Get to Know Your Running Clubs - Atlanta Track Club
In this edition of Get To Know Your Running Clubs we spoke with Amanda Kowaleski, Manager of PR & Marketing Communications at Atlanta Track Club. You'll often find the Atlanta Track Club running around, conveniently enough, Atlanta! They also organize some of the most well-known road races in the city.
Want to learn more about them? Read on!
Hi Amanda! Tell us a bit about your club history. How long has the club been around?
Atlanta Track Club was founded in 1964 as a merger between two local running organizations. At that time, the Club's main mission was to honor outstanding high school track and field and cross country athletes. In the early days, membership included 21 general members, 17 coaches and 40 student athletes. Today we are the second largest running organization in the country with more than 27,000 members.
Wow, that's huge! Tell us about your membership. What level of runners do you cater to?
We welcome runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Our membership includes people who are taking their first steps towards fitness all the way up to Atlanta Track Club Elite, which includes members of our Olympic Development Team and our talented masters athletes. We also have a youth running program, Kilometer Kids, which helps introduce children to our sport.
Where/when does your club usually meet/run?
We host monthly group runs on the third Thursday of every month at locations around the metro area. Our training programs feature weekly long runs as well as mid-week workouts focused on hill and interval training.
Is there any cost to join?
Individual membership is $35 per year, dual membership costs $60 per year, and family memberships are $75 per year. Membership includes free entry to select races, discounts on our other races and training programs, guaranteed entry into the AJC Peachtree Road Race, a member apparel item, discounts at local running specialty stores, and a subscription to our magazine, Wingfoot.
Is your group affiliated with any events?
Atlanta Track Club hosts more than 30 events and programs throughout the year including the AJC Peachtree Road Race, which is the world's largest 10K. Some of our other larger events include the Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon & 5K.
Any cool routes/ favourite areas to run in your city that you would like to recommend to other runners? Why do you like those?
Staff favorites include Piedmont Park, Atlanta BeltLine's Eastside Trail, Big Creek Greenway, Silver Comet Trail, Stone Mountain and the Chattahoochee River Trail.
Do you have any favourite local races? Outside of anything that you're affiliated with of course :)
Atlanta is a running destination, and there are a lot of great events in the metro area!
Anything else that we should know?
Whether you live in Atlanta or are just passing through, we hope you can join us for an event or group run!
Want to learn more?
Want to connect with the Atlanta Track Club, or just learn a bit more about them? Check out their information below:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Looking for runs around Atlanta?
You can find a full list of runs and races happening around Atlanta at www.runguides.com/atlanta/runs