Bruce Barnes Mile

NEW! We will have chip timing this year and all runners will start together. The registration fee is $12 per person until race day when it will be $17/person.

Featuring the fastest & most scenic mile course in Virginia! This unique one mile road race is all downhill, with its steepest descent over the last quarter mile. The race finishes within view of Lady Astor's famous mansion, "Mirador." The runners are treated to gorgeous panoramic mountain views on their cool down back to the Greenwood Community Center after the race. 

Parking: Greenwood Community Center, 865 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA 22932

Directions from Charlottesville: Take 64 West to Crozet. Exit 107 250 West. Take a right onto Rt. 690. Take a right Rt. 691 Jarmans Gap Road. Greenwood Community Center is on the right. 

Volunteer Race Directors: Lindy Bain and Mark Lorenzoni, both close friends of Barnes, have directed the event since 1992.

Back in the 1980's, Bruce Barnes was not only one of the fastest runners in an already really fast town, he was also easily one of the nicest!

For 10 years, from 1980 through the summer of his untimely and tragic death in 1990, the New York speedster from Westchester County was one of the most dominant racers in the state and also one of the most popular. Not only could he run a sub-2:30 marathon and a 51 minute 10 miler, he could also go back out onto a course, after winning the race, and cheer on and pace the slower runners across the finish line. He also did something we don’t see as much of anymore and that’s volunteer as often as he raced. At his core, he was hard wired to give as much as he took and that sense of balance between racing and volunteering endured Bruce to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.   

The Bruce Barnes Mile is run in beautiful Greenwood every year right around the time of his birthday. And Bruce’s mark is all over this special nostalgic, no frills event as it’s a throwback to a time far away. An era when there were no technical shirt giveaways or fancy prizes…just a cup or two of water, a few sliced oranges and the assurance that you just completed an accurately measured course and the thrill of seeing your name listed on the complete results that were always posted to a tree or on the window of the volunteer race director’s car.  

This was Bruce’s era and because the race is named after him it has taken on a true retro look and feel. Squint your eyes throughout the Bruce Barnes Mile experience and you’d swear you had traveled back to the time of Tears for Fears, VHS tapes and $35 Nike Waffle Trainers. So, every June, folks of all ages and abilities, from 7 to 87-year-olds and from four minute milers to those chugging along at a 15 minute pace, enjoy this special “classic race experience”. 
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(by Mark Lorenzoni, 2013)

Greetings and welcome to the Bruce Barnes Mile!

On behalf of the CTC, we’re delighted to be hosting you for the 31st running of this popular footrace, run each year in memory of one of the club’s most beloved members and to remember all of our departed Track Club friends. 

Here are a few things to help you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Thanks for taking a few minutes to read…

1. Parking is available at the Greenwood Community Center (865 Greenwood Road in Greenwood, although it will show up on your GPS as a Crozet address...see map)  

2. You may pick up your race number on race day (Saturday June 12) in the parking area at the Community Center. No pre-race day pickup.  

3. Attach the number, with 4 pins, to your FRONT, so the mat can read your chip.  

4. Because we set the race up before COVID restrictions were lifted, we will be starting the race in rolling 5 minute time slots. The starting line is over near the Greenwood Post Office, about a quarter of a mile west of the Community Center on Greenwood Road (see map). 

5. We will meet you at the starting line to give you your final race instructions. And please note, because we’re using chip timing, your time will begin to be recorded as soon as you cross the start mat. Please stay to your RIGHT as you race down the hill.   

6. We will have self-serve water at the finish line. 

7. After completing your race, please cool down with a walk or run back up the hill to the Community Center. After the completion of your race, please cool down on the RIGHT hand side of the road (on the opposite side of the road of the racers) as you go back up the hill. 

8. We will post times and results, thanks to our friends at Blue Ridge Timing, after the completion of the race. Overall and age group awards will be available at Ragged Mountain after June 14th.     

9. Race entries are closed. We have a record number of entries (150) for this year’s event. 

10. All of the race proceeds will be used to support a variety of CTC activities, including the Summer All-Comers Track Meets.  

11. A big thanks to Leah Connor for all her help, Tim Hughes and the County Parks and Rec. Department and to all of our race day volunteers.   

12. Questions? Please call us at 434-293-3367   

Thanks for participating in this special event and we will look forward to seeing you on Saturday the 12th.

Happy racing! 

Lindy Bain and Mark Lorenzoni
BB Mile co-race directors 

Featuring the fastest & most scenic mile course in Virginia! This unique one mile road race is all downhill, with its steepest descent over the last quarter mile. The race finishes within view of Lady Astor's famous mansion, "Mirador." The runners are treated to gorgeous panoramic mountain views on their cool down after the race back to the Greenwood Community Center (865 Greenwood Rd, Crozet, VA 22932). 

Directions from Charlottesville: Take 64 West to Crozet. Exit 107 250 West. Take a right onto Rt. 690. Take a right Rt. 691 Jarmans Gap Road. Greenwood Community Center is on the right. (Google Maps)

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