15th ANNUAL CARLISLE DOWNTOWN MILE
This year we are celebrating 15 years of the Carlisle Downtown Mile with race day May 21, 2026.
The Carlisle Downtown Mile is a fundraiser for Employment Skills Center that provides adult education and training. All of our programs and classes are offered without charge. Those programs range from basic literacy skills; to course work, tutoring, and testing for the high school equivalency diploma; to workforce development including nurse aide training, computer and technical training.
Awards will be given for the top three male and female finishers in each age group category. Awards will also be given to the top three finishing teams in each Team Challenge Category: Corporate, Education, Non-Profit/Government, Healthcare and Serve/Protect. In addition, there will be awards for the overall fastest female and male runners provided by Appalachian Running Company. Fun run participants age 13 and under will receive participant medals. Participants that are 13 and under in the timed mile, only the top three in each age group will get a medal, not every participant. The awards ceremony will take place after the last race has finished and results are completed.
RACE CATEGORIES
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Just For Fun Run / Walk: Walk or run the course for fun. All participants 13 and under will receive a medal. This race is not timed.
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Age Group Races (Competitive): This is a competitive, chip-timed, age group race on the USATF certified mile course on High Street.
Age Groups:
10 and under
11 – 13 years old
14 – 19 years old
20 – 29 years old
30 – 39 years old
40 – 49 years old
50 – 59 years old
60 – 69 years old
70 & over (Added to honor our past race director's father who was a competitive runner until age 85!)
Team Challenge
Each member of the team (3-5 runners) run the course. Team members do not have to run together. The runners are chipped timed and the total time of the fastest 3 runners on each team will be used to determine team placement in category and overall. Teams can enter the in one of the following categories:
Healthcare
Non-Profit/Government
Protect & Serve
Business/Corporate
Education
*If you are unsure of which team categoty you would be entered in, please contact racedir@employmentskillscenter.org
RACE/HEAT TIMES
The Fun Run/Walk is NOT a timed race. Runners/walkers will have ample time to get to the finish line. Please be aware that the next heat starts 20 minutes behind the fun run/walk start time. The Age Group races ARE chip timed on our USATF certified course. Please start at the time of your age group, arriving a few minutes early so you are ready to go! Races will be a gun start at the times below. Bathrooms will be available at the starting line!
5:15 pm
Race Day Registration and Packet Pick-up at the start line
6:15 pm
Just for Fun Run/Walk (not timed)
6:35 pm
Age Groups: 10 and under, 11-13, and 14-19
6:50 pm
Age Groups: 20-29 and 30-39
7:05 pm
All age groups 40+
7:20 pm
Team Challenge Race
REGISTRATION DATES AND PRICES
Early Bird
Jan. 24, 2026 – March 29,2026
Regular
March 30, 2026 - May 20,2026
T-shirt Deadline - May 3rd at midnight
Race Day
May 21, 2026
Children 13 and under
$18
$20
$22
Adults (14 and up)
$25
$30
$32
Teams (3-5 people)
$120
$140
$150
Race Day registration will be available at the start line, CASH ONLY, at the Subway Carwash (900 West High St., Carlisle) beginning at 5:15pm until 15 minutes before the last heat, about 7:00pm
PACKET PICK-UP
Packet and shirt pick-up will be at two different times. On May 20^th from 11:00am – 5:00pm packet pick-up will be at Appalachian Running Company, on Pomfret Street in Carlisle. We highly encourage you to pick up this day, to avoid overcrowding on race day. You may also pick-up your packet the day of the race starting at 5:15pm. This will take place at the start, at Subway Carwash, 900 West High St. Carlisle.
RACE T-SHIRTS
All participants who register by May 3rd at midnight will receive a Carlisle Downtown Mile shirt. We do not order extras or have any available on the day of the race.
AWARDS
Individual awards will be based on the results from the age group races. Prizes will be given to the top 3 male and female places in each age category. The top overall male and female runner will also receive a prize from Appalachian Running Company. In the team challenge, awards will be given to the top 3 teams in each category as well as the top 3 overall teams. Team runners are not eligible for overall awards. Participants are only eligible for a prize in the race that they signed up for in registration.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Carlisle Downtown Mile is a one-mile USA Track and Field certified course on High Street in Carlisle, PA. The one-mile race begins at the Subway Car Wash near the corner of High and Orange Streets and ends near the corner of High Street and Court House Avenue. Quarter-mile markers will be present during the race.
POST RACE ACTIVITIES
We are pleased to announce our beer garden will return again for all participants who are 21 years and older. A valid governement issued ID and matching race bib will be required for entrance, after you have completed your race! We are proud to support many local breweries at our beer garden. More information on specific vendors will be forthcoming. Kids Alley will also be present again for our younger racers. Many local organizations present kids activities, including prizes, games, food, and fun! The awards ceremony will take place after the last race has concluded and results are posted.
Want to volunteer?
We can always use volunteers to help with the Carlisle Downtown Mile! It is a great time and all volunteers receive a complimentary race t-shirt for helping. Volunteer jobs include course and post-race activity setup, packet pickup, and tear down and more. Interested? Email Emily at racedir@employmentskillscenter.org