Events
Memorial Day Mile
$24
$18
7:00AM EDT
- 8:30AM EDT
262 spots left. Price increases after March 3, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
262 spots left. Price increases after March 3, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
Description
The second annual Memorial Day Mile, a Greenville Track Club event, is in good alignment with a national movement afoot - to Bring Back the Mile - America's distance (1-2). The event also acknowledges our fallen service members on Memorial Day for their sacrifice in protecting the United States.
This year's event has the extra excitement for being selected by the Road Runners Club of America to be the site for the national championship for the 1 mile race (3).
The race course is the same as last year's event, flat, USATF certified, and will begin in groups based on runners' estimated finish times.
John Hart
Race Director
Email: MDMdirector@greenvilletrackclub.com
References
1. Bring Back the Mile: America's Distance. Available at: https://www.bringbackthemile.com/home
2. NPR. A Campaign To Bring Back 'America's Distance': The 1-Mile Race. Available at: https://www.npr.org/2014/06/06/319512432/a-campaign-to-bring-back-americas-distance-the-1-mile-race
3. RRCA Announces 2025 National Championship Event Series. Available at: https://www.rrca.org/rrca-announces-2025-national-championship-event-series/
Photo of plane is part of a memorial in Greenville, South Carolina honoring Major Rudolf Anderson Jr., United States Air Force for his service and sacrifice during the Cuban Missle Crisis (1962). Major Anderson, from Greenville, was the only combat casualty during the standoff. (4)
4. How the death of a U.S. Air Force pilot prevented a nuclear war. History. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/the-cuban-missile-crisis-pilot-whose-death-may-have-saved-millions
Place
The Kroc Center
424 Westfield Street
Greenville, SC US 29601
424 Westfield Street
Greenville, SC US 29601
Course map
Start at the east end of the Kroc Center overflow parking lot (located along S. Hudson Street).
Go west toward S. Hudson Street but don't cross it
Turn right on the sidewalk along (just before) S. Hudson
Turn right (east) on the Swamp Rabbit Trail
Turn around on Reedy View Drive, well before River Street, just after the first manhole cover.
Reverse route back to the finish line which is the same spot as the start line.
Video #1 on navigating the route (by the race director): https://youtu.be/Nky2SP5XZIU
Video #2 on navigating the route (by video-photographer John Olson, assisted by the race director): https://sc.milesplit.com/videos/714931/ride-the-greenville-track-club-memorial-day-mile-course
View certified course documentation (best viewed on a computer) at: https://certifiedroadraces.com/certificate/?ctype=r&id=5816
Turnaround
There will be a cone and a white line to mark the turnaround spot, as shown in the photo below. The turnaround spot is the halfway point (0.5 miles). Runners may choose which type of turnaround they want to do, eg, stepping on the line while continuing to run and turn around; or stopping on the line, then quickly turning around to resume running.
Map for parking, etc.
P = Parking
Packet = packet pick up
R = Restrooms: Portable ones on the soccer field. The Kroc Center has graciously agreed to open its doors early for us that morning, at 6:15 AM. A third option is the Unity Park restrooms.
S / F = start finish of race
Packet pick up
Will be held in the parking lot of the Kroc Center along S. Hudson Street on Sunday afternoon, May 25, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Also held on race day morning from 5:30 - 6:30 in the Kroc lot. Local participants are encouraged to pick up their packets on Sunday (day before race day).
Group starts
The race will start in groups according to estimated finish time. This will help prevent congestion that typically occurs in the first 30 seconds of a race.
5 minutes or less
5-6 minutes
6-7 minutes
7-8 minutes
8-9 minutes
9 minutes or more
Group times will will be called out beginning at 6:45. Here is a video link for last year's race, showing group starts, courtesy of John Olson: https://sc.milesplit.com/videos/716095/greenville-track-club-memorial-day-mile
1 Mile National Championship
The 2025 Memorial Day Mile has been selected by the Road Runners Club of America to be the site for the 1 mile national championship for 2025, as announced here: https://www.rrca.org/rrca-announces-2025-national-championship-event-series/
Awards
Chip time and clock time will be used but chip time is what all awards are based on. There will be a chip timing mat for both start and finish.
Because this is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) national championship event, RRCA championship medals will be awarded to the top male and female for:
Overall (open)
Masters (40+)
Grandmasters (50+)
Senior grandmasters (60+)
2nd and 3rd place awards for these four groups (overall, masters, grandmasters, and senior grandmasters) will be given by the Memorial Day Mile race.
Age group awards will also be given by the Memorial Day Mile race for the top three male and female for the following:
9 and under
10-14
15-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
The award ceremony will begin around 7:45 AM in the Kroc parking lot.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Q & A
Q. Is there a participant cap?
A. Yes, 300.
Q. Are dogs allowed?
A. Unfortunately, our insurance coverage does not allow for this.
Q. Are strollers allowed?
A. For safety reasons, including safety of the child, strollers are not recommended. However, parents and caregivers with strollers should gravitate toward the back at the starting area.
Q. Is there a speed limit for runners?
A. Yes, 55 MPH by order of the Greenville Police Department (attempt at comic relief).
