I learned an immediate lesson, right there on that track. Sometimes you do need help.

By Chris Kealey

“Did you hear that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers?” read the email from my sister as I sat at work on September 11, 2001. I was just shy of turning 34-years-old two days later… And so began a journey of a track, a watch and a goal. It was a journey filled, along the way, with highlights involving joy, sadness, birth & death and all that life gives us between...

Inspired by U.S. Olympian Jim Ryun. A great Miler, striding so sleekly along, and I wanted to run the Mile, too.

By Bob Brody, The Record

Week after week I drilled with our team, and week after week I watched from the field as my colleagues went head-to-head against the local competition on the track. I was left out of the action, feeling every inch a failure.

I'm running around the oval running track near the water tower that looms over the football field at Fair Lawn High School on a...

I won – and my younger brother Ty came in pretty soon after. Most significantly for me – I still remember my time: 6:25.

By Michael Conner

On the eve of the first running event I had ever organized, I was doing a lot of thinking, contemplating just how I got there. Many years and experiences and most importantly, people – led me to that point. I was Race Director of TOM. TOM is The Oberlin Mile, which was run and made a bit of history, at least local history, in a small, rural...

Andrew Huitt is a 1600m runner from Jesuit High School in Northern California. He recently joined the Bring Back the Mile movement in hopes of being able to one day compare himself to his heroes.  If you'd like to share your story, become a Mile Maniac and click on the Join the Movement button above.

By Andrew Huitt

I am a student at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California. I started running Cross Country and Track my freshman year and it has helped me to create some of my best...

Peter Thompson, Vice President of the British Milers Club and Eugene, OR resident shared the following piece of remarkable Mile prep history. The image right was brought to his attention by Scott Krause who was at South Eugene HS in 1977.

The Axeman of South Eugene High School represented by Billy McChesney (pictured left) and Dirk Lakeman (pictured right), in a photo finish, compete in one of the last regular high school Mile races in Oregon at the District 5AAA track meet. The following...

Thomas Bennink of Rock Hill High School in South Carolina recently joined the Bring Back the Mile movement and in the "What does the Mile mean to you?" section left us a comment that grabbed our attention. His thoughts are why we started the national campaign. If you'd like to share your story you can do so by becoming a Mile Maniac - click on the Join the Movement button above right.

By Thomas Bennink, @tbenn_

I attend Rock Hill High School in South Carolina and I am a member of our...

On Thursday, January 30, 2014, BBTM had the privilege of spending time with the first American to break 4 minutes in the Mile: Golden Bear Don Bowden. Don shared that on the day of his historic 3:58.7 Mile on June 1, 1957 in Stockton, CA he was a student at Cal Berkeley sitting in an economics class taking a test (and had stayed up late the night before). He then drove himself the hour-plus to the race where he was originally entered in the 880. But legendary coach Brutus Hamilton thought he...

Chris Kealey shared his story on coping with the 9/11 tragedy and what has become his annual race of one. Chris, now 46-years-old, manages a technical support and training operation for Thermo Fisher Scientific Informatics in Massachusetts.  He has four children (we presume a symbolic gesture to the Mile) and is married to Pammy, whom he mentions has always been very supportive of his running addiction. 

Chris was the former director of the High Street Mile and was the President of the...

Rich Morales was a La Habra High School Highlander in La Habra, CA. He recently retired from a 25 year coaching career, but continues to serve as a Starter, directs the Inland Empire Cross Country Challenge and is a Spanish teacher at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga. This past November he published an e-book autobiography titled "My Story" - sharing his journey of a youth struggling to find his place in the world. The book is available on Amazon.com.

By Rich Morales

Coach had us...

JoAnn Wegert wrote to BBTM via our Facebook Page about the lessons learned in a one Mile race. A great post!

I remember rounding the last turn on the track and seeing that long stretch to the finish, all the while hearing the breath of my opponent who wanted the win, likely, just as much as I did. Muscles beyond aching; they almost seemed numb. Every movement took 100% percent effort. Time stood still. That finish line did not get any closer. The flickering thought; just step into the grass...