Run Suwanee

Suwanee Day Adds 10k to September 13th Road Race

The Suwanee Day 5k Classic has added a 10k option for the September 13th road race.  Both events will start and finish at Town Center.  The 5k race course remains the same while the 10k option will be run on an out-and-back course along the Suwanee Creek Greenway.  The 5k begins at 7:30 a.m. while the 10k will start at 8:30 a.m. 

The race director has added an interesting option rarely seen in road races.  Runners may run the 5k and/or the 10k for the same registration entry fee ($18 if received by September 6th).  Simply check both boxes (5k and 10k) on the race application and you may run in both events.  That's a lot of racing ifor one morning.  For more information and a race application, visit www.suwaneeday.com.   

2008 Peachtree Road Race (Congrats to the ATC)

The Atlanta Track Club successfully hosted 55,000 runners on July 4th through heat, humidity, and a new course.  Despite the closure of Piedmont Park, the 2008 Peachtree Road Race was run without a hitch.  The new course had several turns at the end and a new hill to contend with.  As a result the finishing times were a bit slower.  The race, however, kept its integrity and spirit.  Tracey Russell (Atlanta Track Club Executive Director), the entire ATC, and the wonderful volunteers should be congratulated for successfully dealing with the adversity of the closure of Piedmont Park and putting-on a first-class event.  For more information on the Peachtree Road Race including 2008 finishing times, please visit www.atlantatrackclub.org.

Laurel Ridge Trail (Lake Lanier)

The Laurel Ridge Ridge Trail skirts the banks of Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River for 3.8 beautiful miles of prime trail running.  Isolation, varied terrain, and outstanding views make this trail a must for any trail running enthusiast in the North Atlanta area.  

The Laurel Ridge Trail is a loop trail beginning and ending at the Lower Overlook Park parking lot off of Buford Dam Road next to the Buford Dam Powerhouse.  Parking is free but restricted to park hours.  The trail first crosses Buford Dam Road and rises to an overlook of the Lake Lanier and Buford Dam.  The trail quickly descends in a series of switch-backs and stone stairs to the Chattahoochee River where it releases from Buford Dam.  From here runners can cross the river just south of the dam and run a mile or so on along the west bank of the Chattahoochee.  This would add some distance to the 3.8 mile loop. Rejoining the main loop, the Laurel Ridge Trail travels south along the west bank of the Chattahoochee.  The trail then quickly veers left and rises quickly.  This half mile section of trail is steep and taxing.  Small wooden bridges cross small streams that flow to the Chattahoochee.  This is a prime area for spotting deer and snakes.  Once you reach the top of this ridge, you'll cross back over Buford Dam Road and rejoin the trail.  The Laurel Ridge Trail the winds north towards the shore of Lake Lanier.  For the next half mile, the trail skirts the south shore of Lake Lanier providing some spectacular lake views.  Departing the lake shore, the trail then winds west through woodlands and wetlands for the last half mile for a final climb back to the Lower Overlook Parking Area.  

Several climbs on the Laurel Ridge Trail are sufficiently steep to warrant walking.  The climbs, however, are brief.  Overall, the trail provides an excellent trail running experience close to home.  If you are training for a trail race or ultra, the 3.8 mile loop provides a great training ground.  The parking area has a restroom and water fountain.  You can also leave fluid and food at your vehicle and not worry about wearing a hydration pack.  The loop is stressful but not a killer.  Also, for some reason, the Laurel Ridge Trail has remained largely undiscovered by runners and hikers and you'll have solitude.

Additional details about the Laurel Ridge Trail, including a trail map, can be found at US Army Corps of Engineers website.