The 50th Annual Peachtree Road Race: A Lesson in Supply Chain Management

Every July 4th since 1970, competitive athletes, avid runners, casual joggers, and enthusiastic walkers alike gather in Atlanta, GA for the annual running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. This time honored tradition began with just a 110 like-minded people and has now grown to 60,000 participants, making it the world’s largest 10K race. 

So in honor of the event’s 50th anniversary, and being an Atlanta-based supply chain consulting firm, we’d like to take a moment to recognize the supply chain excellence the Atlanta Track Club exhibits year after year to execute one of the world’s largest pop-up supply chains.

For those who have ever watched or participated in this wonderful event, then you know how easy it is to be caught up in the spectacle of live music, cheering fans, and menagerie of costumes. As a result, it’s easy to gloss over the countless hours occurring behind the scenes that bring it all together. To show our appreciation, we’re highlighting some of the supply chain processes utilized in the months leading up to and throughout the race itself.

Course Layout (i.e., Route & Capacity Planning)

The race consists of a 6.2 mile course stretching across the epicenter of America’s ninth largest city. Like most road races, the event requires road closures to ensure the safety of all 60,000 participants and 150,000+ spectators cheering them on. 

While the course itself uses only Peachtree Street (and a smidge of 10th St.), an additional 15 closures in conjunction to the main strip must also occur. This requires careful planning as course designers must minimize disruption to the city’s unique and often confusing infrastructure as much as possible by creating rerouting scenarios for all goods and services needing to navigate their way around the event.

Participant Swag (i.e., Demand Planning & Inventory Deployment)

Every runner, volunteer, and planning member receives the coveted Peachtree Road Race t-shirt, with each year representing a unique design never to be repeated. Furthermore, size requirements fluctuate YoY, adding complexity to the demand forecast used to determine the right supply amount. For example, for the 2014 race, the most popular size shirt was medium, making up 31% of the inventory.

When it comes to keeping racers hydrated and comfortable, over 120,000 gallons of water are dispersed throughout the course, numerous emergency aid stations, and 750 portable restroom facilities. The post-race party supplies finishers with cold towels, granola bars, peaches, bagels, bananas, and a variety of drink choices to celebrate the accomplishment. Each item, or SKU, included in the event is placed in optimal locations, identified through historical data, to ensure efficiency.  

Equipment Drop-off & Pick-up (i.e., Last Mile Delivery)

Whether it be barriers lining the course, tables used for water stations, sound systems placed throughout, and all the other countless materials shipped to and from the event, equipment and supply hauling requires a variety of transportation modes, including full truckload, LTL, and parcel.

Additionally, depending on the freight being delivered and removed, additional last mile services and white glove requirements are needed for installation, dunnage removal, and eventual deconstruction. The various transportation modes needed for the event requires a detailed knowledge of transportation procurement and operations.

Race Day Execution (i.e., Operations)

The organizers of the race have continued to scale the operational needs with each passing year of the Peachtree’s history. The handling of stock, the organization of 3,500+ volunteers, and the involvement of approximately 500 Atlanta police officers requires an operational touch synonymous with supply chain management. 

As the race has evolved, enhancements have been made, adding to the experience of everyone involved and allowing it to remain a one-of-a-kind event. The project management and oversight required to ensure the event operates smoothly is both a science and an art. 

Atlanta was built on the foundations of supply chain management, so it should be no surprise that one of its most notable traditions requires this very expertise.

Lasting approximately four hours each year, the Peachtree Road Race exists as yet another wonderful example of the great opportunities Atlanta has to offer. The city possesses a unique history and a spirit of hospitality that is further demonstrated by this special event each and every Independence Day. Originally nicknamed Terminus, Atlanta was built on the foundations of supply chain management, so it should be no surprise that one of its most notable traditions requires this very expertise. As supply chain professionals, we are proud to call Atlanta home.