Mile News


Virginia Mason Memorial Downtown Yakima Mile launched

March 27, 2019

Inaugural road race, set for Saturday, June 8, offers $25,000 prize purse; also second stop on the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019

By Mai Hoang, Yakima Herald-Republic

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Two Yakima natives and former college track competitors will bring a new Mile road race to town in June with more than $20,000 in prize money.

Participants will race on Yakima Avenue on Saturday, June 8 in the inaugural Virginia Mason Memorial Downtown Yakima Mile, according to a news release.

The course will start just east of 16th Avenue and head to the shadow of the Larson Building on the corner of Second Street and Yakima Avenue. The event will feature 11 races for different categories of runners and will cover 14 blocks in a gradual downhill stretch.

The idea for the event came from Chris Waddle, co-owner of Hogback Development Co. and Erik Mickelson, CEO of Howard’s Medical Supply. Both are former college track competitors and wanted to bring a new running event to the Yakima Valley.

“This will be a high-energy event and will highlight the abilities of the athletes, including elites, up-and-coming runners, families and the next generation of Milers,” Waddle said.

The Mile is a far less common distance compared to the 5K, which has been the go-to distance for community races. But there have been efforts nationwide to bring the Mile distance back into vogue. The Yakima race is the second stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2019.

Continue reading at: yakimaherald.com

Tags: yakima mile (14) , erik mickelson (3) , chris waddle (5) , bbtm tour (196)

Facebook Comments

Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.

ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.

CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.

NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance,
to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.

Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!

Join Us

Thanks for joining the movement and being a Mile Maniac. We'll keep you up to-date with our Mile wires as well as exclusive contests and opportunities. Help us spread the word by sharing our site and joining us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!