run down Ptree, but the best option sounds like it would be to run north to Perimeter Mall. My major concern is that the Park Conservancy will resist ever allowing the race to return to the park. If that happens the PRR will suffer.

By Dana

February 5, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Start the race at the West Weiuca and Peachtree instead of in front of Lenox Mall. End the race at the intersection of 10th and Peachtree. Runners could then file out by going west on 10th, east on 10th, or south on Peachtree Street, which would all be closed. Vendors could set up on the sidewalks to give room to the runners.

By scott

February 5, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Agree with tradition…Change the starting point and end at Lenox

By Louisville Dawg

February 5, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Reverse the route. Start w/ staging in the street near 10th or 14th at Peachtree and end up at the malls. Bands and other festivities could be set up on asphalt parking lots, not dead grass. Think about it. Imagine the ability to talk about the one time every body rand the race backwards. (The T-shirt also could reflect the backwards theme.)

By Red

February 5, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

Don’t forget, all the other events that you have to dodge now for that weekend, including the 4th of July parade, the fireworks, and the Pride Parade! Good luck!

By TCFATL

February 5, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

The distance from the current starting line to the intersection of Peachtree and 10th Street is approximately 5.6 miles. So, if you want to effectively maintain the traditional course, you would likely need to find a route for the remaining 0.6 miles.

If you go West on 10th Street, that would place the finish between State Street and Dalney Street, with an uphill finish. The Georgia Tech campus would border to the South, which would be a perfect assembly point. The course would be 0.20 mile short if you finished on the 10th Street Bridge.

If you kept going South on Peachtree from 10th Street, the race would end at Peachtree Street and 3rd Street, one block short of the Fox Theater. The problem here is that this, too, presents an uphill finish. Also, there really is no place other than Peachtree Street to put 55,000 people.

If you wanted to finish at Atlantic Station, you would divert the course West at 17th Street. The intersection of Peachtree Street and 17th Street is 4.90 miles into the course. The center of Atlantic Station (17th Street and District Avenue) is 0.60 miles West. You will need to find a means to add 0.70 miles to the course. If you kept going straight on 17th Street, the finish would be at the intersection of 17th Street and Northside Drive, near the Atlanta Water Works. This isn’t very picturesque.

You could do an out-and-back loop in the Atlantic Station area. Go West on 17th Street from Peachtree, then South on Market Street NW, West on 16th Street NW, North on Village Street, East on 17th Street, then finish at the intersection of 17th Street and State Street. Use Atlantic Station on 17th Street between State Street and Market Street as the assembly area. MARTA would be at the Arts Center 0.80 miles away, about the same distance as the current finish in Piedmont Park is to MARTA.

What no one is talking about is why are they not considering keeping the course as is, but moving the assembly area out of Piedmont Park, and instead placing it on 10th Street and South onto the football field at 10th Street and Monroe Drive NE?

I do like the suggestion of reversing the course. Regardless of the starting point, it would be uphill from just past the midway point (where Peachtree crosses Peachtree Creek) to the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont, a distance of about 2.25 miles. Still, that climb is more gradual than the traditional “Cardiac Hill” and “Equifax Hill”. The 0.60 mile finish would be downhill, as Peachtree Street drops 100’ between Piedmont hand Lenox Square.

North up Peachtree-Dunwoody would be problematic. The road is only two lanes all the way to “Pill Hill” at Northside Hospital. Peachtree can barely contain 55,000 runners and it is five lanes wide. There would be two sections with mile-long climbs in excess of 200’. However, if that route went North of Peachtree-Dunwoody to Hammond, then East on Hammond to Ashford-Dunwoody, then North on Ashford-Dunwoody, the finish would be right in front of Perimeter Mall.

By Kris

February 5, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

The race can’t end in any city park because of the water crisis. The city has halted all events in city parks until the water crisis is over for fear that millions of feet will trample the already sensitive grasses in all city parks. My first inclination was to suggest Atlantic Station just as several others have. After thinking about this for a moment, I realize that Atlantic Station will generate traffic and sales no matter what. Why not end this event in an area that needs a sales generator? I know this idea won’t be popular but why not end the race at Underground Atlanta, a location that is actually on Peachtree Street.

By Natalie

February 5, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

The front lawn of the Governor’s Mansion.

By Danielle

February 5, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Ogelothorpe University

By Edgar

February 5, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

START at Lenox - South on Peachtree - Left on Piedmont - Left on Lindbergh - Left on Cheshire Bridge - On to Lenox Rd and —-

BACK to Lenox Square

By Robert Ross

February 5, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Only one place left - Turner field. Great location Bob

By PM

February 5, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

First of all I think the city of Atlanta (and the Piedmont Park conservancy) are making the drought an excuse to protect their precious grass. The grass will suffer from the traffic regardless.

Second of all, Georgia Tech should step up and help! If not the original plan to end near 10th street, then at least a plan to end near North Ave. and funnel people into Bobby Dodd stadium.

I also like the Grady High school idea. Shirley Franklin has some control to make that happen. Also, just tell people to stay off the grass but open it up as an exit.

This city, if it is not carefull is about to ruin a great tradition!

By EvilWickedMean&Nasty

February 5, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

IRAQ

By road boy

February 5, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Have you seen the park after everyone leaves on the 4th, it is a disaster area. I cannot blame Tech for not wanting that wear and tear. Plus you need a big open space. Bobby Dodd barely holds 50,000. Atlantic Station is private property dont be volunteering what you do not own. Centennial Park was built for this sort of event but no one could get out with the T-Shirts since the Vagrants would be begging for them every step.

By Fact Check

February 5, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

The Atlanta Public Schools are not under control of the city government. Shirley Franklin can not open Grady High School up to the PRR. She can ask but it is up to the school board, not her.

Centennial Olympic Park is not a city park, it is owned by the State of Georgia through the Georgia World Congress Center. The city ban on big events does not apply to them. With that said, the grass there isn’t magical. It suffers from the same problems as the grass in Piedmont Park. ‘On the Bricks’ was discontinued at COP because it was too hard on the grass and that was when there was no drought.

For those who mentioned the Dave Matthews concert, that was back in September, a full ten months before the date of the PRR. While the drought existed back then, the park was in better shape. If the concert was planned for ten months later like the PRR is, then it would not have been allowed to happen.

As for the Civic Center, that’s where the Pride Festival has been moved to, so ending the race there would not be possible.

By Tina

February 5, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Reverse the route. Lenox area has 2 Marta stations close by. And Lenox & Phipps plaza have ample room for the crowds.

By Buh bye

February 5, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Far left lane anywhere along 285.

By Kristen

February 5, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

The 2008 Peachtree Road Race should end at Atlantic Station.

By PM

February 5, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Fact check, I said she “has some control” to make it happen. It’s called political capital. You know some people actually think when they talk or write.

I’m betting that we will never see a massive event in the park again. We spent too much money on that grass and now cannot afford (emotionallY0 to see it ruined.

By Susan

February 5, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

Stone Mountain….?

By Scott

February 5, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

I say we build a parking deck at Piedmont Park and end it there. Who’s with me?

By Trample the grass

February 5, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

Run it like normal, and finish at Piedmont Park.

The hell with the grass, let it die.

By V in Duluth

February 5, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

For you + 49,999 of your closest friends, add $3 to $4 to the cost of the Peachtree Road Race entry fee and start trucking in water for Piedmont Park grass.

By KCL

February 5, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this

Ga Tech should reconsider. They hold what they call football games there, that with a good competitor have about the same number of people. If not there then Centennial Olympic Park is probably the best bet (it wouldn’t have to be the finish line but runners could be funneled there after the finish).

By wayne robinson

February 5, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

As a past president of the ATC and one who had the problem of the race being run on Sunday during church services, I know there is a solution.

My suggestion is to investigate the Morris Brown College campus just west of the Georgia Dome. They are in desperate financial straits and they have a huge stadium there built by the Olympics for field hockey AND they have lots of acreage along MLK Blvd.

By Frank

February 5, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this

It seems that a small majority prefer reversing the route. In doing that, people will still have to assemble in the park, and it might not get as trashed, but the grass will still be trampled. I like the idea of keeping the route as it always was, and finish on the road outside the park, with all the vendors, water sprinklers, and marta buses lining the road while runners funnel through. The only problem with that plan are the residents on that road who may not appreciate 50,000 runners using porta potties in their front yards (or not). Overall, though, that plan would require the least amount of adjustment and road closures, since the roads around the park are always restricted and rerouted anyway during the race.

By Frank

February 5, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this

And, what about those water sprinklers at the end of the race? Won’t they use up a boatload of water?

By zeke

February 6, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Begin and end at Turner Field!

Or tell Atlanta’s idiot council and mayor to screw off and end it in Piedmont Park anyway!