Registration and costs: I registered in the Spring with a discount for the Triple Peach (Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta 10 Miler, Atlanta Half) so I'm not really sure how much it would cost as an individual race. However, registering at packet pickup costs $90, which is in line with other race day registrations for Half distance. Plan ahead and save some money. Also, Triple Peach is good savings, and a great way to keep up with running goals for the whole year. You get extra medals and swag for Triple P so it's a really fun experience. It's become so popular that Triple P actually sells out each year.

Packet pickup/expo: Not really a full expo since packet pickup is held at Big Peach Running Co, but the store has some great sales during pickup and they have everything you need so it's basically a mini expo. They had 4 packet pickup days; 2 in the suburbs and 2 in midtown Atlanta. You also had the option to pay $20 to have race morning pickup. Most of the proceeds from this went to local charity so I think it's a great compromise; alleviates race morning logistics for both runners and race coordinators/volunteers.

Race Morning: The start/finish is at Turner Field. All of the Turner Field parking lots are open and free. I always plan to get there before 6am, and the race emails recommend this as well. Most people driving in try to get off the highway at the same exit so the on/off ramps back up creating a traffic jam. Get there before 6 am and it's not a problem. Also, if you plan to get off at the exits just north or south of Turner Field exit (depending on your direction of travel) this also makes it easier. I also recommend parking at the end of a land, facing out, near an exit. This makes it a lot easier to leave at the end of the race.

There are port-o-potties in every parking lot. I never waited in line. The nice thing this year, we finally had great weather after 2 years below freezing temps. Temp at the start was around 45 and went up to 60 with sunny skies. Perfect half marathon weather and everyone seemed happy for it. I wrapped in a heat sheat at the start but would have been ok withou it. Save your Goodwill clothes for race morning and dump that in the start corral or during the first mile. Volunteers pick up all the clothes and donate to local shelters. There is NO gear check, so make use of your home donation pile. I was a pace leader for the 2:30 group. We went to our corral just after 7am for the 7:3 start.

The race: First mile is kind of crowded and then it gets better after the first turn on Decatur street. The first 4-5 miles are pretty fast with easy rolling hills. It seems that many Atlanta races have all the most difficult hills in the second half of the course and the Atlanta Half is no exception. There's some long steady hills in each mile with 2, block long steep hills, one around mile 9ish and 1 in the last mile (Capitol Punishment). The course goes through many Atlanta neighborhoods so you get a varied perspective of the city, which is enjoyable. Basically, if you train in Atlanta then the hills should be fine for you.

There are aid stations every 2 miles like clockwork with water and gatorade, and there's sport beans at mile 8. At the finish you get a goodie box with snacks, water/gatorade, medal, and a nice disposable cool down jacket, in lieu of the typical heat sheet.

Overall it's a well-run Atlanta Track Club machine with great volunteers. It's a fun tradition every year but definitely better when the weather cooperates. I never miss it.