The Peachtree Podcast: The Official Podcast of the AJC Peachtree Road Race

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 1

Here we go! The Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race is back on July 4th only this year. As we kick off the new season of the Peachtree Podcast, we have some exciting news on how you can still get involved even if you haven't registered and what to expect as we get back to a more traditional Peachtree experience. Atlanta Track Club CEO Rich Kenah details plans for this year's race and gives us a behind-the-scenes perspective on Atlanta's July 4th tradition. 

Runners Who Read EP 3: 26 Marathons by Meb Keflezighi

In the third episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Ronnel Blackmon and Olivia Baker sit down with Meb Keflezighi, author of the April 2022 book: 26 Marathons: What I learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career. Simply put, Meb is one of the greatest marathoners of all time. He is a 4-time Olympian competing at the Olympics in both the 10k and marathon throughout his career. He is also the first person to win both the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon in addition to having an Olympic marathon medal. A beacon of consistency, he ended his career with nine sub-2:10 marathons, the most of any American. Since retiring from professional marathoning in 2017, Meb has created the MEB Foundation through which he engages communities in promoting youth health, education, and fitness among other things.
 
In this episode, we spend time discussing the mental and physical grind of the marathon and how the same mindsets that pull one through a marathon can be applied to life. Meb recounts his magical Boston win and talks about how everything clicked for him that day. He also dives into his "run to win" mindset that applies even when coming in first place in a race is not an option, and how we can use that mindset to produce our best performance on any given day. We end with some words of wisdom that everyone can take home.
 
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Meb:
Twitter: @runmeb
Instagram: @runmeb
Website: Meb (marathonmeb.com)
MEB Foundation: HOME | MEB Foundation
 
Follow Ronnel
Twitter: @ronnelblackmon
Instagram: @ronnelblackmon
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

Runners Who Read EP 2: Running For My Life by Lopez Lomong

In the second episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Ronnel Blackmon and Olivia Baker sit down with Lopez Lomong to discuss his book Running For My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey From The Killing Fields Of Sudan To The Olympic Games. Lopez Lomong is currently a professional runner with Nike’s Bowerman Track Club. He is a 6-time US Champion with wins in the 1500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m and a 2-time US Olympian (2008 and 2012) and opening ceremony flag bearer at the 2008 Olympics. However, his story is so much larger than his accomplishments on the track.
At age 6, he was kidnapped from church and taken to a war camp which he escaped with the help of three boys from his village. He then spent 10 years in Kakuma, a refugee camp in Kenya before arriving in the US via the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program. He finished high school and then attended Norfolk State University and Northern Arizona University before turning pro to train for the 2008 Olympics. After the Olympics, he finished college at NAU and started a foundation, 4 South Sudan designed to provide people in South Sudan with access to clean water, education, better farming tools, and improved healthcare. This pod dives into Lopez's story in his own words as we walk through some of the most moving parts of his incredible story. Through it all he talks about what it took mentally, physically, and spiritually to get to where he is today, tells us how we can all learn from his story, and discusses how we can give back to ensure that other lost children get the same opportunities that he did.
Show notes:
Lopez's Foundation: http://www.teamworldvision.org/lopez
Order the book here: https://www.thomasnelson.com/9780718081447/running-for-my-life/
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Lopez
Twitter: @lopezlomong
Instagram: @lopez_lomong
Website: http://www.lopezlomong.com/
 
Follow Ronnel
Twitter: @ronnelblackmon
Instagram: @ronnelblackmon
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

Runner’s Who Read EP 1: Let’s Get Physical by Danielle Friedman

In the inaugural episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Ronnel Blackmon and Olivia Baker sit down with Danielle Friedman to discuss her new book Let's Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World. Danielle Friedman is an award-winning multimedia journalist who specializes in telling stories at the intersection of health, sexuality, and culture. She has recently appeared in the NY Times, Washington Post, Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, and a plethora of other prominent media producers. Her first book, Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World, was just recently published in January 2022 and though she is currently based in New York, Danielle is an Atlanta native and longtime member of the Atlanta Track Club! This podcast dives into the stories of some of the lesser known pioneers in women's fitness history through the lens of Danielle's book, discusses the current state of women's fitness, and looks ahead at future directions.
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Danielle
Twitter: @DFriedmanWrites
Instagram: @daniellefriedmanwrites
Website: https://danielle-friedman.com/
 
Follow Ronnel
Twitter: @ronnelblackmon
Instagram: @ronnelblackmon
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

The Peachtree Podcast 2021: Episode 6

Race weekend is here! We have answers to your last-minute questions about The Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Atlanta Track Club elite runner (and new mom!) Bridget Belyeu has some advice on adjusting your running schedule to fit your life. Plus, Atlanta Track Club Coach Amy Begley gives us her tips on navigating the course on race day – and how you can fill your training calendar after Peachtree!

The Peachtree Podcast 2021: Episode 5

One week from today, our July 4th weekend kicks off with the Peachtree Junior. Listen this week as Atlanta Track Club’s Caryn Lamphier explains how you can get your kids involved on July 2nd. Plus, the winners of this year’s “Oh, Say Can You Sing” contest with 11Alive join us to tell us about the pressure and training involved in singing the national anthem for thousands of runners.

The Peachtree Podcast 2021: Episode 4

Wildly popular Peloton instructor Matt Wilpers joins the Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race as a virtual participant this year. This week, he reveals his favorite Atlanta running spots and where he plans to run his virtual 10K. Plus, meet the team behind the COVID-sniffing dogs that will help protect runners at this year's race.

The Peachtree Podcast 2021: Episode 3

The Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race wouldn’t happen without thousands of volunteers, and this year – the need for volunteers has more than doubled! Atlanta Track Club’s Tina Sjogren explains how you can still get involved for the 2021 race weekend (and potentially earn 3 t-shirts!). Plus, longtime volunteer Alta Urtarte tells us why she comes back year after year to help with this annual tradition.

The Peachtree Podcast 2021: Episode 2

The return to in-person racing at this year’s Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race means the return of the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division – now in its 40th year! This week, we hear from Peachtree record holder Daniel Romanchuk, who’s giving back to the sport in a big way. Plus, the Shepherd Center’s Becky Washburn shares what makes this race so special to athletes & patients alike.

The Peachtree Podcast 2021: Episode 1

The Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race is back with in-person and virtual options for 2021! We kick off this season of the Peachtree Podcast with a thorough explanation of the changes for this year's race with Atlanta Track Club's Rich Kenah & Peachtree Co-Medical Director Dr. Jonathan Kim. Find out how to have a safe - and fun! - Peachtree experience.