Events
GTC Memorial Day - Honor Tower Mile
32 spots left. Registration ends May 25, 2026 at 6:45am EDT
Description
The third annual GTC Memorial Day Mile, renamed this year as GTC Memorial Day - Honor Tower Mile will be held this coming Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026. The event pays tribute to our fallen service members, and to our first responders.
As a competitive 1-mile race, it is in good alignment with a national movement afoot - to Bring Back the Mile - America's distance (1-2).
Not as fast as you'd like to be yet? No problem, all speeds are welcome.
John Hart
Race Director
Email: MDMdirector@greenvilletrackclub.com
References
1. Bring Back the Mile: America's Distance. Available at: https://www.bringbackthemile.com/home
2. NPR. A Campaign To Bring Back 'America's Distance': The 1-Mile Race. Available at: https://www.npr.org/2014/06/06/319512432/a-campaign-to-bring-back-americas-distance-the-1-mile-race
The plane in the photo above is part of a memorial in Cleveland Park in Greenville, South Carolina honoring Major Rudolf Anderson Jr., United States Air Force for his service and ultimate sacrifice during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). Major Anderson, from Greenville, SC, was the only combat casualty during the standoff, and is credited with saving the lives of millions, as explained by historians here:
How the death of a U.S. Air Force pilot prevented a nuclear war. History. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/the-cuban-missile-crisis-pilot-whose-death-may-have-saved-millions
Place
424 Westfield Street
Greenville, SC US 29601
Route
The route is flat, out-and-back.
Start in the paved Kroc lot on S. Hudson St.
Cross S. Hudson St heading west into Unity Park, on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Go for a half mile and turn around at the railroad bridge.
The insert in the upper left corner of the map below shows details of the turnaround. The yellow X is where the course monitor will be standing and the red circle is where a traffic cone will be as you approach the turnaround area. Two options for turnaround are your call (up to you):
- Continue running as you step on the white line while turning around
- Stop for a split second to put a foot on the line, and then immediately do your turnaround.
Finish back at the Kroc lot.
Start area
The race will start in groups according to runners' estimated finish times, with a 15-30 second interval between starts. The first group will start at 7:00 AM.
5 minutes or less
5-6 minutes
6-7 minutes
7-8 minutes
8-9 minutes
9 minutes or more
Please watch your step at the start area as there is a small curb there, shown in the photo under the middle of the arrow. After the curb is a small patch of grass to run on just before crossing S. Hudson Street (where a police officer will be to direct traffic).
Packet pick up, parking, and restrooms
Please see map below for details.
Packet pick up will be held in the east part of the paved Kroc lot along S. Hudson Street on Sunday afternoon, May 24, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Please see map below. It will also be held on race day morning from 6:00 - 6:30 AM in the Kroc lot.
Parking is available along S. Hudson St on either side of the Kroc lot - the gravel lot to the north of the paved Kroc lot and at the school lot to the south of the paved lot. Parking won't be available in the paved lot where we start and finish the race. Parking is also available in front of the Kroc Center main building and also at Unity Park.
Two portable restrooms are located between the Kroc lot and Kroc soccer field. The Kroc Center main building will be doing us a favor by opening earlier than their usual 8:00 AM opening. They will open for us at 6:10 AM with restrooms available there. Restrooms are also available at Unity Park near the playground.
Awards
Chip time and clock time will be used but chip time is what all awards are based on, including overall awards. There will be a chip timing mat for both start and finish. Here are the categories:
Overall top 3 male and female
Masters, grandmasters, and senior grandmasters top male and female
Age groups, top 3 male and female:
14 and under
15-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
The awards ceremony will begin around 7:45 AM in the Kroc lot.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Q & A
Q. Is there a limit on number of runners?
A. Yes, 215.
Q. Are dogs allowed?
A. Unfortunately, our insurance coverage does not allow for this.
Q. Are strollers allowed?
A. For safety reasons, including safety of the child, strollers are not recommended. However, parents and caregivers with strollers should gravitate toward the back at the starting area.
Q. Will the race be held if there's rain?
A. Yes
Q. Is there a speed limit for runners?
A. Yes, 55 MPH by order of the Greenville Police Department : )
