About Us

Youth ages 7-14 years can participate in the Fall Cross Country Program

Our Mission: We exist to create a lifelong love of running!

PTC Flash has a long history and outstanding reputation, both within Peachtree City and throughout the state of Georgia. Flash was started over 25 years ago by local parents and athletes in Peachtree City as a recreational cross country running program for youth athletes. Over the years the program has been passed down to new volunteer leadership. You are likely to meet former parents, coaches and even athletes in the community who participated in the program and made an impact.

While the program has evolved over several decades, the core mission has remained the same - to create a lifelong love of running.

Here are the key PTC Flash guiding principles to be followed by all of our athletes.

• Commitment: Be dedicated and engaged. Show up to practice on time, dressed properly, and ready to work with a positive attitude

• Respect: Always show respect, kindness and appreciation to your coaches and teammates

• Self-Esteem: Have confidence in your own abilities and worth. When you walk off the field after every practice or race, you can say to yourself that you did your best regardless of the result.

• Sportsmanship: Behave with integrity and goodwill towards others. Whether you win or lose a race, always demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship to your teammates and your competitors.

The season is segmented into two phases.

Regular Season: The first meets of the season are the developmental meet series. These are local meets, in which we compete with other cross country teams in the Atlanta area, in order to prepare for the post-season - USATF championship meets, which begin in November. These developmental meets are run by parent volunteers of the host team and are a fun and friendly way to gain experience and comfort in competing in cross country meets. Practices for the Regular Season are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays (on non-race weekends).

Post-Season: Beginning in November, the post-season revolves around USATF championship meets which includes State, Regionals, and Nationals. All athletes are invited to compete at State, but only qualifying athletes will be invited to compete at Regionals and Nationals.

Flash Lite: Athletes ages 5 and 6 can participate in our Flash Lite program which happens concurrently with the Regular Season on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flash Lite incorporates games and activities to acclimate young athletes to the sport of running. Flash Lite athletes have an opportunity to race the 2k (1.24 miles) distance at the developmental USATF meets.

Board of Directors

PTC Flash is 100% run by parent volunteers. Our Board of Directors comprises volunteer leaders within the program who coach the athletes and our volunteer coaches, plan and organize the season, training schedule, practice logistics, events, team communication and much more.

Corey Thompson: Head Coach, USATF Level 1 Certified. Safesport Certified. Corey has served on the board and as head coach since 2016. All three of his kids have run Flash and his sons continue to run for McIntosh High School.

Jen Allred: President, USATF Level 1 Certified. Safesport Certified. Jen has served as President since 2021 and on the board since 2020. Jen has three Flash athletes and two Flash program graduates.

Ben Hendricks: Coach, USATF Level 1 Certified. Safesport Certified. Ben has served on the board since 2022 and has three Flash athletes.

Karen Hinson: Coach, USATF Level 1 Certified Coach. Safesport Certified. Karen has served on the board since 2023 and has three Flash athletes.

Ann Ruhala: Coach, USATF Level 1 and RRCA Level 1 Certified. Safesport Certified. Ann has served on the board since 2023 and has one Flash athlete.

Chad Ruhala: Coach, USATF Level 1 Certified. Safesport Certified. Chad has served on the board since 2023 and has one Flash athlete.

Mark Caulfield: Coach, RRCA Level 1 and Lydiard Level 2 Certified. Safesport Certified. Mark has coached youth, middle-school, high school, and adult runners for 20+ years and has served on the board since 2024.

Michael Caulfield: Coach, Safesport Certified. Michael has served on the board since 2024 and has three Flash athletes.