RALEIGH, N.C. – Friday is Sir Walter Miler race day in Raleigh. The 10th annual event is happening at Meredith College, and it’s expected to draw hundreds, if not thousands, of spectators. 

What You Need To Know

  • The 10th annual Sir Walter Miler race is happening Friday night at Meredith College

  • The event is an opportunity for athletes to compete in mile-long races

  • A co-founder of the event says it’s designed to be a high energy event to get people excited about running

Pat Price, the co-founder of the Sir Walter Miler, likes to run year-round.

“Just the ability to be free. I mean, we're out here running on the greenway in Raleigh,” Price said. “What could be better just being out here in nature, staying fit, having some time to myself?”

Price says he always looks forward to the annual Sir Walter Miler race.

“It is a unique experience being able to see a sub 4-minute mile or sub 4:30 mile right up close and we bring a few thousand people out,” Price said.

He co-founded the race in 2013 after some of his friends wanted a chance to break the 4-minute mile mark.

“Ever since then, we just grown it a little bit every year. We've had Olympians from many countries. We've had the people that won our race last year are now the American record holders in the mile,” Price said. “We've had 69 men break four minutes in the past nine years, and 28 women had broken the 4:30 barrier. And before our race, nobody had ever broken 4:30 in the mile in North Carolina. So we're very proud to give those kind of opportunities to athletes from all over the world at this point.”

Price says one of the most special and unique parts about this race is the high-energy atmosphere.

“Track is known for small crowds and quiet fans. We do the exact opposite. So luckily the people of Raleigh really come out, get into it, support it, and that's what I've been able to do it for ten years,” Price said. “One of the things we wanted to do was bring the kind of average person, the average sports fan or just spectator to track. Track is known for having long events that are boring and not very exciting for maybe a race here and there.”

Whether you’re an athlete or spectator, Price says there’s a common cause they hope everyone can get behind.

“We want to really champion running, staying active and whatever we can do to keep that going. That's what we care about,” Price said. “We want to show pro running and running in general to as many people in the greater Raleigh area as possible.”

The race is free to attend, and gates will be opened for spectators at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4 at Meredith College.

There will also be a Run with the Pros event at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5.