Making New Memories in Downtown St. Louis

How the Market Mile came to life

St. Louis is known for many things, but for anyone who has spent time here, you’ll know that our community ties are strong. St. Louis has 79 different neighborhoods, each with their own distinctive style, characteristics and, oftentimes, their own signature event.

There’s the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Dogtown. Soulard Mardi Gras. The Legendary CWE Halloween Street Party. And countless others.

In St. Louis, we’re so proud of our neighborhoods that sometimes, we forget to drop into our own Downtown core. Yet, as Grace Snelling put it in her Jan. 2024 article for St. Louis Magazine, “[there’s] a resurgence happening in the heart of the city.” 

She’s not wrong. This ongoing period of revival is just one of many reasons we created a run/walk event that rolls straight down Market Street.

Meet Our Race Director: Mark Spewak of Spewak Training

Mark Spewak is a competitive distance runner, a running coach to hundreds of people, and the founder of a nonprofit racing team, Spewak Racing, where he set a vision to give back, promote health and wellness, and change lives for the better.

Before he founded Spewak Racing, Mark built up a decade of charity running event planning experience here in St. Louis. He worked closely with Melissa Hill to organize the Jackson Hill Foundation Run & Run S'more 5k. Proceeds from this 5-year event were used to build the Jackson Hill Wellness Center in St. Louis Children's Hospital. 

In 2022, he also started the Chain of Rocks 6k, an annual running event that takes participants across the historic Chain of Rocks bridge on the famous Route 66. It’s become a community favorite, often selling out well before race day.

But Mark will be the first to tell you he didn’t do any of this alone. Community is at the center of everything he does, and the Market Mile is no exception. 

FOR THE HEART OF ST. LOUIS

FOR THE HEART OF ST. LOUIS

Like many St. Louisans, Mark grew up going Downtown with his family for Cardinals games and other fun events. Today, the electricity that lit up the Downtown scene in the ‘90s is returning in full force, along with new sports teams to rally behind: the Battlehawks and St. Louis City SC. 

When he founded Spewak Racing, Mark’s work with nonprofits inspired him to plan a running event Downtown—one that’s accessible, safe, and that gives back to organizations that are pushing for positive change. 

And now, after many years of planning and preparation, Mark and the Spewak Training team have launched their dream event: The Market Mile. Like the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade and CWE Halloween, The Market Mile is here to stay. It’s a signature event in Downtown St. Louis that anyone can enjoy.

THREE Core Needs, THREE Beneficiaries

Beyond the promise of sunny summer weather, a one-mile course straight down Market Street, the “take it at your own pace” vibes and a buzzing after-party at Union Station, the Market Mile is different because it’s powering up the nonprofits who work tirelessly on the future of our city. The Market Mile serves St. Louis through core areas of need: accessible green spaces, safe housing and public safety. These pillars will change as time goes on, but for our inaugural year, we sought four race beneficiaries whose missions aligned with these core needs.

We raised over $5,500 for nonprofits in 2024! 🎉

During our inaugural event in 2024, we are proud to report that we raised $1,778 for Peter and Paul Community Services, $1,693 for Great Rivers Greenway, and $2,043 for Backstoppers.

  • Accessible Green Spaces | Great Rivers Greenway

    Great Rivers Greenway’s mission is to make the St. Louis region a more vibrant place to live, work and play by developing a regional network of greenways. Learn more >

  • Safe Housing | Peter & Paul Community Services

    Peter & Paul Community Services offers those we serve hope, empowerment, compassion, hospitality and a chance for independence. Learn more >

  • Public Safety | The BackStoppers®

    The BackStoppers supports the spouses and dependent children of all police officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters, and publicly-funded paramedics and EMTs who lost their lives or suffered catastrophic injury in the line of duty. Learn more >

partnering with st. Louis icons

If the Market Mile’s values could be summed up in three words, it would be community, accessibility and city pride. We are proud to partner with our sponsors, Union Station, Lodging Hospitality Management, and 4 Hands Brewing Co., to bring the Market Mile event to life. 

The iconic Union Station is the perfect blend of history and modernity. The renovations that have redefined the hotel and surrounding station pay homage to the rich history of both St. Louis and Union Station, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year! 

Established in 1986, Lodging Hospitality Management (LHM) is a St. Louis-based lodging and hospitality management company; its properties include well-known spots like Westport Social, 360 Rooftop Bar and, most notably, the revitalized Union Station. LHM’s work is transforming the way locals and visitors alike experience St. Louis today and well into the future. 

4 Hands Brewing Co. is known for more than brewing delicious craft beer. With a strong focus on community support and philanthropy, the brewery has given back over $300,000 to local nonprofits through its City Wide Mission. There’s no better beer partner for The Market Mile than 4 Hands. 

We’ve selected Union Station, LHM and 4 Hands Brewing Co. not only for their contributions to our event, but for the work they do on a daily basis to create a great atmosphere in Downtown St. Louis that we can all enjoy.

Join THE Market Mile Mission

The Market Mile is so much more than a walk/run event; it’s a weekend of transformation, from the individual to the community level. So whether you want to assemble a group for a fun weekend downtown, partner with us as a sponsor or future beneficiary, or spread the word on social or through local media, find some quick links below:

For media inquiries, please submit a form on our Contact page.

If you want to join the Market Mile as a participant or a group, register here.

Interested in sponsorships or beneficiary partnerships? Contact us.