The Draper Mile

The Draper Mile is a one-mile road race held in conjunction with the Downtown Blacksburg’s Steppin’ Out Festival, an annual event held during the first weekend in August. The course is mostly downhill, starting and ending on Draper Road in Blacksburg, with the finish in the middle of the street festival. Times are about 10–12 seconds faster than for a track mile.

The first Draper Mile was in 1982, with 97 participants. In 2007, the 26th annual race, there was a record 228 participants. (But in 2007, there were two races, while in 1982 there was only one.)



Logo by Matt Howard.

The 2009 Draper Mile will be held on Friday, August 7. There was a Fun Run at 6:20 p.m., a “race” at 6:30 p.m., and a “run” at 6:40 p.m. Click here for the results. THE ORDER OF THE FIRST TWO WOMEN HAS BEEN REVERSED (4:45 p.m. Sunday).


Draper Mile Records — including 2009 results (PDF).


Results from Previous Years


Logo by Molly Ison.

In 2008, the Draper Mile was held on Friday, August 1. There was a Fun Run at 6:20 p.m., a “race” at 6:30 p.m., and a “run” at 6:40 p.m. Click here for the results.


In 2007, the Draper Mile was held on Friday, August 3. There was a Fun Run at 6:20 p.m., a “race” at 6:30 p.m., and a “run” at 6:40 p.m. Click here for the results.


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Last updated 8 August 2008