One Mile or One Hundred The Battle for the Soul of the Mile in 2025
In 2025, the word “mile” carries very different meanings depending on who’s lacing up their shoes. For some, it’s about blistering speed—the chase for a personal best in an all-out sprint lasting just a few intense minutes. For others, it’s about endurance, grit, and surviving a 100-mile ultramarathon—not once, but four times in one season. While one version of the mile is measured in minutes, the other is measured in days, elevation, and blisters.
Both forms of running are surging in popularity, drawing passionate athletes and growing crowds. But which “mile” speaks to you?
The Rise of the Road Mile
The road mile is back in the spotlight. Once overshadowed by the 5K and 10K, this short, intense race has re-emerged as a fan favorite. In cities across the U.S. and around the world, runners are lining up for high-stakes, high-speed showdowns that test both speed and tactical racing smarts.
One of the most iconic examples is the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile in New York City. Scheduled for Sunday, September 7, 2025, this legendary event draws elite professionals, masters athletes, and youth competitors for a one-mile drag race down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. With the skyline as a backdrop and cheering crowds lining the route, it offers one of the purest expressions of speed in road racing.
“It’s raw, it’s electric, and it’s over before you know it,” said one competitor who’s raced both marathons and the mile. “The road mile demands absolute precision—whether you’re aiming to break five minutes or six, you don’t get time to recover from a tactical mistake.”
Events like the Guardian Mile in Cleveland and the Grand Blue Mile in Iowa have followed suit, offering prize money, flat courses, and the kind of short-format excitement that appeals to both spectators and athletes. The mile, once seen as a track-specific discipline, has truly found a home on the road.
The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning
At the other extreme lies the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning—one of the sport’s most grueling and prestigious challenges. Often confused online with terms like “mile grand slam” due to the cumulative 400 miles of racing, the official name is simply The Grand Slam.
To earn this distinction, runners must complete four of the oldest and most iconic 100-mile trail races in the United States during a single summer. The core races typically include:
• Western States 100 (California)
• Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run
• Leadville Trail 100 (Colorado)
• Wasatch Front 100 (Utah)
Some years permit substitutions like the Old Dominion 100, depending on scheduling. Regardless of the lineup, the difficulty is staggering: thousands of feet of elevation gain, brutal cutoffs, altitude, heat, and sleep deprivation.
“To finish one 100-miler is an accomplishment,” said a veteran ultrarunner who’s completed the Slam. “To finish four in under 16 weeks—there’s nothing like it. It’s not about speed. It’s about survival, strategy, and heart.”
Since its formal inception in the 1980s, fewer than 400 runners have completed the Grand Slam—a testament to its difficulty and prestige.
Two Extremes, One Shared Spirit
At first glance, these two uses of the word “mile” couldn’t be more different. One is sleek and fast; the other is rugged and long. One ends before your legs even start to ache; the other pushes your limits for an entire day—and night.
But at their core, both disciplines require the same fuel: dedication, discipline, and the courage to test yourself. Whether it’s the final lean in a road mile or the final climb at mile 96 of a trail race, runners in both arenas are chasing something personal—and powerful.
Final Thought
So what does the mile mean in 2025? For some, it’s a tactical burn over 1,760 yards. For others, it’s the slow, steady march of 100 trail miles—repeated four times. Either way, the mile remains one of the sport’s most meaningful measures of challenge.
posted Saturday May 3rd
by Boris Baron