What’s worse than running a mile in 80% humidity and rain? Running a mile in 80% humidity and rain with a stomach full of milk.
On Friday, Apr. 4, nine Potomac Falls students, parents, and even students from other schools congregated at the PFHS track to attempt an usual feat. They were about to run four laps (one mile) of the track, drinking a solo cup’s worth of milk—which could be anything from fat-free to chocolate milk because everyone was tasked with bringing their own—in between each lap. It was the second annual PFHS Milk Mile.
The event was organized by junior Thomas Kalka “just for fun.” He also facilitated a milk mile last year, but this year’s turnout was three times greater than the first. Perhaps this was due to increased publicity surrounding the 2025 milk mile. To get the word out and to recruit runners and spectators, Kalka made an Instagram account, @milkmile2025, dedicated to the milk mile, which amassed nearly 100 followers.
Although the run was deemed “just for fun,” runners quickly realized they were not in for a fun time when they began. “I just kept saying, ‘I hate you, Thomas.’ My stomach still hurts from [the milk mile],” said sophomore Landon Grant, who ran the mile in a time of “about 10 minutes.”
Many runners were unable to keep the milk in their stomachs, instead vomiting it onto the grass, track, and, if they were lucky, into the large trash can provided exactly for this situation. Freshman Peyton Elliot, who runs cross country and winter track but plays soccer in the spring, ran the milk mile in a time of 8:45 immediately after finishing soccer practice at the school. “I threw up once. I was trying to drink a cup of milk, but it clearly didn’t work… My strategy was just to push through,” said Elliot.
Elliot even revealed that she is lactose intolerant, which certainly didn’t help. However, because she only made the decision to run the mile after soccer practice, she had not brought any lactose-free milk to drink. “I am lactose intolerant, but I persevered,” said Elliot.
Another soccer player and cross country and track runner who ran the milk mile after practice was junior Riona McDonough, who said that her entire race strategy was “Just don’t throw up.”
A lot of the strategy behind keeping the milk down was in drinking it slowly. Even if it added a few extra minutes to her time, McDonough said, “The milk was disgusting. I couldn’t chug that. While I was running, it just felt like water. I could feel it, but it didn’t affect me. I didn’t feel bad, even though I haven’t had lactose milk in four years because my family members are lactose-free.”
In first place was Kalka himself with a time of 6:55. Following him were Andrew Takach—a senior from Rock Ridge High School—and the other Thomas Kalka: Kalka’s dad, who just so happens to be the head PFHS cross country coach.
Despite their discontent in the moment, Grant, Elliot, and McDonough all admitted that they would run the milk mile again next year. Kalka’s hope for the future is to “make it an annual thing.” “It is an annual thing!” he resolved.