'Red Alert' Issued For Peachtree Road Race Due To Heat, Humidity

ATLANTA, GA -- The high temperatures expected at Tuesday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race have caused the organizers to issue a "Red Alert," a color-coded warning that means runners should be wary of the heat and humidity.

The weather on the Fourth will be nice but hot: 92 degrees with a 20 percent chance of rain. By the evening, temps will fall to a pleasant 72 degrees, just in time for the fireworks. (To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Buckhead Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

The Atlanta Track Club said Tuesday that runners should pace themselves and be cognizant of the course changes along the route. They should also consider stopping if they begin to overheat. The race will have have water stops available at each mile along the route.

The AJC Peachtree Road Race, now in its 47th year, starts every July 4th in Buckhead and winds through Midtown, finishing in Piedmont Park. Billed as the world's largest 10-kilometer race, the trek annually attracts some of the sports' top 10K runners, along with tens of thousands of amateurs just looking to participate.

The race began in 1970 by the Atlanta Track Club. Only 110 people participated in that first race, which went from Buckhead at the intersection of Peachtree and Roswell roads to what is now Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Track Club's website.

“Please understand the risks associated with strenuous exercise in these conditions and alter your race plan accordingly,” the Atlanta Track Club said, according to the AJC. “If you have a condition that is worsened by high heat and humidity, please consult a medical professional before participating.”

The start times for Tuesday's race are as follows:

• 6:43 a.m. - Wheelchair Race
• 7:18 a.m. - Women's Elite Start
• 7:30 a.m. - Main Start

View a map of the Peachtree Road Race route

Safety measures will be ramped up for the race, with runners and spectators encouraged to not carry a bag and if they do make sure it's see-through.

Image via Pixabay