Highlights of national promotional tour of iconic distance include thrilling races and numerous meet, U.S. Junior, NCAA, course and State records; $120,000 awarded to top Milers
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (September 12, 2013) – The inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013, showcasing 14 events nationwide, produced exciting Mile racing throughout the year including the Tour finale at the Minnesota Mile on Sunday, September 8 where Americans Ben Blankenship and Gabriele Anderson shattered course records, clocking 3 minutes, 52.7 seconds and 4:21.3, respectively, and running the fastest Miles ever in Minnesota. Bring Back the Mile (BBTM), launched in January 2012, is a national campaign to elevate and celebrate the iconic distance.
“The first Bring Back the Mile Tour exceeded our expectations, with numerous thrilling Tour event finishes and record or near record number of participants for virtually every Tour event as well as many national, NCAA, state and event records were set,” BBTM Founder Ryan Lamppa said. “The Tour events, which awarded $120,000 in prize money, and the top Milers inspired, engaged and entertained runners of all ages and abilities, the media, fans and the general public, and we look forward to bringing back the Tour in 2014 to create more Mile magic.”
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September 12, 2013
Annual September road race in Duluth also saw fast Miles by the professionals with course records by Ben Blankenship (3:52.7) and Gabriele Anderson (4:21.3)
By Jana Peterson, Pine Journal
Last Sunday was a good day for Carlton County girls to run in Duluth.
Esko’s Kailee Kiminski took first place in the women’s Duluth Mile race, coming in at 5 minutes, 22 seconds, according to the Grandma’s Marathon website. (Dad Dan Kiminski says the exact time was 5:21.9).
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September 11, 2013
The Minnesota Mile was held on Sunday, September 8 and witnessed not only blazing fast new course records, but the fastest Miles ever run on Minnesota soil. Ben Blankenship, a Minnesota native and University of Minnesota Golden Gopher alumnus, lowered his personal best winning a close finish in 3:52.7 over two-time defending champion Craig Miller. While Gabriele Anderson, also a Minnesota native and Golden Gopher, returned to the states from her European summer tour to win convincingly in a new best 4:21.3.
The Minnesota Mile was the 14th and final stop on the inaugural BBTM Tour 2013 and featured more than $20,000 in prize money and citizen races spanning from semi-elite to recreational runners and youth.
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September 8, 2013
Fastest Miles ever run in Minnesota; eight men go sub-4 minutes; 7th edition ends inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013
By Bob Gustafson
DULUTH, Minn. – It was a day for records at Sunday’s seventh Minnesota Mile road race in downtown Duluth.
Ben Blankenship, 24, set a course record and personal best of 3 minutes, 52.7 seconds and claimed the winner's prize of $3000. The Stillwater, Minn. native edged two-time defending champion Craig Miller of Boulder, Colo., who placed second in 3:53.1 and Jack Bolas of Greenville, S.C. who was third (3:53.5).
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September 5, 2013
Top field expected at Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013 finale; prize purse exceeds $20,000
DULUTH, Minn. – A premier class of one-Mile runners is assembled for Sunday’s Minnesota Mile in downtown Duluth. At the 7th edtion, among those entered are defending champions Craig Miller (4 minutes, 1.4 seconds) and Heather Kampf (4:36.5). They will be racing in an elite division that features a $20,100 prize purse with the men’s and women’s winners each receiving $3000. Both Miller and Kampf were the 2012 USA 1 Mile Road national champions.
Miller, 26, also the 2011 Minnesota Mile champion (4:03.8), was the 2013 USA Indoor Mile national runner-up (3:58.90 - March 3, Albuquerque) and won the 2013 Big River Festival of Miles (3:59.23 – May 30, St. Louis).
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August 28, 2013
Garry Bjorklund 2014 Half Marathon entries to 250 finishers; 7th edition the 14th stop and finale of nationwide inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013
DULUTH, Minn. – The seventh running of the Minnesota Mile road race is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8 in downtown Duluth. This one-Mile event – hosted by Grandma’s Marathon – is open to runners of all skill levels.
The Minnesota Mile offers runners a unique opportunity to secure a spot in next year’s Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, as 250 finishers will be randomly selected to receive guaranteed entries into the 2014 half-marathon on June 21. This is an excellent chance for runners to gain an automatic entry to the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon without needing to enter the lottery system.
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June 11, 2013
Highlights of national promotional tour of iconic distance include meet, U.S. Junior, NCAA, course and State records; Footloose Freedom Mile on Thursday, July 4 next stop
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (June 11, 2013) – The inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013, which features 14 events nationwide and one end-of-the-year gala, has reached the halfway point with plenty of highlights and Mile action. Bring Back the Mile (BBTM), launched in January 2012, is a national campaign to elevate and celebrate the iconic distance.
“To-date, the Bring Back the Mile Tour has generated some thrilling racing and also produced numerous Mile records in several categories,” said BBTM Founder Ryan Lamppa. “Without a doubt, the Tour events have engaged and entertained runners of all ages and abilities, the media, fans and the general public, and we look forward to the second half of the BBTM Tour 2013 and more Mile excitement.”
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February 8, 2013
By Presidio Sports
Santa Barbara’s Ryan Lamppa has always thought that the Mile distance deserves more credit. Once a showcase in American sports, the Mile has gradually slipped from prominence in running competitions throughout the country.
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