Fire up! The Dragon Mile is back

RUNNERS get ready, the Dragon Mile is back on after a three-year hiatus and organisers are looking forward to the event’s return.

Part of the Bendigo Easter Festival and set for Saturday, 9 April, the day features a number of supporting races in addition to the titular event.

“We haven’t run it for three years, because last year it was cancelled because of inclement weather, and the two years before that it was cancelled because of COVID,” said Bendigo Harriers’ president Neil Macdonald.

This year’s race day will feature a new run called the Gym Cup where teams of four – two women and two men – from fitness centres can battle it out for bragging rights.

When it comes to juniors, prizes for primary and secondary school runners, the first three male, and first three female, competitors across the line from a particular school will win a $100 voucher for sports equipment for their school.

For times to be counted towards schools or gyms, entries must be in by Good Friday.

On the day, the first race will hit the ground at 10.30am with the Mini Mile, which will be split into girls’ and boys’ races due to the high number of entries received in past years.

The start/finish line of the Dragon Mile will be at the corner of Pall Mall and Mundy Street, and the course will take runners to the fountain and then turn right up View Street to Dudley House before heading to the ribbon.

The Mini Mile starts/finishes at the same place, though will loop back to the start after the fountain.

Kids grade 5 and above can register in their school grade division, and there is also an open and a Veteran’s class.

The Dragon Mile has been running since 1987 and has been sponsored by Bendigo Bank since the first race.

“It ran continuously until 2020,” said Mr Macdonald. “It’s run primarily as a community event, and anyone can run it of any ability, you don’t have to be a champion to run it, and it’s showcasing health and activity.”

The female and male record holders are Olympian, Sarah Jamieson, who ran it in 4:34 in 2005, and Mark Tucker who clocked 4:02 in 2004.

Mr Macdonald said people can register as late as 10am on race day and organisers are expecting between 270 and 300 runners across all divisions.

“Most of the money we raise is put back into promoting athletics and a healthy lifestyle,” he said.