Kemper’s Downhill Mile

What's one of the fastest ways to a 1 mile personal best?  A downhill mile of course! Join us Friday evening for Kemper’s Downhill Mile. Fun, Downhill, and FAST are words that best describe this course.  The event is the final event of the 2026 Lynchburg Road Runners Race Series.

THE LEGEND OF KEMPER the RABBIT
Sometime around 1912, the same year that the Kemper Street Train Station was opened by Southern Railway, local Lynchburg residents recall witnessing a certain rabbit chasing trains as they left the station. It wasn't long before that rabbit was given the name "Kemper". Some say Kemper was able to keep up with departing trains for almost a mile!  If you are lucky to run the Kemper Street Trail extension early in the morning you might see a descendant or two of Kemper running right along side you.

REGISTER EARLY & SAVE
$1       Entries 1-5. Yep... we're not joking. How lucky are you?!
$10     Entries 6-20. Can you believe it!!!  Don't wait. This won't last long. 
$15     Entries 21-50. Still an amazing deal. Especially if you guarantee your shirt by Friday July 5th.
$20     Entries 51 & Up. Hard to find a race like this for this amount. You're still a winner!
$25     RACE DAY, Friday July 31st. Even Kemper has been known to wait to the last minute too.

Lynchburg Road Runners Club Member Discount:  
Save a $1.00 through race day! Participant membership must be current with LRRC membership roster found on RunSignUp. Discount will be given at checkout automatically. Refunds and/or discounts will not be given after completing online race registration.

The Kemper Down Hill Mile is a point to point mile using the Kemper Street Trail Extension of the Blackwater Creek Bikeway. The starting line is located on the trail near the intersection of Kemper Street and Park Avenue. Runners will proceed down hill (STAY to your RIGHT) for 1 mile to where the finish line is located.

The trail surface is paved, asphalt and approximately 8 feet wide. The grade exceeds -12% at one area and averages -4%. Elevation loss is approximately 180 feet.

Please note:  There is no transportation back to the starting area. Runners should plan on running or walking back to the starting area and stay to their right while traveling the bikeway. BEWARE of other RUNNERS descending the hill.

Participants will start in WAVES according to their predicted finish times provided during registration.  There could be 7 WAVES. Depending on the number in each wave, we may further divide that group.*

WAVE /  START TIME / PREDICTED FINISH TIME
*To be updated week of event.

WAVE 1A    6:30pm    5:59 pace or better
WAVE 1B    6:35pm    6:00 - 6:44

WAVE 2A    6:45pm    6:45 - 7:30
WAVE 2B    6:50pm    7:31 - 8:59

WAVE 3A    7:00pm    9:00 - 9:45
WAVE 3B    7:05pm    9:46 - 10:59

WAVE 4    7:15pm    11:00 or greater

Thursday July 30th: 
12-6pm, Riverside Runners, 2480 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA  24503

Friday July 31st (RACE DAY): 
12:00pm -2:00pm, Riverside Runners, 2480 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA  24503

6:00-7:00pm @ Starting Area, Kemper Street Trail Extension Entrance (Corner of Park Ave & Kemper Street), the Kemper Street Train Station which is adjacent to the trail is located at 528 Kemper Street, Lynchburg, VA  24501

Event t-shirts are guaranteed to those registered no later than Friday July 10th. Extra shirts will be available on a first-come basis at packet pickup. Please register before our deadline if a shirt is important to you.

Award Certificates will be provided to the top finishers listed below.

Top 3 Overall Male & Female
Top Male & Female Master (40+ yo)
Top 3 in each age group male & female
12 & Under, 13-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Timing mats will be located at the start and finish. A participants time begins and ends when they cross these timing points.

This is an electronically timed event using MyLaps timing technology. Race bibs must be worn on the front of your shirt or shorts and be visible throughout the event. Bibs should not be folded or altered in anyway. Doing so may affect your finish time.

Please do not stop your watch at the finish line. Raising your hand near your bib at the finish can result in your timing tag not working properly.

Please note:  Due to the logistics and duration of the event in its entirety, there is not a formal awards ceremony planned. Awards can be picked up at Riverside Runners beginning Saturday Aug. 1st.

Kemper's Downhill Mile is the final event in the 2026 Lynchburg Road Runners Race Series. Rankings prior to this event can be found on the Riverside Runners results page.  HERE