The Endless Mile

THERE IS NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION

THERE IS NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION Registration on UltraSignup closes Monday, October 19th. There will be NO registration, for any distance, after 10/19.

ENDLESS MILE - THE RACE

Have you ever wondered just how far you could run in 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, or maybe even 48 or 72 hours on a smooth, level surface? Well, here is your chance. The Endless Mile will be held at Veterans Park in Alabaster, Alabama. The park is 26 miles south of downtown Birmingham, and 16 miles south of I-459. The address is 7305 Highway 119, Alabaster, AL 35007 . The course is USATF Certified and Sanctioned . It is exactly 1.00203 miles - you can't get much closer to a mile than that! Runners will circle the paved and lighted path as many times as they can in the allotted time. The event will be electronically chip timed, instantly recording and displaying your exact distance covered. Run solo or with friends as an informal relay team. Either way, Endless Mile will be an experience you'll never forget. Solo runners who reach 100 miles receive a beautiful 100-mile buckle. Reach 200 miles and earn the coveted 200-mile buckle!

THE MULTI-DAY EXPERIENCE

What's It Really Like? Running for 24, 48, or 72 hours isn't just about physical endurance—it's a journey through multiple sunrises, unexpected friendships, and discovering what you're truly capable of. The Rhythm of Multi-Day Running As day turns to night and back to day again, you'll find your own rhythm. The course transforms with each passing hour—misty mornings give way to blazing afternoons, peaceful starlit laps become sunrise celebrations. You'll experience the park in ways day visitors never imagine. The 3 AM Brotherhood (and Sisterhood) There's something magical about 3 AM on a multi-day race. The world shrinks to just the beam of your headlamp, the sound of footsteps, and the occasional greeting from fellow night owls. Conversations at this hour are different—more honest, more philosophical, sometimes more absurd. You'll make friends you'll remember forever. The Mental Game Around hour 20, your brain starts negotiating. By hour 30, you're having full debates with yourself. By hour 40? You've transcended normal thought patterns entirely. This is where the real race happens—not against other runners, but with yourself. And when you keep going anyway? That's where the magic lives. Direction Changes - A Gift in Disguise Every 6 hours, we reverse direction on the course. What seems like a small detail becomes a major mental boost. Suddenly, you're seeing familiar faces head-on instead of from behind. The slight change in how your feet strike the pavement gives different muscles a break. It's like starting fresh without actually stopping.

CHOOSE THE MARATHON OR 50K DISTANCE

We've added Marathon and 50K distance options. Start anytime during the event - Thursday morning with the 72-hour runners, or any time day or night. We count your laps, nothing else. Just show up, get your HuTag, and let us know when you're ready to start. Note: Marathon = 27 laps (27.055 miles). 50K = 31 laps (31.063 miles - exactly 29.9 feet too long!)

THE LEGENDERY ENLDESS MILE AID STATION

We provide REAL FOOD for 72 straight hours! Full breakfast (6-8 AM), lunch (11 AM-1 PM), and dinner (5-7 PM) every day of the race. Plus made-to-order food 24/7: • Hamburgers and cheeseburgers fresh off the grill • Nachos and quesadillas • Grilled potatoes with all kinds of toppings • Hot soup all night, every night • Pizza appearances in the evenings • Standard ultra fare: chips, cookies, candy, fruit • Tailwind, water, Coke, ginger ale, Sprite, coffee, tea, pickle juice • Popsicles when it's hot! Important: We provide real food, not gels. If you prefer gels, please bring your own. Cupless Race: Please bring your own cup(s) for cold drinks. We provide cups for hot beverages.

THE COURSE

The USATF-certified 1.00203-mile loop winds through Veterans Park on smooth asphalt paths, past wooded areas and several lakes. Total elevation gain per loop: about 12-15 feet. The park features real restrooms with running water, picnic areas, and playgrounds. The entire course is lighted (bring a headlamp for better visibility between lights).

TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS

Pace Yourself: Start slower than you think. Then slow down more. The walkers at hour 1 will still be moving at hour 47. Your Car is Your Castle: Set up a comfort zone at your vehicle - chair, cooler, changes of clothes, comfort foods. Many veterans bring lights to mark their spot at night. Create a Home-away-from-Home: Bring a Pup-up tent, or tents, chairs, a table, air mattress and sleeping bag, lights, food and drink. Create your own small “nest” along the winding course. Sleep Strategy: Some power through, some take 20-minute naps, some sleep 2-3 hours nightly. Find what works for you. Set multiple alarms! Weather: October in Alabama means everything from hot sun to cold rain. Layers are your friend.

RACE TIMING

We use HuTag ankle chips for all distances with backup bib chips. Over 10,000 successful reads last year! Check the TV monitor each lap to confirm your lap was recorded. We suggest wearing crew-length socks to prevent the HuTag from sitting directly on your skin.

STUDENT DISCOUNT

High school age and under: 50% discount with code Student-2026

RACE SHIRT CUTOFF - OCTOBER 6TH

YOU MUST REGISTER BY OCTOBER 6TH to guarantee a race shirt. Please don't wait until the last minute. Register by October 1st to avoid the late registration price increase.

RENT-A-TENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE RACE

• 8X8 OR 8X7 Dome Tents: $25 for the length of your race (comfortable for one person) • 10x10 Pop-up Tents: $40 for the length of your race (includes table and chair) Available for 24, 48, and 72-hour runners only. Reserve through UltraSignup during registration or via the "Store" icon.

ENDLESS MILE TIMING

Again this year, we will be timing the race using HuTags for all distances. The HuTag is worn around your ankle with a soft neoprene strap held in place with Velcro. We suggest wearing crew length socks to prevent the HuTag from sitting directly on your skin. We will also have timing chips on the back of the bibs. Last year we had over 10,000 reads over the 72 hours. I only know of two missed reads. That said, check the TV monitor every lap to see that your lap was recorded.

EVENT SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST 3:00-4:00 PM - 72-hour packet pickup at Veterans Park 3:00 PM - 72-hour runners may set up personal aid stations 4:00 PM - Rental tents should be set up THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22ND 8:00-8:45 AM - 72-hour packet pickup at start/finish 8:55 AM - Race briefing 9:00 AM - 72-HOUR RACE STARTS 4:00-5:00 PM - Optional 48-hour early packet pickup FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD 8:00-8:45 AM - 48-hour packet pickup at start/finish 8:55 AM - Race briefing 9:00 AM - 48-HOUR RACE STARTS (plus any 6/12/24-hour Friday starters) After 3:00 PM - Saturday 24-hour runners may set up aid stations SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH 7:30-8:45 AM - Packet pickup for Marathon, 50K, 6, 12, and 24-hour races 8:55 AM - Race briefing 9:00 AM - 6, 12, AND 24-HOUR RACES START 3:00 PM - 6-hour finish and awards 9:00 PM - 12-hour finish and awards SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25TH 9:00 AM - 24, 48, AND 72-HOUR RACES FINISH Awards presentation immediately following

PARKING GUIDELINES

IMPORTANT: Parks & Rec requires all vehicles park in marked spaces only. Spaces along the fence fill early and should be reserved for runners using vehicles as aid stations. Note: No camping allowed Wednesday night (we know, we wish it was too!) SATURDAY ALERT: Multiple baseball games create parking challenges. If you leave Saturday afternoon, you may not find parking near start/finish when you return! RVs/CAMPERS: Must fit in standard spaces (may use two spaces lengthwise). Awnings cannot extend into adjacent spaces.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For complete details, photos, and course video, visit our website: www.southeasterntrailruns.com/endlessmile Veterans Park Address: 7305 AL Highway 119, Alabaster, AL 35007 Join us for an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, one mile at a time!