Turning Tradition Upside Down: Atlanta's First Winter Peachtree

With sunny skies and brisk winter temperatures far from Atlanta's July heat, more than 5,000 runners and walkers gathered at Piedmont Park to take on the inaugural Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Flipping the iconic Peachtree tradition, this mostly uphill challenge finished at Lenox Square, offering a fresh twist on Atlanta's most beloved race.

Before the starting horn sounded, the crowd stood still for a beloved Peachtree tradition: the U.S. national anthem. Atlanta native and former The Voice contestant Briar Blakely delivered a stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Following Blakely's performance, Rich Kenah, CEO of Atlanta Track Club, addressed participants, connecting the event's history to its future.

"There were 110 pioneers who finished the first Peachtree Road Race, laying the foundation for the Peachtree movement," Kenah said. "Today, all of you are here to start a new tradition. Congratulations on being part of history this morning."

The course was lined with cheer stations, featuring groups like Atlanta Run Club and Movers & Pacers, as well as bundled-up volunteers and spectators cheering on the inaugural participants. Runners and walkers made their way down the infamous Cardiac Hill at mile three - a refreshing change from the July 4 climb - before facing the steady incline to the finish line at Lenox Square.

First to cross the finish line was Lars Poettgen, 23, originally from Germany but now living in Atlanta, with a time of 34:57. Less than two minutes later, Laura Pifer, 40, of Suwannee crossed the finish line in 36:26 claiming both Overall Female and Overall Masters Female titles. Both winners leaned on their Peachtree experience and pre-race strategies to tackle the uphill second half.

"I always look forward to the Peachtree - it's my favorite race," Poettgen said. "So, when I saw this opportunity to race it the opposite way, I knew I wanted to be a part of it."

"I didn't know it would be this cold," Pifer laughed. "But, hey, it wouldn't be the Polar Opposite without it."

Both winners, along with the top second- and third- place male and female finishers, received cash prizes and handmade glass peaches. The prize money is part of a broader initiative by the Club to include awards in select 2025 races for podium finishers who are also Atlanta Track Club members.

For many, the Polar Opposite Peachtree wasn't just a race - it was the chance to be part of a new chapter in Peachtree history. For Lizzie Mcdevitt, 28, from Roswell, the event honored her father's experiences running the Peachtree in the 1970s.

"It's really cool that I got to be a part of the first opposite version of Peachtree - it adds another amazing element to it," Mcdevitt said. "I just hope that it continues, and it becomes bigger and bigger."

While the Polar Opposite Peachtree introduced new traditions, some familiar elements remained. Finishers earned a hoodie (instead of a t-shirt) - the design revealed only at the finish line - and every participant earned a medal, a different addition from the optional medals available for purchase for the July 4 Peachtree.

Stay tuned - registration details for the 2026 Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race, including plans for increased capacity, will be announced in the coming weeks.

More information on 2025 prize money available here.