October 15, 2017: a preview of the new Atlanta 10-Miler course

I've run the Atlanta 10-Miler for the past three years.  The route has been challenging, but it's become familiar to me.  However, for 2017 the Atlanta Track Club has announced a new route.  Instead of running up Cardiac Hill on Peachtree Street in mile 8, the new route will have us run downhill in mile 3: "Challenge yourself to Conquer Cardiac Hill by running as fast as you can down the famous hill."  I'm not sure if I will like the change.  I don't know the reason for the new route, if there was a permit problem, or if the track club simply wanted to change things up.  But the Atlanta Track Club always puts on great events, so I'm willing to keep an open mind going into race day. 

edit Oct 16: I'm told that the old route would block the only current entrance to Piedmont Hospital, due to construction along Peachtree Road.  The new route on Peachtree Road will not impede access to the hospital during the race.  Thanks to Carol Gsell for the explanation! 

As part of my long run in preparing for my next marathon in four weeks, I decided to check out the new 10-Miler route.  I hope that my advance look at the route will be helpful for any interested readers! 

You can also download the map from the race site at this link. 

The start: We will start once again at Atlantic Station, on State Street   However, we'll begin the race running in the opposite direction from last year's start. 

Mile 1:  The first mile looks like it will be pretty easy.  Runners will turn left from State Street onto 17th Street heading east, crossing the I-75/I-85 connector over the 17th Street bridge, crossing Spring Street and West Peachtree Street before turning left onto Peachtree Street, heading north out of Midtown Atlanta.  Enjoy the cheer group stationed at the intersection with West Peachtree Street!  There will be some increase in elevation after the turn onto Peachtree Street. 

Mile 2:  The first water stop will be shortly after crossing the "PEACHTREE" bridge over I-85.  We'll run a gentle downhill section for about 1/2 mile, then a small gentle uphill nearing Piedmont Hospital at Collier Road and the Shepherd Center.  In the Peachtree Road Race, there is always a big cheering section in front of the Shepherd Center.  A cheer group is marked on the map for this race near the mile 2 marker. 

Mile 3:  The track club advertises "Conquer Cardiac Hill" at mile 2.  That means that this section will begin at the mile 2 marker.  My Garmin measures a drop of elevation of 150 feet.  Enjoy it!  I hope to bank a little time in this mile, letting my weight carry my momentum down the hill.  A water station and a cheer group are marked on the map near the bridge crossing Peachtree Creek, at the bottom of Cardiac Hill.  We'll turn right onto Peachtree Hills Avenue.  

Mile 4:  Peachtree Hills Avenue is accurately named.  We will definitely notice the uphill sections on this road.  About halfway through this mile, there will be a short downhill section, but as the road curves to the left, we will go uphill again as we approach Lindbergh Drive.   There should be a cheer group as we turn right onto Lindbergh Drive. 

Mile 5:  Shortly after arriving on Lindbergh Drive, we'll see the Lindbergh MARTA station parking garage to our left.  We'll turn right onto Garson Drive, which is a short spur connecting to Piedmont Road.   There should be a water station near the intersection with Piedmont, onto which we will turn right.  On Piedmont Road between Peachtree Creek and I-85, there will be a succession of adult nightclubs and bookstores intermixed with automotive repair shops.  Piedmont Road will pass under the highway, past the site of a big fire that destroyed a short section of the interstate highway, snarling traffic throughout metro Atlanta for the better part of two months.  Hopefully there will be a great cheer group to take our minds off of the dreary landscape, and the hill that is rising ahead of us.  

Mile 6:  Remember how much fun it was to run down Cardiac Hill back in mile 3?  We will regain at least 100 feet of that elevation running south on Piedmont Road.  Just south of Rock Springs Road, we will pass Fat Matt's Rib Shack, one of my favorite restaurants in my life before Weight Watchers.  I haven't been there in years, so I was surprised to see that one of the two buildings of the restaurant was badly damaged by fire.  Nonetheless the restaurant is still operating in the remaining building.  Perhaps we will breathe in a few calories in the barbecue smoke, to power us up the hill.  If there is any consolation, the quality of the neighborhood will also improve as we run south, past Montgomery Ferry Drive, which is the northern entrance to Ansley Park.  I tend to carry my own nutrition on long runs, but there will be a Clif zone right before the upcoming water station, where I expect volunteers will distribute gels. 

Interlude:  After the 10-Miler, the Atlanta Track Club sends all participants a survey.  I'm sure that I gave last year's race very positive ratings, but one of the last questions asked "What can we do to improve the race experience?"  I may have written "Add more hills, LOL!"  Atlanta Track Club, LOL stands for "laughing out loud."  You need not attempt to address any comment marked LOL.  I didn't really expect you to make the route more challenging!  I guess the new hills in this year's course are my fault.  I'm sorry.  Please, don't judge me too harshly as you cover miles 4 - 8. 

Mile 7:  After crossing Monroe Drive, and two bridges over a small creek and an abandoned railroad right-of-way that is now the unpaved portion of the Eastside Beltline, we'll resume running uphill, gaining another 50 feet in elevation.  I remember how much I enjoyed running this section in the opposite direction in mile 11 of the Galloway Half-Marathon, but it's much more difficult running south.  Fortunately there will be forest to the left and million-dollar homes to your right as well as a cheer group in this section, to distract you from the challenge of running uphill.  At the Prado, we will turn left into the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  Again, running uphill - just take in the beauty of the early fall foliage.  And after you pass the visitor center of the Botanical Gardens, you will run a long, gentle downhill along a service road connecting the Botanical Gardens with Piedmont Park.  Hurray!!  This mile will end as we run above the Active Oval, where another cheer group will be posted. 

Mile 8:  We will exit Piedmont Park at the 12th Street gate.  There should be a water stop at this gate.  Slow down and accept a cup with gratitude and a smile to the volunteers, because you will need it.  Those of you that have run mile 11 of the Hotlanta Half, or mile 23 of the Publix Georgia Marathon, know very well the steep uphill section of 12th Street from Piedmont Park to Juniper Street.  Is there any good news in this preview?  Yes, there is: after all of the other hills preceding this section, the 12th Street Hill isn't any worse.  Really!  We'll turn left onto Juniper Street, catching our breath as we enjoy a short downhill section entering Midtown Atlanta, before the elevation continues to rise all the way down to 6th Street, where a cheer group will welcome those of us still on our feet.  

Mile 9:  By this time of the race, you may be asking yourself, "When will these hills end?!" The good news is that the race is about 120 feet net downhill from this point.  Yes, YES, YES!  The important thing is to get to the mile 8 marker in good shape, so that you can enjoy the last two miles, to make a strong finish.  Turn right onto 6th Street, run three blocks past Peachtree Street and Cypress Street, then turn right onto West Peachtree Street.  The elevation will drop net 50 feet over the next 11 blocks.  There will be one small uphill crossing 10th Street, however the track club has arranged for a cheer group just south of 10th Street to encourage us over that speed bump.  After 10th Street, feel free to accelerate, if you have anything left in the tank.  

Mile 10:  The mile 9 marker will probably be around 15th Street, near the entrance to the Arts Center MARTA station.  In two short blocks, we will turn left onto 17th Street, with another cheer group at that intersection to encourage us to a strong finish.  We will be going up as we cross the beautiful 17th Street bridge crossing the I-75/I-85 connector.  That overpass was undoubtably much easier when we crossed it in the other direction, an hour or two earlier.  Just look to your left toward downtown Atlanta, or straight ahead toward the towers in Atlantic Station.  Entering Atlantic Station, you have only 1/2 mile to go, and it will be level.  I promise.  Hopefully there will be many spectators on 17th Street.  Enjoy this last stage of your race in your own style: whether you sprint to the finish, or are determined to exchange a high-five with as many spectators as possible, put on a good show, because the race is nearly over.  As the Millennium Gate appears ahead, you will turn right onto State Street.  This is similar to the finish in past years, virtually guaranteed to have many spectators cheering us into the finish.  You'll see the Target Superstore  ahead of you, and as State Street curves to the right, I expect that the finish line will soon come into view.  

edit Oct 16: The participant instructions were released today, with a detailed map of the start-finish area.  The finish line will be in the same location as in previous years, on 19th Street.  So we'll run past the curve on State Street and make a quick right turn past the Pig and the Pearl restaurant, dashing into the finish. 

Give all your remaining energy to get to the finish line, cross the timing mat, and throw your arms into the air in celebration - you've done it!  CONGRATULATIONS on finishing the Atlanta 10-Miler!!