🙌 Friday. We made it.

🌧️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, high of 91 and low of 73.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Jeanne Giroux and Lee Stein!

Today's newsletter is 1,043 words — a 4-minute read.

Twelve years ago, the Sir Walter Miler race started with $3,000 from a Kickstarter campaign and a dream of making a fun race for runners trying to break into a professional career.

Why it matters: Nowadays, though, the raucous and free-to-attend Raleigh race has become one of the most unique events on the pro running circuit.

Driving the news: When the annual one-mile races start under the lights tonight at Meredith College, some of the biggest names in running will be at the starting line, including:

• Sinclaire Johnson, who ran the fastest mile ever by an American woman last year at 4:16, and Olympians Heather MacLean and Juliette Whittaker.
• On the men's side: 2024 Olympian Hobbs Kessler enters the Sir Walter Miler with the fastest personal mile of any competitor to ever come to Raleigh at 3:46.

What they're saying: "When we started [the Sir Walter Miler], we were creating something for an underserved part of the elite running community, which was kind of fresh, out-of-college runners that were very good but not great," Pat Price, co-founder of Sir Walter Running, told Axios.

• "Now we're drawing an international field with multiple Olympians and American record holders," he added.

Zoom in: Price says the Sir Walter Miler has become a fixture for elite runners for several reasons — but most notably the event has an atmosphere unlike the majority of track meets.

• Instead of putting spectators in the stands, crowds gather inside of the track right on the edge of the race, creating an atmosphere not unlike the crowded mountain climbs of the Tour de France. Runners love it, Price said.
• It's also one of the few night-time track races, which adds to the primetime effect of the crowds, who gather before and after for drinks at Raleigh Brewing across the street from Meredith.
• It's designed to be all action. Before the Sir Walter Miler came to the area, Raleigh hadn't seen a sub 4-minute mile in 40 years, Sports Illustrated reported. It's now had nearly 100 runs under 4 minutes, Price said.

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After years of operating out of temporary spaces and pop-up locations, the popular coffee roaster The Left Hook Coffee is now open in a permanent spot at 912 East Hargett St. in downtown Raleigh.

Why it matters: The new shop adds to the fast-changing landscape of the area east of downtown. Across the street, the former Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters has been fully demolished ahead of future redevelopment.

Zoom in: The Left Hook's founder Kristin Kulik has bounced around Raleigh since moving to the area from Florida, earning a following by first slinging coffee at Rebus Works and then at The Left Hook's first spot inside of Gussie's on Morgan Street in 2024.

What to expect: The same buoyant atmosphere that Kulik brought to her other locations and an excellent mix of classic and seasonal espresso drinks.

• Perhaps unique among Raleigh shops, you can order an egg cream, a classic style of New York City made out of seltzer, whole milk and chocolate syrup.
• The goal is to eventually open The Left Hook seven days a week, add evening hours with beer and wine options and grow its food menu.

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👑 The Miss North Carolina USA pageant stripped its titleholder of her crown after problematic social media posts surfaced. (The Guardian)

👗 Hill House Home leased a space in North Hills and plans to open in the spring. (Triangle Business Journal)

🚧 A viral video is prompting Raleigh to re-stripe a squiggly stretch of road lines. (News & Observer)

🎬 OutSouth Queer Film Festival is next week in Durham. (Indy Week)

Stat du jour: NC Courage's momentum

⚽️ The North Carolina Courage saw an 86% increase in average attendance per match in July compared to the year prior, the team tells Axios.

• July has historically been a slower month for the Courage due to the heat. But the National Women's Soccer League franchise has continued to build momentum in attendance this season, including selling out back-to-back matches for the first time.

Durham will build barriers to protect cyclists on two busy stretches of road, City Council voted this week.

Why it matters: Physically separating cyclists from vehicles is a best practice and can reduce crashes by up to 53%, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Zoom in: Flexible posts and concrete barriers are coming to:

• Main Street between Ninth Street and Buchanan Boulevard.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway between Hope Valley Road and Fayetteville Street.

What they're saying: "Protected bike lanes are designed for everyone from 8 to 80 years old to feel safe riding on the street — not just to keep today's riders safe, but to welcome more people out on their bikes," Bike Durham's executive director John Tallmadge said in an emailed statement.

• The organization is contributing $60,000 from an anonymous donor to help cover the project's $560,000 cost.

🖼️ It's First Friday in Raleigh. Wander around downtown and check out some art.

🎟️ Join the crowd watching country musician Tim McGraw perform at Walnut Creek tonight.

🛶 Take a boat out tonight at sunset while music plays in Cary's Bond Park.

🎤 Grab a ticket to see Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar tonight at the Ritz.

🍿 Spread out a blanket for tonight's free outdoor screening of Zootopia 2 in Moore Square.

🛍️ Check out a pop-up market tomorrow at Raleigh Iron Works.

🎬 Settle into your seat at the Rialto for tomorrow's Triangle Native American Film Festival.

😂 See comedian Jenny Tian at Goodnights Comedy Club all weekend.

🐢 Head to the state fairgrounds for Repticon tomorrow and Sunday.

✨ Sing along with The Wallflowers on Sunday at Durham's Carolina Theatre.

💥 Shop old school comics on Sunday at the Raleigh Comic Book Show.

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🍿 Zachery is beyond stoked for John Wilson's "The History of Concrete."

😔 Mary Helen is sad her next car probably won't have a CD player.

Thanks to Mike Szvetitz for editing this newsletter.