43rd Annual Draper Mile (2025)
- Date Fri 1st August 2025
- Time 6:20PM EDT
- Location Blacksburg, Virginia
- Price Free - $23.26
- Races 2 races
- Distances 1 Mile
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating experience at the 43rd Annual Draper Mile on Friday, August 1, 2025, in beautiful Blacksburg, Montgomery! This exciting event features a thrilling 1-mile downhill road race, perfectly timed to coincide with the vibrant Steppin' Out Festival. Runners will race along Draper Road, enjoying a course renowned for its fast times—participants often finish approximately 10-12 seconds quicker than a traditional track mile.
The race day kicks off with packet pickup from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at RunAbout Sports, followed by additional pickup at Kent Square from 4:30 PM. The festivities begin at 6:20 PM with the Kids Fun Run, leading into the Men’s and Women’s Elite Miles at 6:30 PM and 6:35 PM, respectively, before the Open Mile at 6:40 PM. With exciting awards up for grabs and age group divisions catering to all ages and abilities, this event promises to be a highlight of the summer. Join the fun, whether you're racing or cheering from the sidelines, and be a part of this cherished tradition in Blacksburg!
The race day kicks off with packet pickup from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at RunAbout Sports, followed by additional pickup at Kent Square from 4:30 PM. The festivities begin at 6:20 PM with the Kids Fun Run, leading into the Men’s and Women’s Elite Miles at 6:30 PM and 6:35 PM, respectively, before the Open Mile at 6:40 PM. With exciting awards up for grabs and age group divisions catering to all ages and abilities, this event promises to be a highlight of the summer. Join the fun, whether you're racing or cheering from the sidelines, and be a part of this cherished tradition in Blacksburg!
Organiser's Description
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 [https://runaboutsports.com/2025-runabout-race-series/] presented by Skip Slocum and Associates, Roots Realty Group.
DRAPER MILE
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 are approximately 1012 seconds faster than a track mile. | Course Map [https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6077202793/] 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.
ADJUST NRV KIDS FUN RUN
The fun run is free to enter, but you must sign up. The fun run route covers the final 300 meters (less than a lap on a track) of the mile course. The start line is at Washington St and the finish is Jackson St - same finish line as the mile. All fun run finishers receive a medal.
RACE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY AUGUST 1 (RACE DAY)
* 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Packet pickup at RunAbout Sports
* 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Packet pickup at Kent Square (corner of Draper and Washington)
* 6:20 PM: Kids Fun Run presented by Adjust NRV
* 6:30 PM: Men's Elite Mile
* 6:35 PM: Women's Elite Mile
* 6:40 PM: Open Mile
* 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)
Free shoe gift certificate from RunAbout Sports - 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 [https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/VA/Blacksburg/DraperMile]!
DRAPER MILE
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 are approximately 1012 seconds faster than a track mile. | Course Map [https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6077202793/] 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.
ADJUST NRV KIDS FUN RUN
The fun run is free to enter, but you must sign up. The fun run route covers the final 300 meters (less than a lap on a track) of the mile course. The start line is at Washington St and the finish is Jackson St - same finish line as the mile. All fun run finishers receive a medal.
RACE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY AUGUST 1 (RACE DAY)
* 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Packet pickup at RunAbout Sports
* 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Packet pickup at Kent Square (corner of Draper and Washington)
* 6:20 PM: Kids Fun Run presented by Adjust NRV
* 6:30 PM: Men's Elite Mile
* 6:35 PM: Women's Elite Mile
* 6:40 PM: Open Mile
* 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)
Free shoe gift certificate from RunAbout Sports - 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 [https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/VA/Blacksburg/DraperMile]!
Reviews
Done this event?
First-hand event reviews from people who have been there, done that and got the breathable T-shirt, really help everyone choose their next event.
Add a review43rd Annual Draper Mile (2025)
