KAR 1-Mile Challenge
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Event Overview
The KAR 1-Mile Challenge is a running event scheduled for July 18, 2026. It takes place at the WMU Business Tech Innovation Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the intersection of Drake Road and Parkview Road.
Race Structure
The event features a single 1-mile distance. Runners are organized into separate heats that start 10 minutes apart. The heats are divided into three main categories: age-group, high school, and invitational.
High school heats are further split by gender and personal record (PR) times: boys heats for those with PRs over 5:00 and under 5:00, and girls heats for those with PRs over 6:00 and under 6:00. The invitational heats are for women with a PR under 5:30 and men with a PR under 4:30. The event description notes the course will be fast.
Awards and Age Divisions
Awards are given to the top three finishers in each age group and category. Special trophies are awarded to the winners of the high school and invitational heats. Age divisions are split into multiple categories for both male and female participants, ranging from 13 and under to 80 and over.
Registration and Fees
Registration opens on March 1, 2026. Standard pre-registration pricing from March 1 to June 18 is $30, which includes a tee shirt. An option without a tee shirt is available for $25. Registration after June 18 costs $35. A discounted price of $15 is offered for high school students and participants aged 1 to 18.
Logistics
Packet pickup is available on the day before the event (July 17) and on race day from 7:30 AM. Parking is available in the WMU Soccer Field lot, within half a mile of the start line. Timing and scoring will be managed by T&H Timing, with live results posted during the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
