Bill Thorn, ‘Iron Man’ of the Peachtree Road Race, dies at 96

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Bill Thorn, the man who ran every Peachtree Road Race from its inception in 1970 until 2022, has died at 96.

Dubbed “Iron Man of the Peachtree,” Thorn was a fixture of Atlanta’s running community, Atlanta Track Club said. He also coached for 65 years, including decades at Landmark Christian School, helping teams win 42 state championships.

Thorn announced in 2023 that he had run his last race. He was honored as the Peachtree Road Race’s Grand Marshal that year, chauffeured down the route before crossing the finish line on foot.

“There is only one way to stop worrying about not finishing, and that is to just be finished,” he said at the time. “I’m going into a new era.”

Thorn inspired generations of athletes, according to the Atlanta Track Club.

“To honor Bill, let us carry forward his commitment to showing up year after year, encouraging those around us and embracing the enduring joy of running,” the club said.