Get in on the race day fun!

Be a part of America’s Friendliest Marathon by conquering an 8k (4.97 miles) run or walk through downtown Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. You’ll be the first on the course to experience our awesome crowd support and enthusiastic spectators. Go your own speed, as this race welcomes all paces, from the super-fast, to those just starting out, and walkers as well!

Course Map & Info

After making our triumphant return to our downtown course, we are excited to continue to provide you the same superior race day experience that you’ve come to expect when you run Richmond! The 8k starts at 8th & Broad Streets in downtown Richmond, one block from the start line for the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon.

Learn More

America's Friendliest Marathon

As part of America’s Friendliest Marathon, our course features spirit groups, party zones, amazing spectators, bands, a post-race party, world-class event execution, and more! Come discover Richmond!

8k Swag

All VCU Health Richmond 8k SWAG packets will include: Long sleeve technical race shirt and finisher medal.

Training Solutions

Need help preparing? We offer in-person and virtual training teams to help you get to the finish line and reach your goals!

Countdown to Race / November 16

Days
Hours
Mins
Secs

8k Entry Fees

Early Bird Pricing, November 12 – 16: $30
November 17 – June 30: $35
July 1 – September 15: $40
September 16 – November 11: $45
Race Week, November 12 – November 15: $55
Race Day, November 16: $65

Note: A $50 donation to Sports Backers Youth Programs (our official event charity) will automatically reduce your race entry fee by $20.

Register Now

Register offline with a printable entry form

Income-based rates are available. Details can be found at the bottom of this page.

 

 

Run Richmond Premium Package

You’re running Richmond!! Let us roll out the red carpet for you, and add that one-of-a-kind touch to your race experience. You’ve trained hard and now it’s time to make your journey to the finish line complete with an epic bang. With the Run Richmond Premium Package, you and your friends can enjoy things like pre-race indoor hospitality, expedited packet pickup, access to the invite-only party area, a champagne toast, and more! Go ahead, you deserve it!

Here is what past participants said
It was such a great experience! Thank you ALL so much for everything you’ve been doing. So glad I was able to run Richmond today!!
– Marcia Chipperfield
Thanks for an amazing event and for adapting and overcoming! Trifecta completed this morning. Way to go Sports Backers.
– Sinead Lynch Hall
Thank you very much for making the Richmond challenge experience feasible with all the chaos going on around us. It has made some sort of normalcy for the running community.
– Daniel Lee Jordan

Additional Info

Income Based Rates

At Sports Backers, our mission is to inspire people to live actively. Engaging underserved populations is one of our core values and one way we act on this value is by offering Income Based Rates for our events. These special rates are offered to those who qualify and would otherwise not be able to participate.

Those who qualify are eligible for the special $15 rate for the VCU Health Richmond 8k. To learn more and apply please visit the Income Based Rate page.

Questions? Need more information, please email [email protected].

Course Details

Course Support

  • Water and Nuun EnduranceMiles 2 and 4 and finish. Water is also available at the start
  • Porta-johns: Start, Miles 2 & 4, and at the finish
  • Medical attention: Available at the start, along the course and at the finish

Awards

Overall awards are determined by clock time; age group awards by chip time.  Awards will be presented to the top five in all age groups in all races. Age groups for the 8k are: 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75- 79, 80-84 and 85 & up.

Age group winners will be notified by email in early December, with instructions on how to redeem their personalized award.*

*Please note, a minimum of 6 participants must be in an age group in order to receive an award.

Starting Corrals

Participants in the 8k will be corralled for the start based on predicted times listed on their completed entry form. The 8k begins at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Note: Start Corrals and race start time are subject to change.

*Racing wheelchair participants, please email Sportable to coordinate your starting corral position.

Corral
Predicted Times
1
49 minutes & under
2
:50 – :59
3
 1 hour – 1:10
4
1:11 & over

Entry Confirmation

Already registered? You can confirm your entry here.

Event Rules

  • Entry fees are non-refundable, even in the case of a race cancellation, updated race format, and/or if you are unable to participate; race numbers and entries cannot be transferred to another person. No exceptions.  If you are already signed up for one race and want to switch to another and assuming the race you want to switch into has not reached capacity, you may do so online through October 31.
  • Courses are USATF Certified
  • The age minimum to register for the VCU Health Richmond 8k is 6 years of age on or before race day.
  • In consideration of the safety of all participants, NO HAND CYCLES, STROLLERS, BABY JOGGERS, BABIES IN CARRIERS/BACKPACKS, MOTORIZED SCOOTERS, IN-LINE SKATES, SKATEBOARDS, BICYCLES OR ANIMALS* will be allowed on the course. This will be strictly enforced.
    *Please reach out to [email protected] if your animal is a certified service animal

Cancellations, Switches & Deferrals

Postponements/Cancellations

Entry fees are non-refundable, even in the case of a race postponement, cancellation, updated race format, and/or if you are unable to participate; race numbers and entries cannot be transferred to another person. No exceptions. This means once we have received your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate, and you may not give or sell your number or timing tag to anyone else.

Switching Races (Distances)

There will be no refunds and no transfer of entries from person-to-person. You may switch between the three events (8k, half, and full) for a $10 distance switch fee if going down in distance. If going up in distance, it’s $10 plus the difference in entry fee at the time of the switch. If you are already signed up for one race and want to switch to the other, you may do so online through October 31 or in person at the Race Expo, provided the race you are switching to has not reached its capacity. You will not receive a refund of any entry fees.

PLEASE NOTE: If you deferred your race entry from 2023 to 2024 and would now like switch distances, you must email [email protected] in order to process the switch.

1. SWITCHING TO A SHORTER DISTANCE EVENT:

EXAMPLE: If you registered for the half marathon and now want to do the 8k, you would pay the $10 distance switch fee.

TO BEGIN THE SWITCHING PROCESS, CLICK HERE AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS.
2. SWITCHING TO A LONGER DISTANCE EVENT:

EXAMPLE:  If you registered for the half marathon for $90 and would like to switch to the marathon in July when the marathon’s entry fee is $110, you will owe $30 ($20 difference in entry fee + $10 distance switch fee).

PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] FOR MORE DETAILS TO SWITCH TO A HIGHER DISTANCE EVENT.

Still have questions or trying to switch between one of our training teams? Please e-mail [email protected].

Deferrals

You may defer your registration from the 2024 Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, Richmond Half Marathon, or VCU Health Richmond 8k to the 2025 event. You may only defer to and from the same event distance. Deferred registrations may not be transferred to another person. Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances. The fee to defer a registration is $10 for the 8k and $20 for the half or full marathons through September 15 and then $20 for the 8k and $30 for the half or full marathons. All deferrals must be done by October 31, 2024 and may be used only for the 2025 event. You may only defer an entry once (i.e., if you defer your 2024 entry to 2025, you will not be able to defer it again to 2026)

Please note: Training team registrations have different deferral rules and deadlines. Check each Training Team page for details.

To begin the deferral process, click here and follow the prompts.

Still have questions? Please e-mail [email protected].

How do I make changes to my registration information?

If you need to make a change to your registration, you may do so online. You have the ability to change the following online through October 31, 2024 unless otherwise noted:

  • Predicted time
  • Gender
  • Shirt size (until September 30)
  • Shipping Address
  • Birthdate
  • E-mail address

To edit any of your registration information, click here for instructions.

If you need to change information other than is listed above, please e-mail [email protected].

Team Registration

Are you part of your local running club? Do you run with a group of friends or co-workers? Do you just want to do this thing with your people? Either way, running as a team is always more fun and at the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, we invite you and your squad to join in on that fun, TOGETHER! Bring your community to be a part of our community—after all, we are America’s Friendliest Marathon! Click here to learn more!