From a city-center 10K on the Fourth of July to a remote trail ultra that’s been running since 1980, learn more about these destination races in Atlanta.

(Feature photo by Photo by Paul McPherson/Atlanta Track Club)

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Atlanta’s race scene offers something for every runner. For road runners who prefer big crowds at start lines and downtown race courses, Atlanta Track Club has the perfect race series. The lineup includes the country’s largest 10K, held on the Fourth of July, and a Thanksgiving Day half marathon.

Runners looking to escape the city and get onto the trails will find gorgeous, technical courses in several directions. North of Atlanta, check out an approachable 11.5-mile route through Red Top Mountain State Park or opt for a more challenging 50-miler around Blue Ridge. Farther south is the long-running Pine Mountain Trail Run, with options to run 40 or 19 miles.

One thing is certain about destination races in Atlanta: hills. Whether you’re downtown or on the trails, expect a challenge. (Be sure to incorporate some hill workouts into your training!)

Explore details of these destination races in Atlanta, listed by calendar month.

• Red Top Rumble
• Publix Atlanta Marathon Weekend
• Cruel Jewel 50
• AJC Peachtree Road Race
• AREA 13.1 and Terrestrial 5K/10K
• Big Peach Sizzler 5K & 10K
• PNC Atlanta 10 Miler & 5K
• Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon
• Pine Mountain Trail Run
  
  Looking for more information on running in Atlanta? Visit the Atlanta City Guide.

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Red Top Rumble

February | Red Top Mountain State Park | 11.5 Miles
Approachable for first-time trail runners, expect easy to moderate trails with several bridge crossings all within Red Top Mountain State Park. Enjoy a barbecue lunch with chips and bananas after the race. The event is organized by the Georgia Ultrarunning and Trailrunning Society (GUTS), a volunteer-run nonprofit organization founded in 2004. Race proceeds help support Friends of Red Top Mountain, an organization that funds and leads park renovation projects. Carpooling is recommended; there is a $5 parking fee.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 55 degrees; low of 31 degrees; average of 43 degrees (based on Allatoona estimates)
• Course Elevation Change: 915-foot elevation gain, 918-foot elevation loss
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 2 hours, 45 minutes
• Race Swag: T-shirt, barbecue lunch
• Distance from Airport: 60-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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Publix Atlanta Marathon Weekend

March | Atlanta | Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 5K
Hosted by the Atlanta Track Club, this race runs through downtown Atlanta and past many historical sites. If you haven’t visited Atlanta, it’s a great tour of the city! The full marathon is a qualifying race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Rankings. A unique race option: half marathon runners can opt to run the “second” half marathon course, which travels the second half of the marathon route and starts after the marathon and half marathon.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 66 degrees; low of 45 degrees; average of 56 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: See race map on event website
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 6.5 hours (marathon); 3.5 hours (half marathon); 1 hour, 15 minutes (5K)
• Race Swag: Long-sleeve shirt (marathon, half marathon), T-shirt (5K), finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 20-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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Cruel Jewel 50

May | Blue Ridge | 56 Miles
The Cruel Jewel 50 includes 50 miles of trails and 6 miles on mountain roads through the North Georgia Mountains and Chattahoochee National Forest. Starting in Blairsville and ending in Blue Ridge, you’ll find technical singletrack trails with steep ascents and descents. It’s a tough course, but doable, with views of forested landscapes and ridgelines. For trail runners looking for a longer challenge, there’s the Cruel Jewel 100 (104 miles total); refer to the qualifying standards.

One of the goals of the Cruel Jewel 50, according to the female race director, is to make sure women feel comfortable participating. The race is Trail Sister-approved, and you’ll find space for women at the start line, feminine hygiene products at aid stations, and gender-specific race shirts.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 76 degrees; low of 50 degrees; average of 63 degrees (based on Blairsville estimates)
• Course Elevation Change: 15,00 feet in elevation gain, 15,000 feet in elevation loss
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 28 hours
• Race Swag: Men’s and women’s race shirts, Legacy hat with the Crown Jewel crown on it, hand-cut and dyed finisher’s belt by local woodmaker Sean Lawford (designed to attach the Crown Jewel 100 finisher’s buckle)
• Distance from Airport: 2-hour drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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AJC Peachtree Road Race

July | Atlanta | 10K
Held in Atlanta on the 4th of July, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race is the country’s largest 10K. Runners follow a point-to-point course from Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood to Piedmont Park. You’ll take the MARTA (public transit) to the start line and begin the race with your assigned wave. Listen to musical entertainment nearly every half mile and pass plenty of spectators cheering you on. While there’s not a significant elevation gain overall, get ready for Cardiac Hill starting around mile 3. At the post-race event, reward yourself with a few snacks and a complimentary beer (21+). The top 500 male and top 500 female finishers receive a special finisher’s mug.

Note that during registration, participants must submit estimated finish times based on qualifying race finishes; more details here. This Atlanta Track Club race is part of the Triple Peach Race Series.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 90 degrees; low of 72 degrees; average of 81 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: 240-foot net elevation change
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: Waves start between 7 and 8:45 a.m.; the course closes at 10:45 a.m.
• Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal
• Prize Money: Prize money is awarded to the top eight finishers (foot and wheelchair racers); there’s also a course record bonus (download the participant instructions for details)
• Distance from Airport: 35-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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AREA 13.1 and Terrestrial 5K/10K

August | Roswell | Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
This midsummer night event just north of Atlanta is family-friendly and offers race distances of a half marathon, 10K, and 5K. The three courses follow the Chattahoochee River. Expect a mostly flat course, but it’s dark out there so headlamps are required for all participants. You’ll run on a boardwalk alongside the river aligned with flashing LED lights for the last 4 miles before crossing the finish line in a park. After the race, enjoy music by a live band, get a free beer from a local brewery (21+), and find a bite to eat from one of the food trucks. The event is capped at 2,500 runners.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 89 degrees; low of 71 degrees; average of 80 degrees (based on Atlanta-area estimates)
• Course Elevation Change: 224-foot elevation gain (half marathon); 90-foot elevation gain (10K); 50-foot elevation gain (5K)
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 4 hours (runners must pass mile 10 by 10 p.m.)
• Race Swag: T-shirt or women’s tank top, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 40-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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Big Peach Sizzler 5K & 10K

September | Atlanta | 10K, 5K
This Labor Day race features a point-to-point course through Atlanta and is walker and stroller-friendly. The 5K and 10K start from different MARTA public transportation stations northeast of Atlanta (with plenty of free parking), and both finish at the Buckhead Station Shopping Center. Stick around after the race for a biscuits and beer party, featuring food from The Flying Biscuit Cafe. When you’re ready to head home, a shuttle will take you from the finish line back to where you started. Race proceeds benefit BreatheStrong CF, which organizes programs and education to empower physical and mental wellness for the cystic fibrosis community.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 84 degrees; low of 66 degrees; average of 75 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: Not listed
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: Not listed; walker and stroller-friendly
• Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 35-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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PNC Atlanta 10 Miler & 5K

October | Atlanta | 10 Miles, 5K
Both race courses start and end at Atlantic Station on the north end of Atlanta. The 10K runs through the Buckhead neighborhood with a trip through Piedmont Park. This Atlanta Track Club race is part of the Triple Peach Race Series.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 74 degrees; low of 55 degrees; average of 65 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: See race map on event website
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 2 hours, 30 minutes (10K); 1 hour, 20 minutes (5K)
• Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 20-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon

November | Atlanta | Half Marathon, 5K
A Thanksgiving Day tradition in Atlanta, the family-friendly half marathon and 5K races start and finish around Center Parc Stadium. The half marathon tours the city, passing through Piedmont Park, the Georgia Institute of Technology campus, and Centennial Olympic Park. Strollers and dogs are allowed on the 5K course. There’s also a 1-mile fun run that’s perfect for kids. This Atlanta Track Club race is part of the Triple Peach Race Series.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 64 degrees; low of 44 degrees; average of 54 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: See race map on event website
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 3 hours, 30 minutes (half marathon); 1 hour, 15 minutes (5K)
• Race Swag: Long-sleeve performance shirt, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 15-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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Pine Mountain Trail Run

December | Pine Mountain | 40 Miles, 19 Miles
Running since 1980, this race has been named an “Old School Altra” by UltraRunning Magazine. The courses navigate rocky and technical singletrack trails with a few stream crossings through F.D. Roosevelt State Park. While the trails are rarely flat, there’s no major uphill climb — Pine Mountain Trail’s elevation varies between about 900 and 1,400 feet. The Georgia Ultrarunning and Trailrunning Society (GUTS) is the organizer, and race proceeds support F.D. Roosevelt State Park. The event is capped at 250 participants.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 58 degrees; low of 35 degrees; average of 46 degrees (based on West Point estimates)
• Course Elevation Change: 6,584-foot elevation change (40 miles); 3,311-foot elevation change (19 miles)
• Historical Race Results
• Time Limit: 13 hours (40 miles); 10 hours (19 miles)
• Race Swag: Race shirt/hoodie, finisher’s award
• Distance from Airport: 75-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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*Average Race Month Weather is based on the National Weather Service’s historical data.

Check out more destination races to add to your race calendar.

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PLAN YOUR TRIP TO ATLANTA

Your Guide to Running in Atlanta

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