The world’s largest 10-K running event is Saturday morning in Atlanta. But the reach of Georgia’s famous Peachtree Road Race also extends to overseas war zones.
In Atlanta, it’s now 40 years that Independence Day morning again will bring a stampede of 55,000 runners sweating down Atlanta’s famed Peachtree St. And it’s been the past few years that troops who’ve run the race and now serving overseas have carried the Peachtree spirit with them.
More than 3,000 military members are competing in specially-organized Peachtree races in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Groups involved include the 108th Calvary Division of the Georgia National Guard out of Macon.
Retired Colonel Tom McKenzie has run the race in Atlanta and overseas. He says the camaraderie for the so-called 'military-Peachtree’ is unmatched:
In Atlanta, it’s now 40 years that Independence Day morning again will bring a stampede of 55,000 runners sweating down Atlanta’s famed Peachtree St. And it’s been the past few years that troops who’ve run the race and now serving overseas have carried the Peachtree spirit with them.
More than 3,000 military members are competing in specially-organized Peachtree races in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Groups involved include the 108th Calvary Division of the Georgia National Guard out of Macon.
Retired Colonel Tom McKenzie has run the race in Atlanta and overseas. He says the camaraderie for the so-called 'military-Peachtree’ is unmatched:
"There are some folks that have run the race in Iraq, and now they’re running in Afghanistan. It’s a testament to the folks who have continuous deployments, and the families who have to sacrifice. Those folks have the tough job."McKenzie is the official ‘starter’ for the military Peachtree races. He will give the ‘go’ via phone at the Atlanta starting line for the bulk of the races Friday night (July 4th morning for military races).
