From the Organizer
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, middle school, and invitational heats. The heats will start 10 minutes apart. The high school heats will be separated into two boy's heats of over 5:00 PRs and under 5:00 PRs, and the girl's 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:
Event Times:
Heat Race Time Schedule:
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:
Age Divisions and Awards:
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
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
83°
Typical Low
62°
Chance of Rain
35%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Kalamazoo Battle Ck Intl Ap, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
73,132
as of 2023
Elevation
763 ft
Nearest Airport
AZO
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport · 4 mi
Major Hub
GRR
Gerald R. Ford International Airport · 41 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
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40
Days to train
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From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
KAR 1-Mile Challenge
Jul 18, 2026