43rd Annual Draper Mile (2025)

🏃‍♂️43rd Annual Draper Mile

Join us for the 43rd annual Draper Mile: a 1-mile downhill road race held in conjunction with the Steppin’ Out Festival! The Draper Mile is the 7th race in the 2025 Race Series presented by Skip Slocum and Associates, Roots Realty Group.

📍Course Details

• Downhill Course: The course is mostly downhill and run entirely on Draper Road in Blacksburg with the finish in the middle of the Steppin' Out street festival.
• Finish Times: Finish times are approximately 10–12 seconds faster than a track mile.
• Course Map: View the Course Map.
• Checkpoints: The 1/4 mile is at Airport Rd, the 1/2 mile is just before Eakin (703 Draper), the 3/4 mile is at Clay St, and the Finish is at Jackson St.

👶Kids Fun Run

• Entry: The fun run is free to enter, but you must sign up.
• Route: The fun run route covers the final 300 meters (less than a lap on a track) of the mile course.
• Start/Finish: The start line is at Washington St and the finish is Jackson St - same finish line as the mile.
• Medals: All fun run finishers receive a medal.

🗓️Race Schedule

• Packet Pickup: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Packet pickup at RunAbout Sports
• Evening Packet Pickup: 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Packet pickup at Kent Square (corner of Draper and Washington)
• Fun Run: 6:20 PM: Kids Fun Run
• Elite Races: 6:30 PM: Men’s Elite Mile and 6:35 PM: Women’s Elite Mile, followed by 6:40 PM: Open Mile
• Awards Ceremony: 7:20 PM: Awards Ceremony in parking lot at Draper Rd and Jackson St

🏆Race Divisions

• Men's Elite: sub 6-minute mile
• Women's Elite: sub 7-minute mile
• Open: all ages and abilities

🥇Awards

Overall Awards

Only participants entered in the elite races are eligible for overall awards. In the case of ties, cash awards are split.

• $500.00: for a course record (3:52 or faster for men's winner and 4:30 or faster for women's winner).
• $200.00: 1st place overall male & female.
• $100.00: 2nd place overall male & female (choose between free shoe gift certificate or $100).
• Gift Certificate: Free shoe gift certificate from RunAbout Sports for 3rd place overall male & female (get what 2nd place does not choose).

Masters, grandmasters, super grandmasters plus age group awards come from the merged elite and open race results.

$50.00: 1st place masters (age 40-49), grandmasters (age 50-59), and super grandmasters (age 60+) male & female.

Age Group Awards

Age divisions: <: 9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-16, 17-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

The top 3 finishers in each age group (above) will receive age group awards. Masters, grandmasters, super grandmasters plus age group awards will come from the elite and open race merge results. In the case of ties, cash awards are split. Awards will follow the final race (approximately 7:20 pm) on the corner of Jackson & Draper.

🤝Volunteer

Not racing but would like to help out? Volunteer as a course marshal or lead bike here!