Tracey Russell: Atlanta Track Club's executive director

Sports

Tracey Russell: Atlanta Track Club's executive director

Photos of Tracey Russell, executive director of the Atlanta Track Club and director of this year's AJC's Peachtree Road Race.

It's been 18 months since Tracey Russell (seen here) succeed Julia Emmons as executive director of the Atlanta Track Club.

And in that time, Russell has conquered 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's personalized coffee mug has her name on the handle and says "Runner Girl Atlanta." "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," Russell said. "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."

Russell's favorite characteristic of the race? "I enjoy the pre-dawn hours, when the buzz is just starting to gather at the start area. The volunteers are in place," she said. "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."

Russell (left) prepares to head to lunch with longtime track club volunteer Nick Discenza (right). Five years from now Russell said she wants "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."

Russell (left) goes over some track club business with Janet Monk, one of her staff members. On the wall above them is a black and white panoramic photograph taken of the Peachtree Road Race in the early 1990's.

Peacthree Road Race is "really an institution here in Atlanta and it's for so many people what they do on July Fourth," Russel said. "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."

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It's been 18 months since Tracey Russell (seen here) succeed Julia Emmons as executive director of the Atlanta Track Club.

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