One after another runner drove into the parking lot and registered and about 9:50 Tim called us to the start. Tim’s wife, Shelby, took over as Tim went to the start line, and I signed my name to be officially registered. Tim was getting the materials out of his car, and I helped him set up under and overhang on the front of the Sears building. So on July 4 th, 1970 I arrived about just before 8:30 am at the large parking lot of the Sears Buckhead store (intersection of Peachtree and West Paces Ferry) to register. He wanted runners from Southern cities to wake up early and drive to the race. Knowing it would be hot in Atlanta on July 4 th, I asked why he set the start time at 10am.

When I asked about registering, he said-“just show up on race morning”. “I have it all in the back of my car”, he replied. I helped Tim conduct these fun games and as we were cleaning up the field afterward asked if he needed help on July 4 th. In exchange for providing volunteers to conduct this event, Carling would pay for the Peachtree Road Race Trophies. The first brewery in Atlanta, Carling Brewery, wanted to have a “Family Field Day” at their facility. I dropped by his office at Georgia State before a class one day and he was excited.

He approached several possible sponsors to pay for trophies with no result. My friend Tim Singleton was the main race director for the new Atlanta Track Club and was starting an ambitious race from Buckhead to 5 Points.

It was very unusual to have such a big trophy in a 10K road race and many ask me who was the sponsor. In my Phidippides store in Ansley Mall you’ll see the first place trophy that I won in the 1 st Peachtree Road Race in 1970.

Peachtree road race