The 18 months since Tracey Russell succeed Julia Emmons as executive director of the Atlanta Track Club has included perhaps the club's biggest challenge ever — changing the finish line of the 39th Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race after the city had closed Piedmont Park to large gatherings due to the record drought. Russell spoke with staff writer Scott Bernarde about the club, the running community and the world's largest 10K. Here's an excerpt:

Andy Sharp / AJC (ENLARGE)

Tracey Russell is on the job for her second year as coordinator of the Peachtree Road Race.

Your Turn Do you feel confident about handling the new finish line and T-shirt pickup area at the Peachtree Road Race?   Yes. Looks like it's well-organized.   No. I'm a little leery about the changes.   Doesn't matter to me. Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Photos PEACHTREE ROAD RACE PHOTO GALLERIES The race • The scene The winners • Birdseye view Your photos • Send more! PEACHTREE VIDEOS The Slowest Peachtree • Recap CHECK YOUR TIME Results of top finishers BUY PHOTOS NOW! Find your face online, then order here. PEACHTREE ROAD RACE ON FACEBOOK Become a fan of the AJC's Peachtree Road Race page 2008 PEACHTREE T-SHIRT Take a look! Then vote! VENT ABOUT THE PEACHTREE Speak your mind on the world's biggest 10K! Vent MORE PEACHTREE NEWS Packets with race numbers have been mailed  How to buy photos of your Peachtree Road Race experience  Sights seen along the course

Q. How would you assess your time as executive director of the Atlanta Track Club?

A. The first year there was a lot to learn, a lot of people to meet, a lot about the race to learn. The challenges we were presented in January with relocating the Peachtree finish line (to the intersection of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Juniper Street) were difficult. I always try to look for the silver lining and for me it really has given me the chance to roll up my sleeves and get more familiar with a lot of logistics of the event. ... It was funny after last year I made the comment that it's going to take me a few years to see the under belly of this race. I feel like that window got shortened and it wasn't a few years (laughs).

Q. The most difficult challenge so far?

A. I'd say it was getting word that we have five and half months to find a new finish line. There are many people in this community who have a lot emotional attachment to Peachtree and ... I think there was frustration on the part of a lot of our runners who wanted to see us fight for trying to stay in the park. I think this year, we're just doing what we've been asked and found a new home, but we certainly want to re-connect the identity of Peachtree with Piedmont Park.

Q. What's your rewarding accomplishment so far?

A. I'm excited with the work we've done with our Kilometer Kids youth running program. I'm excited about the opportunities we have with that program to really engage more kids into the sport of running in a fun, friendly exciting way. And while we're not finished, I'm excited with a strategic planning process that we're going through. I came in with a different set of eyes ... and thought it would be great if we think about what we want to do, who we want to be in five years. So, let's go through the process of hiring an outside consultant and putting together a five-year plan (which will be reviewed by the club's board in July).

Q. If Piedmont is still off limits in the future, is this the alternative you would go with again? Would you consider more drastic changes to the route?

A. First we want to see this year how this goes. We're not going to find a finish line as nice as Piedmont Park and so I think what we did this year is one of the things I thought was really important — keeping the integrity of the Peachtree intact. ... The thing about our event, it's significant to keep the feel, the flair, the excitement, Cardiac Hill; the things people have come love over the years as part of Peachtree. It's that what we want to keep intact so if we were to use different portions of Peachtree, sure, we would consider that. But we really felt like this year, let's do what we've done, see how it works, then sit down and figure out if next year Piedmont Park isn't an option we'll look and see what's the best fit with more time to plan.

Q. The run to the new finish includes an uphill stretch. How will people react?

A. I think they are going to be a few people who are a little disgruntled by another hill. But I think like how Bill Thorn (the only runner to have participated in every Peachtree) was quoted in the paper early on, hopefully most people will recognize that we're just glad to have an event this year. And that we have a place to show up and start and run the race.

Q. What's your favorite characteristic of the race?

A. I enjoy the pre-dawn hours, when the buzz is just starting to gather at the start area. The volunteers are in place. Everybody's kind of excited. The anticipation as the runners are arriving. The final touches are being made and it feels like Christmas Eve. It's the excitement of another great event.

Q. Where do you want the club to be five years from now?

A. We want to get past the image that the Atlanta Track Club is for the elite runners. ... We're really going to work on some programs that are geared toward that first-time runner. That person who runs Peachtree. That person who runs three days per year. We want as the ATC to have a greater impact on the community's health and wellness.

Q. What's your impression of Atlanta as a running city?

A. I'm impressed with the number of people that are continuously running throughout the year. Obviously you have runners who are seasonal, and I think the climate really bodes well here for first-time runners to come out and actually find themselves maybe training for their first Peachtree and then staying with the sport.

Q. What role does the Peachtree play in promoting running?

A. It's really an institution here in Atlanta and it's for so many people what they do on July Fourth. And it's impressive to hear about people who used to live in Atlanta come back to continue their streak of Peachtrees. I think that is an invitation to somebody who's never done a running race before to say, 'Hey maybe I can try Peachtree.' And so I think it is a good entry point into the sport for a lot of people.