POUGHKEEPSIE – Registration is now open for the inaugural Walkway One Mile to be held entirely in Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park on Sunday, June 14. The ten-race series celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Walkway. Each heat is professionally measured and timed, with at least one option for runners of all ages and ability levels. Racers will also enjoy food trucks, music, and more at the conclusion of their run. The racecourse is USATF-certified, and heats will be chip timed. For complete information and to register, visit walkway.org/onemile.
Walkway Over the Hudson will remain open to the public during this event, though a portion of the bridge will be reserved solely for Walkway One Mile participants.
Walkway One Mile is organized in partnership between the Friends of the Walkway and Fleet Feet Poughkeepsie. Runners are invited to join any of the following ten heats: Friendly Auto Group Elite Mile, Veterans, First Responders, High School, Mid Hudson Road Runners Club Youth Rally (for children 13 and under), a Family Fun Run, Men’s Open, Female Open, Masters (men and women aged 60 and over), and our special finale “Pie-In-The-Sky” Heat. The first race will start at 8 a.m. with the second heat following 30 minutes later, and so on. A detailed schedule of heat start times is available at walkway.org/onemile.
The signature race in the Walkway One Mile series, the Friendly Auto Group Elite Mile is for competitive runners seeking to win prizes (First Place: $500, Second Place: $200, Third Place: $100 for both male and female overall winners, plus prize medals for the top three male and female finishers). This is the lone event during Walkway One Mile that will be a gun start. This event and its prize money is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Friendly Auto Group. Cars from the group’s local dealerships will be on display during the event and will be featured on the race bibs.
Thanks to the Mid Hudson Road Runners Club and their mission to encourage local kids to get outside and be active, all children 13 and under can participate in either the Youth Rally or Family Fun Run at no cost.
Registration for the Friendly Auto Group Elite Mile is $35. Registration for all other races is $25 for a single entry, and $10 for each additional entry, with the exception of the Family Fun Run. All runners in that heat pay $10 per family member aged 14 and older, with children 13 and under entered at no cost. Registration is live at walkway.org/onemile. Registration on the day of the event will cost $10 more, with the exception of the Family Fun Run and free youth races.
All participants in races $25 and above will receive a custom, first-of-its-kind Walkway One Mile technical race hat.
All proceeds support the Friends of the Walkway Over the Hudson and its mission to bring programs and amenities including an electric tram to the park, undertake capital projects like installing lighting on the bridge, and provide a friendly and welcoming experience for more than 600,000 annual visitors.
Participants in the first responders heat are encouraged to run in uniform. All registrants in the “Pie-In-The-Sky” heat will eat a portion of apple pie after a half-mile before continuing to the finish. Costumes are encouraged for this heat. Finisher medals will be provided to the top three finishers in most heats, with special recognition for championship teams in the First Responders and High School heats.
On race day, each heat will travel east to west (Poughkeepsie toward Highland). Upon completion of each race, runners, spectators, and guests are invited to enjoy food trucks, music, and more at the Ulster Welcome Center Plaza (87 Haviland Road, Highland). Race participants will also be treated to chocolate milk courtesy of Hudson Valley Fresh, bagels from The Bagel Shoppe in Fishkill, and fresh fruit from Adams Fairacre Farms.
A parking map for designated lots that can accommodate race participants can be found at walkway.org/onemile. Be sure to allow ample time for parking and getting to the start. All races will run from east to west, so please take this into account when deciding where to park. Participants can park on the Highland side of the Walkway and walk to the start line nearer Poughkeepsie, or park near the Walkway’s East Approach and plan to walk back at the conclusion of your race.
Bib pick-up and in-person registration will take place from Wednesday, June 10 through Saturday, June 13 at Fleet Feet Poughkeepsie, located at the Shoppes at South Hills (1895 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601). Bib pickup hours are Mon-Fri 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Race day bib pick-up will take place at the Walkway Over the Hudson’s Dutchess Welcome Center on Sunday, June 14 starting at 7 a.m. All bibs must be picked up at least 30 minutes before the line-up time for your race. If you plan to register in-person on race day, please arrive at least one full hour before your race line-up time. For complete information, visit walkway.org/onemile.
