Carlisle Downtown Mile

🎉 15th Annual Carlisle Downtown Mile

This year we are celebrating 15 years of the Carlisle Downtown Mile with race day May 21, 2026.

The Carlisle Downtown Mile is a fundraiser for Employment Skills Center that provides adult education and training. All of our programs and classes are offered without charge. Those programs range from basic literacy skills: to course work, tutoring, and testing for the high school equivalency diploma: to workforce development including nurse aide training, and success academy.

🏆 Awards

• Categories: Awards will be given for the top three male and female finishers in each age group category.
• Team Challenge: Awards will also be given to the top three finishing teams in each Team Challenge Category: Corporate, Education, Non-Profit/Government, Healthcare and Serve/Protect.
• Fastest Runners: In addition, there will be awards for the overall fastest female and male runners provided by Appalachian Running Company.
• Fun Run: Fun run participants age 13 and under will receive participant medals.

🏁 Race Categories

1. Just For Fun Run / Walk: Walk or run the course for fun. All participants 13 and under will receive a medal. This race is not timed.
2. Age Group Races (Competitive): This is a competitive, chip-timed, age group race on the USATF certified mile course on High Street.

Age Groups: 10 and under, 11 – 13 years old, 14 – 19 years old, 20 – 29 years old, 30 – 39 years old, 40 – 49 years old, 50 – 59 years old, 60 – 69 years old, 70 & over.

👥 Team Challenge

Each member of the team (3-5 runners) runs the course. Team members do not have to run together. The runners are chip-timed and the total time of the fastest 3 runners on each team will be used to determine team placement in category and overall. Teams can enter the in one of the following categories:

• Healthcare
• Non-Profit/Government
• Protect & Serve
• Business/Corporate
• Education

If you are unsure of which team you would be entered in, please contact racedir@employmentskillscenter.org.

⏰ Race/Heat Times

The Fun Run/Walk is NOT a timed race. Runners/walkers will have ample time to get to the finish line. Please be aware that the next heat starts 20 minutes behind the fun run/walk start time. The Age Group races ARE chip-timed on our USATF certified course.

5:15 pm	Race Day Registration and Packet Pick-up at the start line
6:15 pm	Just for Fun Run/Walk (not timed)
6:35 pm	Age Groups: 10 and under, 11-13, and 14-19
6:50 pm	Age Groups: 20-29 and 30-39
7:05 pm	All age groups 40+
7:20 pm	Team Challenge Race

💲 Registration Dates and Prices

Age Group	Early Bird Jan. 24, 2026 – March 29, 2026	Regular March 30, 2026 - May 20, 2026	Race Day May 21, 2026
Children 13 and under	$18	$20	$22
Adults (14 and up)	$25	$30	$32
Teams (3-5 people)	$120	$140	$150

Race Day registration will be available at the start line, CASH ONLY, at the Subway Carwash (900 West High St., Carlisle) beginning at 5:15pm until 15 minutes before the last heat, about 7:00pm.

📦 Packet Pick-Up

Packet and shirt pick-up will be at two different times. On May 20th from 11:00am – 5:00pm packet pick-up will be at Appalachian Running Company, on Pomfret Street in Carlisle. We highly encourage you to pick up this day, to avoid overcrowding on race day. You may also pick-up your packet the day of the race starting at 5:15pm at the Subway Carwash, 900 West High St. Carlisle.

👕 Race T-Shirts

All participants who register by May 3rd at midnight will receive a Carlisle Downtown Mile shirt. We do not order extras or have any available on the day of the race.

🏅 Awards

Individual awards will be based on the results from the age group races. Awards are presented to the top overall male and female runners from the Appalachian Running Company. Awards will also be given to the top 3 male and female places in each age group. Separate awards will be given to the top 3 teams in each category as well as the top 3 overall teams. Team runners are not eligible for overall awards. Participants are only eligible for a prize in the race that they signed up for in registration.

🏃‍♂️ Course Description

The Carlisle Downtown Mile is a one-mile USA Track and Field certified course on High Street in Carlisle, PA. The one-mile race begins at the Subway Car Wash near the corner of High and Orange Streets and ends near the corner of High Street and Court House Avenue. Quarter-mile markers will be present during the race.

🍻 Post Race Activities

We are pleased to announce our beer garden will return again for all participants who are 21 years and older. A valid government issued ID and matching race bib will be required for entrance after you have completed your race! We are proud to support many local breweries at our beer garden. More information on specific vendors will be forthcoming. Kids Alley will also be present again for our younger racers.

Want to volunteer? We can always use volunteers to help with the Carlisle Downtown Mile! It is a great time and all volunteers receive a complimentary race t-shirt for helping. Volunteer jobs include course and post-race activity setup, packet pickup, and tear down and more. Interested? Email Emily at racedir@employmentskillscenter.org.

For more information, please visit: