What would it take to get you to run a 6.2-mile race? It’s not a challenge, rather an invitation. If you choose to accept, according to some of Atlanta’s prolific runners, your life may never be quite the same again.
From Lenox Square to Piedmont Park, Downtown Atlanta will be teaming with walkers, joggers and runners alike this summer. On July 4, they’re completely taking over.
The 2026 Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race will welcome over 60,000 people to participate in the 57th running of the world’s largest 10K for America’s 250th anniversary. Northside is the title partner for the event, but the Atlanta-based health system is also hitting the pavement in a big way. Its runners, including Northside Hospital VP of Marketing and Communications Jerry Tolk, are inviting onlookers to come find their reason to run.
For Northside, becoming the title partner of this race is a commitment — to Atlanta, to Georgia and to the idea that health is not just something that happens in a hospital,” Tolk said. “It happens on race courses, in neighborhoods, in the daily decisions people make to move their bodies and invest in their wellbeing. We are honored to be part of that story, and we can't wait to see everyone at the starting line.
Finding a reason to run
Northside Cherokee Pediatrics' Dr. Beatrix Ohienmhen — who placed 14th in the Northside Hospital Atlanta Women’s 4 Miler — will be putting her grit to good use on July 4.
I begin each run with gratitude, and I try to end the same way,” she said.
Having finished two marathons within 21 days, running is more to Ohienmhen than a hobby. It’s a way of life.
Running mirrors life in many ways,” she said. “There are hills, challenges and moments when you want to stop, but you keep going. And just like in life, we don’t cross the finish line alone — we support one another along the way. That shared experience is what makes it so meaningful.
That sense of meaning is something the pediatrician and her fellow runners savor on every step.
This will be Northside Hospital anesthesiologist Dr. Eric Brown’s fourth year participating in the Peachtree Road Race. His patients and his family proverbially on his shoulders, the healthcare professional is dedicated to crossing the finish line.
I run for those in my life who cannot run,” Brown said. “My patients undergoing heart surgery, who have trouble with breathing just walking across the room; my brother-in-law, who died suddenly 2 years ago from a heart condition, with whom I used to go on runs with; my father, who is in declining health and suffering from ALS, who needs help to walk to the bathroom; my kids, to show them that physical activity leads to great things in life.
Northside Hospital Forsyth Acute Care Cardiology Unit Manager Jay Hickman will be running the Peachtree Road Race for the first time. From 5Ks to 50Ks, he’s crossed some monumental finish lines over the years. On July 4, Hickman will be one of dozens of volunteer Northside healthcare professionals running the race with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
I got way more excited about running the race when the volunteer opportunity came up,” Hickman said. "It's less about me, and it's more about the community, being able to respond if there is an emergency — also just to drive engagement with the community and bring awareness to heart health and emergency preparedness.
Northside will have a booth at the race where visitors can learn CPR, the importance of calling 911 over driving to the hospital in a cardiac incident and more potentially life-saving information.
Leading by example, Northside’s light-footed healthcare providers are making a difference.
I think about the incredible healthcare professionals I work alongside every day — physicians, nurses, and hospital staff who understand, better than most, what regular physical activity does for the body and the mind,” Tolk said. “That perspective is contagious. When you're surrounded by people who live and breathe preventive health, you start to take your own habits more seriously.
It starts with one step
The true meaning you can find on a jog — the profound self-enrichment keeping Northside’s runners on pace — goes deeper than physical health.
Don’t overthink it — just do it,” Ohienmhen said, encouraging anyone on the fence about running their first 10K.
Peachtree Road Race participants taking Ohienmhen up on her advice can also visit Northside’s expo booth, where clinical experts will lead in yoga and stretching. Peachtree Women’s Care of Northside will also provide running-related health education.
Get up and go!” Brown added. “10 kilometers is long, but so doable with the right attitude and training. Everyone you run with is friendly and encouraging and wants you to succeed. The energy is infectious.
From LED shoe clips to wrist bands, Northside will feature tons of giveaways as well. A mobile mammography unit will also be on site.
You can do so much more than you think you can,” Hickman said.
Northside will be there to help.
Northside is here to support you — not just on July 4th, but in your journey toward a healthier life,” Tolk said. “The Peachtree is a beautiful entry point into that journey. We hope to see you on the course.
The Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race is July 4. Visit northside.com/peachtreeroadrace for training tips and more.
Ready to start your own race day story? The Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race is July 4. Visit northside.com/peachtreeroadrace for training tips.
