Turkey 2-Miler

Thanksgiving Morning | Axton, VA

Start your holiday on the right foot—literally! The Turkey 2-Miler is a local favorite that brings together runners, walkers, and ruckers from all over the country who have come home for the holidays. It’s a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving morning, burn a few calories, and make room for all that delicious food to come!

Run, Walk, or Ruck—All Are Welcome!

Register here: Turkey 2-Miler Registration

Learn more about Miles in Martinsville: milesinmartinsville.com

Holiday Run Festival

December 6 | Martinsville Speedway

The running fun continues in December with the Holiday Run Festival, held in conjunction with the annual Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive. This festive event offers something for everyone:

5K Run/Walk/Ruck
10K Run/Ruck (one hour later)

Feeling ambitious? You can even take on both races! Each event starts and finishes on the iconic Martinsville Speedway, giving runners a one-of-a-kind race experience.

Register here: Holiday Run Festival Registration

Whether you’re in it for the challenge, the camaraderie, or just some festive fun, these two end-of-the-year runs are the perfect way to stay active and celebrate the season in Martinsville-Henry County!

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Pub Run:
Want to meet people to run, walk or ruck with? Check out the Pub Run every Monday at 6pm starting at The Ground Floor. After you workout, get $1.00 off your drink. Pub Run is FREE to everyone.

2025 Turkey Two:
Start your Thanksgiving off right with a 2 mile run/walk or ruck. Use code TURKEY to get 10% off.
REGISTER HERE

For more info on Miles in Martinsville Click Here

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August:
1st, 2nd, & 3rd – Finding Nemo JR.
1st – Martinsville Mustangs vs HITOMS
2nd – Slick Junior and the Reactors at Imagination Lavender Farm
2nd – Patrick Henry Saddle Club Fun Show #3
2nd – Bryant Radio & DD Audio’s Summer SPL Nationals
3rd – Virginia 250 Symposium
5th – National Night Out
8th – Exhibit Opening Reception at Piedmont Arts
8th – 9th – TheatreWorks presents “One More Time: A Music Revue”
15th – TGIF Concert Series 
16th – Ahoy, Mateys! Pirate Family Day at Piedmont Arts
16th – Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise-In
22nd – Movie in the Park “Despicable Me 4”
23rd – Smith River Fest
30th – JR’s Custom Cycles Bike Event and Show
30th – Cheers & Beers to 4 Years! Scuffle Hill Brewing’s Anniversary Party

September: 
6th – Soulful Music with Dr. Jamie Woodall
13th – Latino Festival in Martinsville
13th – 2nd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
19th – TGIF Concert Series in Uptown Martinsville
20th – Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise-In
21st – Sunday Afternoon Lecture: Distilling
24th – 27th – Henry County Fair
26th – Savory September: Wild, Wild West
27th – ValleyStar Credit Union 300
27th – Patrick Henry Saddle Club Fun Show #4
27th – Jason Lives Fan Day at Camp Lee Ford

These are just a few of the exciting events happening this summer in Martinsville-Henry County — there’s so much more to explore! Be sure to check out our full online calendar at VisitMartinsville.com for even more ways to make the most of your summer in MHC. Whether you’re looking for live music, outdoor fun, family activities, or cultural experiences, there’s something happening here just for you!

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“Just a MILE?”… One might ask, in an age of 5Ks, 10Ks, ½ marathons, marathons, and ultra-distances! This event is a salute to the historical allure of the one mile run. Your chance to run fast! Or, at least faster. This year’s race is the seventh consecutive road mile for the Miles in Martinsville Race Series

What is a mile after all? Typically, young runners experience the one mile run only as part of a track meet. Most often at a high school or college track team event. To all the older road warriors among us, it’s how we measure progress. The first mile of a 5K. The final mile of a marathon. Milepost 3 or 7 or 9 in the half marathon. Pace per mile. Weekly, monthly, yearly miles ran. And, on July 19, it’s a RACE for all ages, speeds and experience.

This year’s event is named for Joe Philpott, recognizing his long time involvement with the running community and promotion of Miles in Martinsville events. Joe was a competitive runner at Giles High School, Ferrum Jr College and the College of William & Mary. His running history dates to 1958 and he still enjoys involvement in the sport. He ran the mile in innumerable track meets in those early years, and even managed to win a few, even though his specialty was in the longer distances. Following college, he continued to compete in local, regional and national road races until injuries sidelined him at age 75. He raced a virtually every distance from the mile through the marathon including age group wins in the Draper Mile, Martinsville Half Marathon, The Virginia 10 Miler, the Richmond ½ Marathon, the Richmond 8K, the Virginia Running Festival ½ marathon and the Shamrock Marathon.

Joe’s Mile will be run on a downhill section of the area’s iconic Dick & Willie Passage Trail. The race will start near the intersection of the Uptown Connection Trail and the Dick & Willie Trail. We are planning two heats. One for the speed demons and one for us normal folks. Check out the course by clicking on the ROUTE MAP icon. Course records 3:53 for men, held by Ben Nagel of Blacksburg 4:58 for women, held by Sienna Baily of Bassett.

Awards presentation and post-race gathering will take place at the Dick & Willie Trail, Liberty Street Trailhead parking lot. Runners will enjoy, snacks, beverages and awards ceremony following race.

NON-COMPETITIVE ONE MILE WALK. – Want to be a part of this fun summer event but not race. Register for the non-competitive walk. Walkers are not eligible for awards and will not receive race shirt. However, you still get the exercise and are a part of this fun summer event.

JOE’S MILE CASH CHALLENGE:

• 1ST Place Female & Male – $75
• 2nd Place Female & Male – $50
• 3rd Place Female & Male – $25

CHALLENGE BONUS:
1st, 2nd, & 3rd place finishers receive $50 bonus payment if time requirements below are met.

• 4:45:00 or faster – FEMALE
• 4:20:00 or faster – MALE

Note: Miles in Martinsville and the JOES’S MILE RUN event are not responsible for effect of cash awards on school, scholarship, amateur or other eligibility for cash prizes. Runners should determine their personal eligibility for such awards and if in their best interest, refuse such award.

ONLINE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT, July 16, 2025.

Register online HERE.

Paper registration forms are available and completed forms may be submitted at packet pickup – AT THE YMCA on Friday July 18, Noon – 6:00 PM; and on race day AT THE YMCA, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

THERE WILL BE NO REGISTRATION OR PACKET PICK-UP AT RACE START OR FINISH SITES.

NOTE: Friday & Saturday paper registrations are accepted with no tee-shirt guarantee.

ONLINE REGISTRATION is strongly encouraged.

Need a bit of motivation? Find a copy of the cult running novel, “ONCE A RUNNER” by John L. Parker. The book follows a fictional elite college runner, Quenton Cassidy. Cassidy is a sub-4 minute miler, and Olympic Gold Medal contender who professes a “secret.” The secret is that there is no secret. There is simply a “trial of miles and miles of trials”. Every day we make choices and one of the choices that we all have in common is that, more often than not, we chose to lace up our shoes and head out the door for our own trial of miles.

Get your speed on – Come join us on July 19!

Non Competitive 1 Miler
Want to just run and walk a mile? Register for the non-competitive heat. Participants will NOT receive a shirt, bib and will NOT be timed.

All Vets Heavy Mile Ruck 20#,40# and 60# categories.
Ruck awards for female and male in each category and weight divisions.
For anyone using non-perishable food as pack weight – we will donate it to Henry County Food Bank.

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Dick and Willie Challenge – Walk or run the entire Dick and Willie Passage. One way, 10.7 miles, or round trip option 21.4 miles. Challenge is done unsupported and when you want to do it and at your own pace. All participants get a challenge shirt and finish gift. Complete anytime in 2025.

SOVAH Half Marathon and 5K – Join us April 26th for the half marathon, 5K run/walk, Brad’s path to Remember memorial walk or the ALL VETS 5K Ruck.

Joe’s Mile – Run your fastest mile on July 19th. Joe’s Mile is completely downhill.

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There is something for everyone at the SOVAH Health Half Marathon and 5K!
• Half Marathon
• 5K Run/ Walk
• BRAD’S PATH TO REMEMBER – Come out for a remembrance 5k walk for the life of Brad Russell, a father, husband, coach and avid athlete. Half of all proceeds will go to Beegins With You, a mentoring program. Memorial walkers will not receive a shirt, bib or race packet.
• ALL VETS 5K Ruck – Come out and ruck the 5K. Awards and support given by ALL VETS. There will be a 20# and 40# ruck division.

For more details on the race click here. Ready to go ahead and register? Click here to register. For more information or questions email brian@martinsvilleymca.com.

Want to VOLUNTEER? There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Check them out here!

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SOVAH Health, a long time Miles in Martinsville Title Sponsor, chose to support and focus on this race in particular. “Sovah Health is excited about this opportunity for many people to enjoy a healthy activity together that improves the well-being and overall health of our community. This directly impacts the hospital’s mission of making communities healthier”.

· MHC HALF MARATHON finishers will receive official finisher medal and all half marathon registrants receive an official long sleeve tech fabric gender specific race shirt.

· 5K registrants will receive and official short sleeve tech fabric unisex race shirt.

· Overall place awards will go to top three Male & Female runners in each race.

· Age group awards will go to top three Male & Female runners in each 5 year age group in each race.

BRAD’S PATH TO REMEMBER – Come out for a remembrance 5k walk for the life of Brad Russell, a father, husband, coach and avid athlete. Half of all proceeds will go to Beegins With You, a mentoring program. Memorial walkers will not receive a shirt, bib or race packet.

ALL VETS 5K Ruck – Come out and ruck the 5K. Awards and support given by ALL VETS. There will be a 20# and 40# ruck division.

ONLINE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT April 23, 2025

NOTE: HALF MARATHON PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE RACE IN 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES OR FASTER. THE COURSE WILL REMAIN OPEN, BUT TIMING AND COURSE SUPPORT SUCH AS WATER STOPS WILL CEASE AFTER 3 1/2 HOURS.

For more info and to register, click HERE. 

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Join us April 26th for Martinsville signature race sponsored by SOVAH Health. Race takes place along the beautiful rolling hills of the Dick and Willie Passage. Not quite ready to run a half marathon or 5K? Join a training group that will help you achieve your goal of completing the race and meet new friends in the meantime. For more details on the training program or the race click HERE. Ready to go ahead and register? Click HERE to register.

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