The Auburn Mile
The Auburn Mile is a one-mile community run through downtown Auburn, serving as the opening event for Auburn's Independence Day parade morning. Auburn Running Company presents the race, with runners using completely closed streets before finishing at the Downtown Square. It is designed for those aiming for a fast mile and those who wish to jog or walk the parade route with spectators lining the sidewalks. The course follows the entire parade route, meaning spectators are already in place when the race passes. Costumes, flags, and festive attire are encouraged, contributing to a town celebration atmosphere rather than a standard road race. The main mile is open to participants aged six and older, while the Auburn Mini-Mile offers younger children a shorter fun run connected to a KidsFirst charity partnership. An age-graded team challenge is also featured, where teams of three to five runners combine their three fastest adjusted times, allowing older and more experienced runners to compete evenly.