AJC Peachtree Road Race 2020 continues for unprecedented second day

For the first time in its 51-year history, the AJC Peachtree Road Race enters its second day.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the world’s largest 10k to be a virtual race this year, with participants creating their own courses and getting to choose which day they’ll run their 6.2 miles.

Although traditionally run on the Fourth of July, the race was pushed back this year to keep the more than 60,000 people who participate safe. Even so, conditions still weren’t optimal for a large gathering, so the Atlanta Track Club decided runners to create a virtual experience.

So this year, you have until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, to complete your run and enter your time. But if you want to be included on the leaderboard, you had to finish your run on Thanksgiving.

Many runners laced up their shoes and completed their races Thursday, but the extra time allowed others to wait until Friday. Sporting their 2020 Peachtree Road Race T-shirts, they shared their triumphs on social media.

The official Peachtree Road Race T-shirt was sent to all participants before they ran this year — instead of making them wait until after crossing the finish line — but that doesn’t mean you can’t still dress up in costume, as many runners do each year.