4Star 4Mile Race

In celebration of Veterans Day, join us for the 9th Annual 4Star 4Mile Race located at the Dean Savage Memorial Park (corner of Trumbull and Porter Street) in Corktown on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Let's put our running shoes on the ground to honor those who have dedicated their lives to our freedom. 

Our 4-mile race is the only race in the country that runs alongside of the Veterans Day Parade, on the same course, at the same time as part of Detroit's Annual Salute to Armed Services.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT:

Come together with fellow participants and supporters to show your gratitude and support and enjoy the parade and post-race celebrations.  This tradition is a truly exciting experience you won't soon forget.   More than just a race, it is a heartfelt tribute to those who have served our country.  Show your pride and wear red, white and blue!

 

FITNESS AND FUN:

Bring the family! Watch the parade as you run alongside a Medal of
Honor recipient, World War ll veterans, marching bands, Junior ROTC students and
more.

 

**RUCK DIVISION**NEW THIS YEAR

Ruckers will earn a commemorative ruck patch at the finish line as their participation award

 

EVENT START TIMES

11:00 AM:  4Star4Mile Race  &  the Annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade

 

PACKET PICK-UP

Early Packet Pick-up                 12:30 - 3:30 PM   Saturday November 7th at Batch Brewing Company 1400 Porter St, Detroit    

Race Day Packet Pick-up          8:30 - 11:00 AM Will be INSIDE THE IBEW BUILDING, enter from the back parking area at the rear of the IBEW building.  At the intersection of Porter and Trumbull

 

 

Out and back loop that runs alongside the annual Detroit Veterans Day
parade (Same start, same finish, same time). Run past “The Corner”, the newly
renovated Michigan Train Station and into Mexican town before heading back to the
finish line.

AWARDS

Top Overall Male/Female

Top Masters (40 and up) Male/Female

Overall Military/Veteran Male/Female

10 YEAR Age Group Awards Male/Female

 

Our Mission Statement:  
The men and women who leave military service often leave behind a sense of community, purpose, and identity.  The community they leave behind is their military community; the purpose they leave behind is what type of work their unit performed and the identity they leave is their specific role in their unit.  It is difficult to replace those things as they transition into civilian life, so it is no wonder that veterans often feel marginalized.
The mission of the 4Star4Mile Race is to provide a platform for a shared experience between our communities and our veterans. For civilians, as they run alongside the annual Veterans Day parade, they see, and can feel, the immense pride and commitment of those who served and who continue to serve, and for the veterans they see that our communities recognize our proud history and applaud our commitment, helping to provide a true sense of community and purpose that veterans long for and deserve.

It is the hope of the 4Star4Mile Race that this provides for a mutually beneficial, supportive experience.  

*This is a charitable event with proceeds going to the annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade.

All finishers will receive a premium dog tag finisher award at the finish line.

Additional awards will be given to:

• Overall Male/Female
• Masters (40 and up) Male/Female
• Overall Military/Veteran Male/Female
• 10 YEAR Age Group Awards Male/Female

 

Out and back loop that runs alongside the annual Detroit Veterans Day parade (Same start, same finish, same time). Run past “The Corner”, the newly renovated Michigan Train Station and into Mexican town before heading back to the finish line.

 

Douglas Howell, Race Director

 Click here to watch interview from 2022's 4Star 4Mile race day.

Doug Howell was born in upstate New York. After graduating from high school in 1964, he joined the military service and was assigned to the United States Marine Corps Special Landing Force (Amphibious Ready Group) as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. Doug fought in Vietnam 1966-1967. He was awarded the Purple Heart, combat action ribbon, Presidential Unit citation (twice), The Navy Unit Commendation (twice) and Vietnam Presidential Unit Commendation.

Doug began his Physician Assistant (PA) career after graduating from The Johns Hopkins University in 1977 and worked as a practicing PA until 2012. Doug’s clinical career spans several disciplines, including OB/Gyn, Urgent Care, Family Practice, Nephrology, Prison Medicine, Sports Medicine and Occupational Medicine. His career took him from Maryland to New York, and in 1993, to Michigan, where he became the manager of the health clinics for both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. In 1996 he began working for Concentra Occupational Medicine clinics. While there, he became a preceptor, and for 15 years, taught Wayne State University students how to examine and treat patients and was a frequent guest lecturer at the university.

Doug joined the faculty at the WSU PA program in 2014 and retired in May 2022. In 2022, Wayne State University PA program created a scholarship in his name. Doug enjoys sharing stories and has been a storyteller at the Secret Society of Twisted Story Tellers on 4 different occasions. Doug also enjoys running and has been an avid long-distance runner (12 marathons). As part of Detroit’s Downtown Runners and Walkers, he became a frequent race volunteer.

In 2017, he combined this passion with his support of veterans by establishing the 4Star 4Mile Race in conjunction with the annual Veterans Day celebration in Detroit. The race supports the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition and connects civilians with veterans/active military in a common goal of community service.

Doug returned to Vietnam 5 times, starting in 2008, when he was invited to join a small group of his fellow marines to look for a very remote mountain battle site on the border of Laos. He authored a book on living with PTSD and how the return trips to Vietnam affected him; and the transition from post war years: The Night is Dark and I am Far From Home.

Doug has two grown sons, 4 grandchildren, a dog, is married and lives in St. Clair Shores.

 

Courtney Faust, Race Director

"Hi! My name is Courtney Faust and I started running on the track team in middle school because it was the only sport you didn’t have to try out for, and I was athletically challenged (to say it nicely). From then on, I was hooked. I love running because of the peace and sanity it brings me; going out for a good run can clear my head, balance my mood, and chase away just about any stress I have. I started running in races to support local charities that I was passionate about (READ: Dog Rescues!) and don’t really run in them to win, but more to enjoy the thrill of the race and the comradery of the running community. 

 

I work for AM General, the manufacturer of the HUMVEE and JLTV combat vehicles, so my passion for our Veterans and Active-Duty Military runs deep. I work alongside so many of the men and women that protected our country, and there are days I am so overwhelmingly proud of their grit, determination, and ethics, and it’s all I can do to support them by keeping these vehicles in production. My boyfriend was a Marine and each year we go to Washington DC to run the Marine Corps Marathon. It is so humbling to be cheered on by these strong men and women that are willing to put their lives at stake for our country. They are the ones that should be cheered on, not me. This is why I find the 4Star 4Mile race so amazing. This race is committed to bringing together the civilian and military communities and unites them through running. I met the Race Director, Doug Howell, after running one of the 4Star 4Mile races, and his passion and enthusiasm caught me like wildfire – I just had to be a part of what he is doing. In the past year that I have been working with him, his wisdom and kindness has become invaluable to me, and I truly look to him as a mentor. 

 

In my personal life I am the “bonus mom” to 3 beautiful young ladies and enjoy spending my time with them and their dad. I enjoy lazy days with a good book and a big glass of wine, working out in my yard when the weather permits, and cooking delicious food to feed the people I love."

 

The men and women who leave military service often leave behind a sense of community, purpose, and identity.  The community they leave behind is their military community; the purpose they leave behind is what type of work their unit performed and the identity they leave is their specific role in their unit.  It is difficult to replace those things as they transition into civilian life, so it is no wonder that veterans often feel marginalized.

The mission of the 4Star4Mile Race is to provide a platform for a shared experience between our communities and our veterans. For civilians, as they run alongside the annual Veterans Day parade, they see, and can feel, the immense pride and commitment of those who served and who continue to serve, and for the veterans they see that our communities recognize our proud history and applaud our commitment, helping to provide a true sense of community and purpose that veterans long for and deserve. It is the hope of the 4Star4Mile Race that this provides for a mutually beneficial, supportive experience.  

*This is a charitable event with proceeds going to the Detroit Veterans Day Parade.

Saturday, November 9th: Early Packet Pickup from 12pm-4pm

• We are partnering with Batch Brewing Company in Corktown Detroit for early packet pickup on Saturday, November 9th from 12pm-4pm! This is an opportunity to skip the race day lines and grab your swag early. On race day, be sure to head back to Batch Brewing Company, which is located near the finish line, to celebrate and receive $1 off post-race beers (for #4Star4Mile participants and volunteers). 
• Address for Batch Brewing Company:
  • 1400 Porter St, Detroit, MI 48216

 

Sunday, November 9th: Race Day 

• 8:30 - 11:00 AM: Packet pickup at the rear of the IBEW building located at the intersection of Porter and Trumbull
• 11:00 AM:  4 Star 4 Mile Race  &  the Annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade

 

Detroit's Veterans Day Parade

Did you know Veterans Day itself used to be called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of WW1? Join us in Detroit next weekend for the only race in the nation that runs in harmony with the Veterans Day Parade, sharing the course and timing with Detroit's Annual Armed Services Salute. The parade, which steps off immediately after the race starts, is composed of veterans and veteran groups from around Michigan. There will be marching bands, Junior ROTC groups, hopefully some military vehicles. Lots of color, flags, banners, etc. and of course, dignitaries.

Click here for Detroit's Veterans Day parade information

 

What's included in registration?

• 4Star 4Mile race shirt for first 250 registrants in 2025 (2023 shirt below; 2024 shirt reveal coming soon)
• Premium dog tag finisher award
• Option to personalize race bibs (must register by 11:59 PM ET on October 20th to personalize bib)
• Unique route with up close parade view
• Chip timing
• Opportunity to honor our armed forces

*This is a charitable event with proceeds going to the Detroit Veterans Day Parade

2019 dog tags below; 2024's dog tags coming soon

4 MILE | RUCK: T-Shirt

4 MILE | OPEN: T-Shirt

4 MILE | VETERAN OR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY: T-Shirt

4 MILE | RUCK VETERAN OR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY: T-Shirt

4 MILE | VIRTUAL: T-Shirt