The Salem Civic Center and Fleet Feet are proud to announce the inaugural Miles for Music run. The virtual event celebrates the return of LIVE music to Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Join your favorite indoor music venues and live music lovers everywhere September 1-20 for a Virtual Ride, Walk, Run, 5K, 10K, Half or Full Marathon experience at the place and pace of your choice. This is way to challenge friends, family members, co-workers and join forces with other music lovers during these unprecedented COVID times.
“We wanted a unique way to celebrate music in Virginia’s Blue Ridge,” Hank Luton, Assistant Director or Civic Facilities. “We have partnered with indoor music venues throughout the area to spread the word that live music is coming back. We live in such a beautiful area, we wanted to encourage people to take advantage of it by participating in the race while supporting music-based non-profits in the region.”
A portion of each entry fee will go directly to one of the targeted non-profits. When you sign-up to participate you can choose either Roanoke Children's Theater, the Roanoke Valley Children's Choir or Blue Cow Arts.
Miles for Music is a collaboration between indoor music venues in the area including Salem Civic Center, Berglund Center, The Harvester, The Jefferson Center, Sidewinders Saloon, 5 Points Music Sanctuary, Parkway Brewing, The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Olde Salem Brewing and The Spot on Kirk.
Race registration is open now and you must sign-up by August 12 to guarantee your shirt size and a medal. The $40 entry fee includes a 50/50 poly-cotton race t-shirt, downloadable race bib, a custom 3-inch finisher medal with satin ribbon featuring the music venues and online tracking of times and standings. The online registration for all virtual events is now open at www.salemciviccenter.com/MilesforMusic
Once you are registered and start training, all participants are encouraged to map out a custom route, create a playlist, set a goal and keep fellow competitors informed by posting their progress using the #MilesForMusic.“ Social media posts will include suggested routes, playlists, upcoming live music events and you are encouraged to get your pets involved in the process and posts.
Fleet Feet is the Standing Ovation Sponsor of Miles for Music. The Round of Applause Sponsors for the inaugural event include Kroger, Atlantic Union Bank, Run About Sports, First Team Auto and ServPro.
Packet pick-up will take place at the Salem Civic Center on Monday, August 30. For out-of-town racers, the race packet will be mailed the last week of August. All racers that sign-up after Sept. 1 will have their packets mailed after the race.
INFORMATION ON OUR NON-PROFITS
About Blue Cow Arts: Founded in 2002, Blue Cow Arts is a public nonprofit in support of increased social awareness through music, art and cultural education. In an increasingly and perilously homogenous culture, BCA supports diversity through event promotion, cultural exchange opportunities, and by hosting and providing a forum for musicians, artists, educators and advocates of sustainable living and cultural preservation. Based in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Floyd, Virginia, BCA seeks to support innovative grassroots cultural efforts and movements, including the 5-day FloydFest, showcasing the wealth of local music, crafts and customs in the Floyd, Virginia, area, alongside musicians, dancers and performance artists from all corners of the globe.
About Virginia Children’s Theatre: The Roanoke Children’s Theatre provides high-quality theatre education and entertainment to families, schools, and children with year-round programming; crafting new and exciting partnerships and programs that engage our youth in a world of communication, imagination, creativity, empowerment, and learning.
About the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir: With choral excellence as the foundational goal, singers in the RVCC are provided with a choral experience designed to give children musical as well as personal growth. Core emphasis is placed on the skills required to expertly learn the music and perform it with concentration, dedication, and artistic expression. We believe that this work ethic instills character qualities which can be applied to many other challenging situations in life providing our choristers with the confidence needed to pursue their dreams.