Evening Road Races? Yep, Atlanta Does Have a Few.

I recently received an e-mail from a fellow runner who was looking for information on nighttime races. For a variety of reasons, most road races start between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Morning start times make it easier for race organizers to limit disruptions to car traffic and help runners avoid warm weather.

But what if you’re not a morning person? No worries … here are a few upcoming races to consider:

Alpharetta PAL 5K Challenge – August 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Jackson Healthcare, the event benefits the Alpharetta Police Athletic League. The race starts and finishes at Jackson Healthcare’s offices, located at 2655 Northwinds Parkway in Alpharetta, between Haynes Bridge and Kimball Bridge roads. No need to eat a quick dinner before the race … organizers will serve a pasta dinner to race participants. The cost is $25 and registration is available at Active.com.

Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk 5K – September 16 at 7:00 p.m.
The streets of downtown Atlanta belong to runners for this evening race. Starting under the Olympic Rings, the course travels through downtown and ends at Turner Field. You can sign up as part of your company’s team or as an individual runner. There’s also a food drive taking place with the event, so please consider contributing a few canned food items. Want to run? Register directly at the event site.

LexisNexis Windward Challenge 5K – September 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Work in Alpharetta? Instead of happy hour, consider hitting the streets for this Wednesday night race. Hosted by LexisNexis, the event starts at the company’s headquarters on Alderman Drive. Have a four-legged running partner? This is a dog-friendly event. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. Registration available at Active.com.

8th Annual Autumn Breeze 5K – October 3 at 3:00 p.m.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is nearly 2 hours from Atlanta, but the beautiful scenery may be worth the drive. The course runs along Tallulah Falls Lake and across the Tallulah River. Arrive early and enjoy the park’s breathtaking sites before the race. Visit Active.com to register.