Hundreds of runners and walkers took over Peachtree Road on Labor Day for the Big Peach Sizzler, a 10K and 5K that funneled participants from two separate starting points down into Buckhead for a finish-line celebration. Unlike Atlanta's most famous road race, this one was built to be kind to tired legs, steering clear of the punishing climb that has humbled generations of Peachtree Road Race finishers.
The 10K started near the Chamblee MARTA Station, while the 5K began closer to Brookhaven's MARTA stop, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Both routes finished along a flatter stretch of Peachtree Road in Buckhead, letting participants focus on simply crossing the line rather than conquering Atlanta's dreaded Cardiac Hill. Race organizers, per Race Roster, set the 10K off at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K at 7:00 a.m., coordinating both courses so they converged at the Buckhead Station Shopping Center.
A Downhill Alternative to Peachtree's Cardiac Hill
The comparison to Atlanta's iconic Independence Day race is hard to avoid. The AJC Peachtree Road Race draws about 60,000 participants and finishes at Piedmont each Fourth of July. The Big Peach Sizzler runs in the opposite direction on a net-downhill southbound course that avoids that incline.
That downhill layout also carries competitive stakes beyond bragging rights. The Atlanta Track Club has described the 10K as a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race, according to the Atlanta Track Club. For serious local runners, the Labor Day finish offers a competitive test in Buckhead.
Racing for a Cause Rooted in Pediatric Medicine
Behind the finish-line festivities, the Big Peach Sizzler exists to raise money for BreatheStrong CF, a nonprofit that funds direct exercise grants of up to $750 along with temporary support for groceries and gas for Georgia CF patients, according to the BreatheStrong CF. The organization's roots trace back to 2007, when pediatric pulmonologists Dr. Peter Scott and Dr. Steven Julius founded Team 65ROSES at the Georgia Marathon before the group evolved into Miles for Cystic Fibrosis and eventually merged with the Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation.
The event has grown steadily since. Last year's race drew more than 2,000 runners and walkers, with a record 5K turnout, per the organization's own reporting. The event's logistics span three municipalities — Chamblee, Brookhaven, and Atlanta — with start locations near MARTA stations.
Biscuits, Beer, and Accessible Race Options
Once runners crossed the finish line at Buckhead Station, they were greeted by the event's signature “Biscuits & Beer” post-race festival, featuring a catered breakfast from Flying Biscuit Café and craft beer from StillFire Brewing, a tradition detailed by Rough Draft Atlanta. The race also offers free shuttle buses returning participants to start-line parking.
Ahead of race morning, co-title sponsor Big Peach Running Co. listed packet-pickup dates at its Metro Atlanta stores in East Cobb, Suwanee, and Brookhaven; race-day pickup at the start lines is unavailable unless arranged or purchased in advance. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes coordination that keeps a point-to-point course spanning multiple jurisdictions running smoothly — and one more reason the Big Peach Sizzler has carved out its own spot on Atlanta's Labor Day calendar, downhill grade and all.
