Mile News


Vintage Mile race returns to downtown Pittsburgh

August 07, 2013

"It truly is America's premiere distance race."; GNC Live Well Liberty Mile draws top professional and Masters (40 and older) runners for Friday evening event

By Nick Veronica, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In the world of corporate 5Ks, half-marathons, fulls and ultras, one group is attempting to revitalize a neglected distance in the running community: the classic one-Mile race.

Made famous by Roger Bannister's first sub-4-minute Mile in 1954 and perpetuated by grade school physical education classes, the Mile represents an easily recognizable and relatable -- if cantankerously American -- unit of distance.

Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. is hoping the association to the Mile, the relatively short running distance and spectator-friendliness of the tight finishes will draw avid runners and casual fans Downtown to the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile and USA Masters Road Mile Championship events the organization is putting on Friday evening, in conjunction with the Bring Back the Mile Tour.

Shunning the Olympic 1500 meter distance and the almost-a-full-Mile 1600 meter race, the Liberty Mile is a vintage one-Mile road race through the streets of the Cultural District. Starting on Penn Avenue near Sixth Street, runners race down Penn, turn right on 11th Street, then take the first right down Liberty Avenue and run back to Sixth, a slightly different course from last year.

"I've always adored the Mile," said Jordan McNamara, a pro with Oregon Track Club Elite and Nike, who took second place in last year's race.

"It truly is America's premiere distance race. It is a beautiful test of endurance and speed."

Continue reading at: www.post-gazette.com

Tags: usa masters 1 mile road championship (6) , liam boylan-pett (8) , jordan mcnamara (45) , gnc live well liberty mile (69) , bbtm tour (196)

Facebook Comments

Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.

ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.

CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.

NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance,
to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.

Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!

Join Us

Thanks for joining the movement and being a Mile Maniac. We'll keep you up to-date with our Mile wires as well as exclusive contests and opportunities. Help us spread the word by sharing our site and joining us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!