Dan Smaczniak was the winner of the 3rd Mighty Mile

Do you like Mighty Taco? Do you enjoy running? Want to eat Mighty and run at the same time?

Instead of fighting your way through the doors of your local Wal-Mart just to get trampled on your way to buying that Crock Pot your Aunt really wants, you can participate in the Fourth Annual Western New York Black Friday Mighty Mile.

Started by Orchard Park natives Mike Selig and Pete Holowka, the Mighty Mile has grown into a traditional event for local runners and eaters to enjoy an event full of friends, laughs, exercise, and tacos.

“The Mighty Mile was designed to rope everyone into the fun,” said Selig, who ran cross country at Cornell and organized similar events in the past. “It is just short enough for most non-runners and ex-runners and not enough food to really make most people sick. Plus, everyone loves Mighty.”

To participate in the race, runners supply themselves with four Mighty Tacos. Prior to each quarter-mile, each runner must consume a taco. After running the quarter-mile, another taco is consumed, and so on until you cross the finish line, or puke and then cross the finish line.

“This race on Black Friday is the perfect contrast to the serious big competition the day before,” Selig said of the race. “It is a chance to earn some respect even if you are not in the best shape this specific year. Also, everyone is still in town and it is a nice way to get people together.”

While Selig is entrenched is several running communities, he relishes the opportunity to create another family while reminding everyone that running is fun.

“Running is a family,” he said. “Most of us have a handful of running families, and they all tie us together somehow. In the end, it is a big family and that family is what inspires and gives us strength. I feel runners want to succeed to make the family proud, to succeed out of respect for the family that carries us. The Buffalo running family is strong, and the Mighty Mile is something that helps us all remember that seriousness is a sham, despite it being the only way we know. I hope the Mighty Mile will continue to draw people from many sub-families of the Buffalo running family and slowly become a special event to remind us what all our seriousness is really about. Yes, the camaraderie is everything that this is about. It is also a day to snub our own seriousness about running.”

The Mighty Mile is an unofficial race with no entry fee (other than your cost of the tacos). Donated t-shirts will be awarded to the top ten finishers.

For event details:  Visit the Mighty Mile event page

Arrive at the Casino at Chestnut Ridge Park Friday, Nov. 23 at Noon. Join the race or spectate. It’s all fun.

Dan Smaczniak is the event’s defending champion. Last year, ran the Mighty Mile in an impressive 8 minutes and 38 seconds.