Press Release: The Sir Walter Miler returns in 2026 with Brooks Running as a title sponsor
May 6, 2026 – Raleigh, North Carolina – Now in its 13th year, Sir Walter Running is excited to add Brooks Running as a title sponsor for this year’s Sir Walter Miler, which will be held Friday, August 7th at Meredith College. The performance running brand has long supported local events here in Raleigh and across the United States, and we are excited to have them aboard. Be on the lookout for lots of fun Brooks-related activities during Sir Walter week!
“We are excited to partner with an excellent company in Brooks Running that understands the power of running in community and how the Sir Walter Miler encapsulates this dynamic connection,” said Sir Walter Running Co-Founder, Sandy Roberts.
With May 6th being Bannister Day, which celebrates Roger Bannister being the first person to break 4:00 in the mile (in 1954), it is worth noting that the Sir Walter Miler has now seen 97 men run under the 4:00 barrier since its inception. Prior to the creation of the event, there had not been a sub-four mile run in Raleigh since 1974.
Also worth noting, before the Sir Walter Miler, there had never been a sub 4:30 mile run by a woman on North Carolina soil. The event has now seen 49 women break the 4:30 barrier, including Dorcus Ewoi’s 4:19.71 meet and state record at the 2024 event, which was at the time, the fastest outdoor mile ever run on U.S. soil.
The Summer of Miles is back for 2026 as well. Following the traditional schedule of years past, the Pop Up Miles series will take place on the first four Tuesdays in June at Williams Stadium at Athens Drive. Like the Sir Walter Miler, the events are free and open to the public. Each week, multiple sections of the mile (based on estimated time), a 4×400 relay and a bonus event each week (5k, 2-mile, 800 meters) are hosted. The series will culminate with the Sir Walter Qualifier at Meredith College on Friday, June 26th, where the winner of the Men’s and Women’s race will gain entry to the 2026 Sir Walter Miler.
July brings the Tour de Walter, where athletes compete in weekly Strava Challenges of local routes around the greater Raleigh area.
On Friday, August 7th, the Sir Walter Miler returns to Meredith College, followed by the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile on Saturday, August 8th, which features a 130 foot drop down Centennial Parkway. Many other events will take place during Sir Walter week.
The 2026 season ends on Saturday, December 5th with the eighth Raleigh Holiday Half Marathon, which will again run on it’s traditional route from Gateway Plaza to Anderson Point Park (and back).
Sir Walter Running is a Raleigh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to “bring the Greater Raleigh running community together through innovation, activation, and inclusivity.”
2026 Summer of Miles
- Tuesday, June 2 – Pop Up Miles #1
- Tuesday, June 9 – Pop Up Miles #2
- Tuesday, June 16 – Pop Up Miles #3
- Tuesday, June 23 – Pop Up Miles #4
- Friday, June 26 – Sir Walter Qualifier
- July – Tour de Walter
- Friday, August 7 – Sir Walter Miler
- Saturday, August 8 – Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile
- Saturday, December 5 – Raleigh Holiday Half Marathon
For more information, sponsorship information, or interview requests, contact us at sirwalterrunning@gmail.com