KAR 1-Mile Challenge

Event Date:

July 18, 2026 (Saturday)

Event Location:

WMU Business Tech Innovation Park

About This Event:

• Start Format: The start will be separated into age-group, high school, middle school, and invitational heats.
• Heat Schedule: Heats will start 10 minutes apart.
• Classification: High school heats separated into boys' heats over and under 5:00 PRs and girls' heats over and under 6:00 PRs.
• Awards: Awards will go three deep in each age group and category, with special trophies for high school and prize money for top three finishers in the invitational heats.

Prize Money:

The top three finishers in the Men's and Women's Invitational Heats will receive $250.00, $150.00, and $75.00 respectively.

Team Competition:

• Team Structure: Three-person (and more) teams are welcome.
• Open Teams: Teams can include all ages and genders, scored on the age group place finish of the top three members: the lowest score wins.
• Under Age 19 Teams: All members must be under 20: scores based on age group finish of the top three members.
• Team Benefits: Great for families, training partners, businesses, and friends.

Registration Fees:

• Pre-registration Pricing: March 1st to June 18th: $30.00 (Includes Tee Shirt)
• No Tee Shirt Option: $25.00
• Registration After June 18: $35.00
• Discount Price: $15.00 for High School and under (1-18 years old).

Event Times:

• Early Packet Pickup: July 17, 2026, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Mitten Running.
• Race Day Packet Pickup: Saturday, July 18, from 7:30 to 9:30 am.
• Race Day Heats Start: 8:30 am.
• Awards Available: 30 minutes after heat finish.

Heat Race Time Schedule:

Thursday, July 16, heat schedule adjustments will be posted on this web site and emailed to all registered runners, as well as being posted at the race site on Saturday.

• 8:30 60 &: over
• 8:40 50 - 59
• 8:50 40 - 49
• 9:00 30 - 39
• 9:10 19 - 29
• 9:20 Grade School and Under
• 9:30 Middle School Girls
• 9:40 Middle School Boys
• 9:50 High School Girls 6:00 &: over PR
• 10:00 High School Girls under 6:00 PR
• 10:10 High School Boys 5:00 &: over PR
• 10:20 High School Boys 5:00 &: under PR
• 10:30 Women's Invite, under 5:40 PR (or top 12 entry times)
• 10:40 Men's Invite, under 4:40 PR (or top 12 entry times)

Heat Adjustments:

Should a heat become too large or too small, they will be combined or split as appropriate. An updated heat schedule will be posted on this site no later than two days before the race date (July 18) and posted at race registration.

Tee Shirts:

• T-Shirt Guarantee: Guaranteed for pre-registration participants before June 25, 2025: availability after July 6th will be on a "first come, first serve basis."

Age Divisions and Awards:

• Overall Awards: Male, Female, High School Boy, High School Girl.
• Age Division Awards: 12 and Under, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and over, and non-binary.

Timing and Scoring:

Timing and scoring will be done by T&:H Timing. Results will be LIVE and posted during the event.

Parking:

Parking will be available in the WMU Soccer Field lot within a half mile of the start line.

Sponsor:

• The Mitten Running Company
• Amour Physical Therapy
• Gordons Water
• Western Michigan University

More Information:

For more details, visit the official race page: KAR 1-Mile Challenge.