JUNE ’22 Georgia Race Calendar of Best
Running Events and Races in Georgia
Here’s our Top Picks for running events in June listed under our A, B, C, D headings: Running in Atlanta (A), Best Race in Georgia (B), 2022 Georgia Race Calendar Options (C), Difficult Race in Georgia (D). Included is our commentary about these races, links to the events and a few items of suggested running apparel and gear, especially those that are made in the USA.
We had a really BIG first-time half marathon up in Gwinnett County on our 2022 Georgia Race Calendar until ….….? But that’s OK, cause we had a really sweet 5K down near Macon ready just in case. The Hotlanta Half is our choice for the Big A. But Dickey Farms in Musella has Peach Ice Cream at the finish line. Papa’s Peach is not the only family friendly event in June. Check out our choice for a 10K near Atlanta that runs along the river up in Roswell. Looking for something a little more challenging? Our D for Difficult pick is a killer trail run with a beautiful view!
- A (Atlanta) — Hotlanta Half Marathon
Rating: Hot but in a Good Way 13.1 Relay 5k - B (Best) — Papa’s Peach Classic 5k
Rating: Sweet 5k 1m - C (Complete) — Possum Trot 10k
Rating: River Run 10k - D (Difficult) — Sky Valley Rabun Half Marathon Trail Run
Rating: Beautiful 11.5 with options for more
A (Atlanta) — The Hotlanta Half Marathon and Relay
Anytime you see an Audi Pace Car at the Start Line in the event photo, you know it’s a high class event. The Holtanta Half is a good course that starts with the sun gleaming off the golden dome of the Georgia State Capital, heads away from downtown towards the new Georgia State (former Turner Field) Football Stadium, then onto the Beltline, 10th street, Georgia Tech and around to the finish line near the World of Coca Cola. I mean how cool is that photo of Hotlanta Half runners passing by the giant Ferris Wheel next to Centennial Olympic Park
Check out the Map on the website. And be sure to read over all of the race information about the Hotlanta Half Marathon regarding where to Park, Course Map, Safety information, and their Acts of God disclaimer.
Looking at the finishing results: Maegan beat Matthew in the most resent Hotlanta Half. Beat him by 5 minutes made me curious. Wikipedia says she was an All American in High School, ran track for Syracuse University, and won the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championship. Won the Rock n Roll Philadelphia Half too. So be warned, the Hotlanta Half is a Big Race with some Fast Company. Hell in my old age group, some 71-year old named Bob from New Hampshire destroyed the local boys with a 2:06 finishing time. I hate you Bob.
Where to Stay? Anywhere Downtown is good, but the hotels around Centennial Olympic Park are all walking distance to the start line. Grab a room near the Park and you’ll have eating options that run the gauntlet from Waffle House to Ruth’s Chris Steak House
B (Best) — Papa’s Peach Classic 5k
Papa’s Peach Classic 5k down near Macon was on our radar as it was being held on my birthday June 18th. Nobody packs up the car to drive across the State to run a 5k, but this little 5k’s got the something extra at the end of the race that makes it our choice for the Best Race in June: Peach Ice Cream!
If you’re in Middle Georgia, head out to Dickey Farms in Musella. The Musella Baptist Church is close by if you need a landmark, and you’re probably driving there on Highway 341. Dickey Farms is located on Musella Road which is the Old Highway 431.
The Macon Tracks Club website describes the event as a 5k with a 1-mile Fun Run. The course map shows you leaving the Farm and running a down and back. Once you’ve finished your run, head over to the packing shed and treat yourself to some of Dickey Farms Peach Ice Cream!
Where to stay. I don’t know. Neither do they!
C (Complete) — Possum Trot 10k
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a family favorite for folks living on the north side of Atlanta up in Roswell, and the Possum Trout 10k is now in its 44th year for a reason. I couldn’t find anything on the Nature Center’s website about the course. I honestly thought this was a trail run, but the photos I found show runners lining up on the asphalt and running on a road next to the Chattahoochee River. Yahoo Sports picked up a story from the April 25th Marietta Daily Journal that’ll give you a little more information about this event.
Race Mob says it’s flat and fast, but don’t you believe everything you read on the internet. Todd won the last one in 43 minutes, but most folks needed more than an hour. Still that’s an impressive finishing time assuming they were herding a bunch of preschoolers. And don’t forget about the Fun Run option if that’s what you need.
If you’re looking for a family activity near Atlanta: This is it. And like Papa’s Peach down near Macon, there’s a big treat at the end. In addition to a free race photo, the Nature Center’s entire 127-acre site will be open for you to explore from the Wildlife Walk to the new River Boardwalk Trail.
Where to park? Get there early and parking is free at the Nature Center’s lot. Ride with me and we’ll be leaving the car at the St. Francis Day School and hoofing it the 1-mile to the Start Line.
Lots of sponsors at the event including Northside Hospital, Big Peach, Rotary, GoGo and Pit Stop which I found kind of funny.
D (Difficult) — Rabun Half Marathon Trail Run
This is quite possibly the most race for the least money of any event I’ve ever considered.
The event website says “The Rabun Half Marathon showcases some of the prettiest wilderness in North Georgia.” So how do they offer so much for so little? This is grassroots trail racing at it best with No T-Shirt, No Swag, No Awards. .
The 11.5ish mile course takes you on 4 miles of pristine single track, crossing 14 footbridges over creeks and small waterfalls. You will summit Rabun Bald, the 2nd highest point in Georgia, and enjoy the 360 degree views overlooking 3 states. You will tackle some killer downhill vert and then visit two, with an option to see a third, beautiful waterfall before finishing.
If you love trail running in the mountains, this is your race. Want to see just how pretty it is in this wilderness area? Click on the website and get ready to sign up. But read the details and look over the course map. This is an Ultra Sign-up event for a reason: 6,000 feet of elevation change and 2,700 feet of elevation gain.
Where to stay? AirBnB lists mountain cabins, tree houses, and other lodging in Sky Valley and Dillard, but keep a close eye on how far away you’ll be from the Start Line when those other websites offer you a room across the State line up in North Carolina! Mark says I’m wrong about NC. He trains at Rabun and says his cabin near Highlands is only 10 minutes away…
Gear Tip:
Use the link on the Rabun Half event website to Watch the weather and pack accordingly.
My experience at the Hogpen Hill Climb back in January is that things cooled off as you went up. And don’t think the weather can’t change on a moment’s notice up in the mountains. I know it’s June, but I’d plan to layer up, pack a poncho, and then wear what makes sense on race day.
Runners’ Gear
I’ve admired Tracksmith’s products for years, but when I saw this description of a race shirt designed for the Olympic Trails in Atlanta, I had to include this product. “When we were developing our singlets for the Olympic Marathon Trials, we worked with the team at Schoeller to craft one of the most technical fabrics on the market: a feather-light nylon blend with a unique grid structure that’s both silky smooth and quick-drying. These racing singlets performed so well over 26.2 miles in Atlanta, we’re introducing them to our permanent collection in classic colorways.” Tracksmith Strata Singlet Atlanta
SOM stands for Sense of Motion, They describe their Made in USA shoes as HIGH-PERFORMANCE TRAINERS.
The website encourages you to “Attack your workouts in a barefoot-feel trainer that breathes as it flexes for precise performance during the hardest activities.’
The shoes have a giant toe box that give your toes room to breathe!
Me, I bought the ones in GRAY with BLACK laces.
I took ‘em out on a handful of 5-milers on both paved and unpaved portions of the Atlanta Beltline before looking for a chance to do something different. After finishing the Atlanta Outdoor Club’s Hooch Half Marathon Trail Run, I handed my iPhone to another runner named Pam and asked her to record me running to the finish in my new SOM Nutrail Air shoes. You can watch the video on FaceBook or Instagram
SOM doesn’t describe their shoes as running shoes, but you can!
Halo … Made in the USA!
I’m a visor guy, and these Made in USA Halo products are the real thing. It was the initial ING-sponsored Marathon in Atlanta when it turned warmer than expected. The water truck driver couldn’t make it thru all of the closed streets, so we ran flat out for seven miles wondering how we could have missed it. By the end of the race, I had sweat pouring down into my eyes all but blinding me. I thank God for the nice lady handing out ice cubes in Piedmont Park. Thanks to her I made it to the finish line. The next week I bought my first Halo Race Visor. I’ve run in 90-degree heat. They work.
Invitational Marathon
I ran my own virtual birthday marathon last June in a pair of Wright socks. Midway in the run a violent thunderstorm struck as I approached the City of Decatur. Soaking wet I hovered behind a building on the edge of downtown watching wind gusts rip branches off nearby trees. 10 minutes later I continued my run to Stone Mountain Park. Wear the Wright Socks: no problem.
There’s still a couple of Made in USA sock options, so I’ll comment on those later.
Check out our Gear Page for more Made in USA Options
