As the elite runners continue crossing the finish line, volunteers greeted them with cheers and shouts of “Great job!”
Sheree Kay is carrying her five-year Peachtree Road Race runner pin in her pocket. But this year, she is a volunteer, leading runners into Piedmont Park at the end of the race.
Credit: Ashley Quincin
Credit: Ashley Quincin
She said as an Atlanta native, the road race is very important to her.
”I enjoy giving the high-fives, cheering everybody on, seeing my friends most of all,” she said.
Marilou Ledford and Joycelyn Brock arrived at 2:45 a.m. as volunteers for the Peachtree Road Race. Less than six hours later, they were both crossing the finish line as runners. This is Ledford’s 9th race and Brock’s 14th. Ledford said that while the humidity was overwhelming today, being a part of the community makes the race special.
Brock arrived from Hawaii on Sunday and is preparing to board a 3 p.m. flight to Dallas this afternoon, she said, but she wouldn’t miss the race for the world.
”It’s a challenge every time,” she said. “But it’s a tradition, and I love it.”
Marianne Van Name has volunteered for the AJC Peachtree Road Race for 43 years as a member of the Atlanta Track Club.
”I’ve never spent another Fourth of July anywhere else, but right here.”
Van Name says that after COVID, the number of volunteers drastically decreased. This year, many new volunteers have helped bring the numbers back up.
Her favorite part each year is seeing both the elite runners and the wheelchair division pass by her in the race.
This was originally published on our Live Updates page.
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