A MILE by MILE description of the course

Mile 1 – DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

Runners start just north of Underground Atlanta at the base of Woodruff Park on Peachtree Street.

Mile 2 – JACKSON AVE VIEW OF THE CITY

Runners continue from Ralph McGill Boulevard to Piedmont Avenue This area provides one of the best views of the city; runners will get to see it again at Mile 19.

Mile 3 – MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER

Along this area, runners pass historical Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King held services.

Mile 4 – LITTLE FIVE POINTS

The big crowds at the top of Euclid Avenue will welcome runners to Atlanta’s home of gothic, punk and reggae. This is the first major split of the race, as the half-marathoners will be heading in another direction.

Mile 5 – CANDLER PARK

Runners will take the change of scenery and head into Candler Park, one of the first of Atlanta’s ‘old’ neighborhoods featured in the race.

Mile 6 – OLMSTED PARK

From Candler Park, runners move into Olmstead Park, designed by the acknowledged founder of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmstead, Sr. Runners move swiftly from Oakdale Road onto Ponce De Leon Avenue.

Mile 7 – PONCE DE LEON

While on Ponce De Leon one of Atlanta’s most famous avenues, runners will enter a hillier section of the course that winds it way through several streets, before moving onto College Avenue.

Mile 8 and Mile 9 – COLLEGE AVENUE

These next two miles will be a welcome glide for runners along a straight section of the course. While on College Avenue, runners will pass Agnes State College, on of the top ranked liberal arts colleges and women’s colleges in the country.

Mile 10 – DOWNTOWN DECATUR

Moving out of the historic homes area, runners will move onto Commerce Drive before heading onto East Ponce De Leon Avenue where is will take them into downtown Decatur, one of several “small town neighborhoods” located within the city limits.

Mile 11 – NORTH DECATUR

Runners will continue on Clairmont Avenue, cross over Scott Boulevard before moving onto North Decatur Road.

Mile 12 – EMORY UNIVERSITY

Runners will move into the tree-lined neighborhood of Druid Hills, which includes Emory University, one of the nation’s top private universities founded in 1836.

Mile 13 – EMORY VILLAGE

Runners will pass the shopping area adjacent to Emory University and then enter into the rolling hills and beautiful homes of Emory and North Druid Hills as they reach the halfway point for the race.

Mile 14 – DRIVIN’ MISS DAISY

Continuing through these tree-lined neighborhoods, runners will pass by the house where the

1989 movie Driving Miss Daisy was filmed. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jessica Tandy). Runners will emerge back onto Ponce De Leon Avenue.

Mile 15 – MEMORIAL MILE

From Ponce de Leon, runners will make another visit to a familiar road, Oakdale Road. From here, they will cross continue straight, crossing over North Decatur Road.

Mile 16 – EMORY ROAD

This mile brings many twists and turns in another hilly section of the course. Runners will move onto the winding streets of Emory Road before completing the mile at Briarcliff Road.

Mile 17 – CALLANWOLDE FINE ARTS CENTER

As runners continue on Briarcliff Road, they will pass a historic 1920 Gothic-Tudor mansion, listed on the National Resister of Historic Places, which was converted in 1971 to the community arts center, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

Mile 18 – CARTER CENTER

Runners follow along Briarcliff, which becomes Moreland Avenue. Passing by Freedom Park, runners will stride by the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum.

Mile 19 and Mile 20 – FREEDOM PARKWAY (and the best view of Downtown Atlanta)

From here, runners will turn onto Freedom Parkway for one of the best views of the city at the intersection with Boulevard before turning around to run back down Freedom Parkway.

Mile 21 – PONCEY HIGHLANDS

It is here at Mile 21 that runners head back onto Ponce De Leon Avenue one last time before turning onto the neighborhood known as “Poncey Highlands.” The neighborhood is home to legendary bar, Manuel’s’ Tavern, the local watering hole for politicians and the politically minded ever since it opened in 1956.

Mile 22 – VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS

From Poncey Highlands, runners will move onto Historic Virginia Highland one of Atlanta's most popular neighborhoods. Taking in the vibrant area, runners will pass Atkins Park, which since 1922, is one of the city’s oldest continuously licensed taverns.

Mile 23 – JOHN HOWELL PARK AND INMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Runners will head back into the John Howell Park, a beautiful 3-acre parcel of land where they will continue on Virginia Avenue before moving onto Park Drive. Here, they will pass Inman Middle School, a National School of Excellence and a Georgia School of Excellence.

Mile 24 – PIEDMONT PARK

Entering into Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, Atlanta’s “Common Ground” since 1904, runners will enter the park and pass by Lake Clara Meer. As runners continue to take in the scenic beauty, they’ll run back onto Piedmont Avenue before turning onto 14th Street.

Mile 25 – MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE

Runners will climb up 14th Street before turning onto Peachtree Street to head back into downtown. In this mile, runners will see the Margaret Mitchell House, the Fox Theater, and pass by many of Atlanta’s tallest buildings.

Mile 26.2 – UNDERGROUND ATLANTA

Runners finish the race on Peachtree Street at Woodruff Park, with its welcoming curved fountains and green spaces, and after 26.2 miles, the finish line.