KAR 1-Mile Challenge
- Date Sat 18th July 2026
- Time 9:00AM EDT
- Location Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Price $33.30
- Races 1 race
- Distances 1 Mile
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating day at the KAR 1-Mile Challenge on Saturday, July 18, 2026, held at the scenic WMU Business Tech Innovation Park in Kalamazoo! This exciting event is designed for runners of all ages and abilities, featuring age-group, high school, and invitational heats that allow everyone to shine. The heats kick off at 9:00 AM, with a quick succession every 10 minutes, ensuring a packed schedule of fun and competition. Participants can aim for personal records with heats tailored for various skill levels, including high school runners and elite invitational heats with cash prizes for the top finishers.
Whether you're running solo or forming a team, the KAR 1-Mile Challenge promises a fantastic atmosphere for families, friends, and training partners alike. Teams can compete in open categories or for those under 19, making this event a great way to bond and encourage one another while chasing victory. With pre-registration available until June 18 and exciting awards for top performers across multiple age divisions, this is one event you won't want to miss! Join us in Kalamazoo for a day of community spirit, camaraderie, and a shared passion for running!
Whether you're running solo or forming a team, the KAR 1-Mile Challenge promises a fantastic atmosphere for families, friends, and training partners alike. Teams can compete in open categories or for those under 19, making this event a great way to bond and encourage one another while chasing victory. With pre-registration available until June 18 and exciting awards for top performers across multiple age divisions, this is one event you won't want to miss! Join us in Kalamazoo for a day of community spirit, camaraderie, and a shared passion for running!
Organiser's Description
EVENT DATE:
July 18, 2026 (Saturday)
EVENT LOCATION
WMU Business Tech Innovation Park
ABOUT THIS EVENT:
The start will be separated into age-group, high school, and invitational heats. The heats will start 10 minutes apart. The high school heats will be separated into two boys heats of over 5:00 PRs and under 5:00 PRs, and the girls heats of over 6:00 PRs and under 6:00 PRs. The invitational heats will be women under 5:30 and men under 4:30. Awards will go three deep in each age group and category, with special trophies given to the high school and prize money given to the top three finishers in the invitational heats. The course will be fast.
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 COMPETITON
Three person (and more) teams.
* OPEN TEAMS: Each team can be composed of all ages and genders and will be scored on the age group place finish of the top three team members. The lowest score wins. Teams can be of three and more members. GREAT FOR FAMILIES, TRAINING PARTNERS, BUSINESSES, AND FRIENDS.
* UNDER AGE 19 TEAMS: All team members must be under 20 years old and can be of both genders. Team scores will be based on the age group finish of the top three members (12 and under, 13 - 15. 16 - 18). The lowest score wins. Teams can be of three and more members. GREAT FOR TEAMMATES, TRAINING PARTNERS, AND FRIENDS.
REGISTRATION FEES:
* Pre-registration Pricing - March 1st to June 18h: $30.00 (Includes Tee Shirt)
* No Tee Shirt Option for $25.00
* Registration after June 18: 35.00
* Discount Price of $15.00 for High School and under (1 - 18 years old)
EVENT TIMES:
* Early Packet Pickup (July 17, 2026 Friday) @
* Race Day Packet Pickup Saturday July 18, 7:30 to 9:30
* Race Day Heats start at 9:00
* Awards available 30 minutes after heat finish
HEAT RACE TIME SCHEDULE:
* 9:00 13 & under
* 9:10 60 & over
* 9:20 50 - 59
* 9:30 40 - 49
* 9:40 30 - 39
* 9:50 19 - 29
* 10:00 High School Girls 6:00 & over PR
* 10:10 High School Girls under 6:00 PR
* 10:20 High School Boys 5:00 & over PR
* 10:30 High School Boys 5:00 & under PR
* 10:40 Women's Invite, under 5:40 PR
* 10:50 Men's Invite, under 4:40 PR
Heat Adjustments
Should a heat become too large, or a heat become 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-Shirts are guaranteed for pre-registration participants before June 25, 2025 . T-Shirt availability after July 6th will be on a "first come, first serve basis". Please register early!!
A,GE DIVISIONS AND AWARDS:
* Overall Male, Female, High School Boy, High School Girl
* Age Division Awards (Male and Female): 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
July 18, 2026 (Saturday)
EVENT LOCATION
WMU Business Tech Innovation Park
ABOUT THIS EVENT:
The start will be separated into age-group, high school, and invitational heats. The heats will start 10 minutes apart. The high school heats will be separated into two boys heats of over 5:00 PRs and under 5:00 PRs, and the girls heats of over 6:00 PRs and under 6:00 PRs. The invitational heats will be women under 5:30 and men under 4:30. Awards will go three deep in each age group and category, with special trophies given to the high school and prize money given to the top three finishers in the invitational heats. The course will be fast.
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 COMPETITON
Three person (and more) teams.
* OPEN TEAMS: Each team can be composed of all ages and genders and will be scored on the age group place finish of the top three team members. The lowest score wins. Teams can be of three and more members. GREAT FOR FAMILIES, TRAINING PARTNERS, BUSINESSES, AND FRIENDS.
* UNDER AGE 19 TEAMS: All team members must be under 20 years old and can be of both genders. Team scores will be based on the age group finish of the top three members (12 and under, 13 - 15. 16 - 18). The lowest score wins. Teams can be of three and more members. GREAT FOR TEAMMATES, TRAINING PARTNERS, AND FRIENDS.
REGISTRATION FEES:
* Pre-registration Pricing - March 1st to June 18h: $30.00 (Includes Tee Shirt)
* No Tee Shirt Option for $25.00
* Registration after June 18: 35.00
* Discount Price of $15.00 for High School and under (1 - 18 years old)
EVENT TIMES:
* Early Packet Pickup (July 17, 2026 Friday) @
* Race Day Packet Pickup Saturday July 18, 7:30 to 9:30
* Race Day Heats start at 9:00
* Awards available 30 minutes after heat finish
HEAT RACE TIME SCHEDULE:
* 9:00 13 & under
* 9:10 60 & over
* 9:20 50 - 59
* 9:30 40 - 49
* 9:40 30 - 39
* 9:50 19 - 29
* 10:00 High School Girls 6:00 & over PR
* 10:10 High School Girls under 6:00 PR
* 10:20 High School Boys 5:00 & over PR
* 10:30 High School Boys 5:00 & under PR
* 10:40 Women's Invite, under 5:40 PR
* 10:50 Men's Invite, under 4:40 PR
Heat Adjustments
Should a heat become too large, or a heat become 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-Shirts are guaranteed for pre-registration participants before June 25, 2025 . T-Shirt availability after July 6th will be on a "first come, first serve basis". Please register early!!
A,GE DIVISIONS AND AWARDS:
* Overall Male, Female, High School Boy, High School Girl
* Age Division Awards (Male and Female): 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
Races
-
KAR 1-Mile Challenge
Incl. $3.30 Fee & T-Shirt
Sat 18th July 2026 (9:00AM EDT)
$33.30
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WMU Business Tech Innovation Park, Intersection of Drake Road and Parkview Road, Engineering Drive, Kalamazoo, 49008, MI, United States
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KAR 1-Mile Challenge
