Royal Oak — What do you get when you combine a Michigan tradition with America’s favorite foot race? Apparently, more burps, sticky hands, and regret than a children’s birthday party.
This past July, 15 runners gathered for the seventh annual Vernors Mile at Royal Oak Middle School. Founded by members of the 2019 Royal Oak High School cross-country squad, what started as a “Hey, wouldn’t it be crazy if we did this?” idea has evolved into an annual event for those brave enough to step up to the start line for four laps of ginger-ale-fueled torture.
The race adheres to the same rules and regulations as the Beer Mile World Classic: four laps around a 400-meter track, drinking one Vernors at the beginning of each lap. Vomiting before the end of the race results in a Vernors-less penalty lap. With respect to the beer mile, the carbonation and considerably higher sugar content makes the Vernors Mile arguably more challenging.
I should know, I’ve competed in both.
The underage members of the cross-country team knew they obviously couldn’t run a beer mile, so they sought an alternative to alcohol. After workshopping a range of possible beverages, including chocolate milk (yuck), Dr. Pepper, and Sprite, the founders finally landed on Vernors as their titular beverage. In retrospect, this was the obvious choice. What’s more iconic to Michiganders than the sweet elixir known for curing bellyaches across the mitten?
For the past seven years, the race has known only one victor—Adam Hill of Royal Oak. Hill has dominated the field with his exceptional talent as a distance athlete, combined with his uncanny ability to pound a Vernors in as little as 16 seconds. A former member of the Oakland University cross-country and track-and-field squads, Hill achieved a personal best of 6:33 in 2023, his fifth consecutive victory.
Hill is a co-founder of the Vernors Mile, along with his teammates Erik Olsen, Connor Myatt, Brandon Canty, Colin Toggweiler, Jackson Wicka, Ruark Wicka, and Jacob Reinking.
Despite the founders being long removed from the ROHS cross-country program, members of the team return every year to compete. The race is an unofficial homecoming each year. Once a Raven, always a Raven, I suppose.
The Vernors Mile has experienced major growth since its inaugural year in 2018, which saw 11 competitors, mostly the founders. The 2022 edition of the race saw 30 competitors—the most to date—while 2024 saw its first female participants.
At least one competitor pukes their guts out each year. Vernors tends to lose its medicinal properties when you combine 152 grams of sugar, carbonation, and exercise. Go figure.
Now for the question on every reader’s mind: Who in their right mind would do this? Why is this a thing? Whose parents need to intervene? For Hill, this event is not about debauchery. Quite the opposite, actually.
“Why do I do it? The desire to keep a network of high school alumni that does fun stuff like this and to keep tradition alive in the hometown,” Hill said.
As for the future of the Vernors Mile, Hill has teased everything from a charitable event to inviting professional runners like Canada’s Corey Bellemore, the current beer mile record holder, and Grant Fisher of Grand Blanc, a dual bronze medalist in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs at the 2024 Olympic Games.
What began as a silly high school stunt has matured into a beloved local tradition, one that blends Michigan pride, athletic grit, and a touch of absurdity into something genuinely heartwarming. That is, if you don’t mind the puke.
Ethan Rice is a writer and business development expert at KARMA jack.
