Fresh Loaf

The AJC has sponsored the region’s premier 10K race for 33 years, branding it the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race long before the two newspapers had formally merged. And it’s always been on the Fourth of July. Always.

But apparently not this year. From the front page of today’s AJC:

Agent: Racer not guilty of elbowing

Tadese Tola, the first person ever disqualified from the AJC Peachtree Road Race, wasn’t trying to elbow anyone. He was merely running inefficiently.
Tola’s agent, Hussein Makke, on Monday disputed claims that Tola deliberately elbowed Boaz Cheboiywo in a battle for fourth place in Sunday’s race.

The 4th was, of course, Saturday, as was the AJC Peachtree Road Race. But I guess when you own an event, you can say it happened any time you like.

I’m aware I’m throwing a stone from my own glass lean-to, but I can’t help but think such small but significant mistakes are the result of editorial downsizing. Fewer sets of eyes means more errors will find their way into print — and online.

At least that’s the excuse I’ll use the next time I screw up.

UPDATE: I orginally called the AJCPRR a marathon because I’ve never paid it the slightest bit of attention and because I didn’t have adequate editorial supervision. See what I mean!

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The 10k AJC Peachtree Road Race is one of Atlanta’s biggest and most attended races. This year was no exception. The masses rose to sprint and jog through Atlanta’s streets at 7:30 a.m. on July 4.

(Photo by Perry Julien)

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1) Happy Fourth of July!

2) Van Hunt performs at Apache Cafe.

3) The Peachtree Road Race returns for another year.

4) Carbonas, Predator and more play the B Jay Womack funeral benefit at 529.

5) Reclaim Independence Day at the Five Spot.

See more Atlanta events.

(Photo by Flickr.com/Chris J)

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Hear ye, Hear ye! City of Atlanta just released the 2009 wheres for some of our city’s most beloved and attended events. Particularly exciting is the Peachtree Road Race finish’s move back to 10th Street. Last year’s home stretch along Juniper was a hellish change of pace from 10th Street’s smooth descent, not to mention the David Bowie-esque labyrinthe participants were funneled into post-race. Also of note: a new fall date for the Pride festival.

Additional details from the press release:

The Organizers agreed to the following arrangements.

Dogwood Festival will be held in Piedmont Park on April 3-5, 2009.
Screen on the Green will be held in Centennial Park starting on May 29, 2009.
The Atlanta Jazz Festival will continue its Memorial Day tradition in Grant Park.
The Peachtree Road Race will be held on the Fourth of July starting at Lenox Square and ending on 10th Street. T-Shirt distribution and family gatherings will be held in the Meadow at Piedmont Park.
Atlanta Pride, originally scheduled for June 26-28, 2009 at Central Park, has now been moved outside the festival season and will take place on October 31-November 2, 2009,  at Piedmont Park.

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The July 4th weekend looks to be a hectic one in Atlanta. PRIDE is happening, so is a road race sponsored by the monolith-that-will-not-be-named, and the normally clogged streets of our one-horse town will be even worse.

MARTA plans to reroute some buses during the race and boost service for some of the events. Here are some details courtesy of the transit agency:

Peachtree Road Race
7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Start of Race: Buckhead or Lenox Rail Stations
End of Race: Civic Center Rail Station

4^TH of July at Lenox Square
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Lenox or Buckhead Rail Stations
Streets around Lenox Square will be closed starting at 6 p.m.

4^TH of July at Centennial Park
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Peachtree Center Station Customers should expect delays on routes 1 and 11.

Atlanta Pride Festival 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Civic Center Rail Station

Atlanta Braves Game and Fireworks
7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Five Points Rail Station
Catch the Shuttle from Underground Atlanta. The Shuttle returns to that location until the seventh inning. After the seventh inning, fans are taken to the Five Points rail station.

More info can be found at MARTA’s website.

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