Miles in Martinsville has launched the Dick & Willie Challenge, a new year-round fitness challenge designed to showcase the now-completed Dick & Willie Passage Trail. Participants can complete the challenge by running or walking one of two route options.
The trail spans 10.7 miles, beginning at the Monogram Snacks Sports Complex and ending near El Parral Mexican Restaurant.
“The Dick & Willie Challenge will highlight the trail as a perfect running venue for training, racing, and community exercise initiatives,” according to an official press release.
A Unique Fitness Challenge
“It’s not a race, it’s a challenge,” said Brad Kinkema, executive director of the YMCA.
The Dick & Willie Challenge joins five other flagship races hosted by Miles in Martinsville. Unlike a traditional race, this event allows participants to complete the course on their own schedule.
There are two versions of the challenge:
*One-Way Challenge: Competitors travel the full 10.7-mile length of the trail.
*Round-Trip Challenge: Competitors complete a 21.4-mile trek, covering the trail in both directions.
To officially complete the challenge, participants must complete the trail non-stop and submit GPS data as proof. Walkers and runners may receive assistance from family members along the route, but there will be no official race support. Participants must bring their own water and snacks.
Showcasing the Dick & Willie Trail
“One of the reasons we did this is that the Dick & Willie Passage is completed,” Kinkema said. He hopes the challenge will encourage more people to experience the entire trail.
“It’s to promote the Dick & Willie Trail. We’ve already had two people from Danville complete it. The hope is that we will have people from Roanoke and Greensboro complete it and see how awesome the trail is.”
Participants who finish the challenge receive an exclusive shirt and a personalized finisher award. The challenge can be completed anytime throughout 2025.
The next major event hosted by Miles in Martinsville will be the Martinsville Half Marathon and 5K, presented by Sovah Health, on April 25.
