The Macklind Avenue Mile course begins at the South City YMCA and ends at Big River Running Company on the corner of Devonshire and Macklind in the heart of the Macklind Business District. Celebrate afterward at our post-race party and awards ceremony where we will have music, food, beer and lots of fun!!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS July 4, 2009

9:00 AM Men's Start
9:15 AM Women's Start
9:35 AM Elite Wave
9:50 AM Kids Quarter Mile Dash
10:30 AM Awards Ceremony
10:30AM – Noon Post-Race Party on Macklind Avenue

Packet Pick-up

Wednesday, July 2nd and Thursday, July 3rd at Big River Running Company's South City Store located at 5352 Devonshire Ave. Race day packet pick-up is available in the YMCA parking lot from 7:30 AM until 8:30 AM. Please help us in our efforts to have a smooth and timely race by arriving EARLY!!

Parking

Participants are asked to park in the YMCA lot located at 3150 Sublette Ave. Limited street parking is available near the finish if you would rather park at the finish and walk/jog to the start. Participants are responsible for returning to their vehicles upon the conclusion of the race and post-race party. Limited shuttles back to the start will be available for those in need.

Start-Line Instructions

In order to ensure that everyone gets a fair shot at a super-fast PR, we are having chip timing for the race! So that no one gets bogged down in the first few meters, we will have pace signs that will correspond with your predicted finish time. PLEASE start in the correct spot. Your chip will not be activated until YOU cross the start line so there is no need to push your way to the front unless you plan on winning!

Moms, Dads and Children

The Macklind Avenue Mile is a family-friendly event. Moms who want to run with their sons or dads who wish to run with their daughters may do so. Please run in the wave that corresponds to mom's or dad's gender. The chips will take care of everything else!

Elite Wave

To be considered for the elite wave please email Ben at ben@bigriverrunning.com. Men who have run under 4:20 for a mile in the last year and women who have run under 5:20 in the last year will be eligible. We will take the top ten male and female entrants. Elite awards will be separate and there will be a $250 bonus for a course record (men or women – winner only).

Kids Quarter Mile Dash

New to this year's event will be the Kids quarter mile dash. The race will begin at 9:50 near the intersection of Winona and Macklind. All finishers will receive a ribbon. Although it is not listed on the race entry form we have decided to add youth sizes to accommodate all of our younger participants. You may write in your preference on the entry form but we should have enough sizes available at packet-pick up to fit everyone.

Pre Race Pasta Party

New this year will be the Montgomery Bank Pre Race Pasta Party on Friday evening July 3. The event will take place at Montgomery Bank located at 5807 Murdoch just a few blocks west of Big River Running Company in Saint Louis Hills. The pasta party is open to all Macklind Mile participants and will include free drinks as well as pasta sauteed on location courtesy of Noodles and Company. The event runs from 7 - 8pm and will include a showing of Fire on the Track, the Steve Prefontaine Story to provide a little extra motivation for the next morning's race!

Volunteers

In order to ensure a safe race for everyone we rely on the help of volunteers to serve as course monitors on race morning. If you are interested in helping out PLEASE email Ben Rosario at ben@bigriverrunning.com. As an added bonus all volunteers are invited to a special volunteer reception at Montgomery Bank located at 5807 Murdoch just a few blocks west of Big River Running Company in Saint Louis Hills the night before the race. The reception precedes the Pre Race Pasta Party.

The Course

The Macklind Avenue Mile begins at Macklind and Sublette, just southwest of the YMCA parking lot. Runners and walkers will head straight DOWN Macklind Avenue before finishing in front of Big River Running Company on Devonshire and Macklind. The course drops 180 feet in elevation from start to finish with the third quarter of the race seeing the biggest drop. The race finishes with a roughly 300 meter straightaway so you will have to earn that fast finish! Click on the video below to see the course.

Awards

"Totally Rad" Macklind Avenue Mile Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers as well as the top three in each of the following age divisions (male and female): 14 and under, 15-19, 20-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

Post-Race Party

PLEASE stick around for the post-race party on Macklind Avenue. In addition to the music, food and beer that we will provide at the finish line our sponsors – The Mack Bar and Grill, Manzo's Importing Company and The Murdoch Perk – will be OPEN for a great 4th of July lunch.

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