Richmond Marathon Review
Richmond may not be considered a “major”, but it is one the best marathons in America for a reason. It is marketed as “America’s Friendliest Marathon” and I can’t say they’re wrong. I ran the Richmond Marathon this past November in 2023 and had a great time. I walked away with a PR and another marathon that I would happily do again. Here are my main takeaways from running Richmond and why you might want to pencil it in on your list of must-do-marathon races.
Easy PR - This is a fast, slight net downhill race. With only a few bigger climbs, there are some long, gnarly descents that will help you pick up the pace. Just make sure you hit the eccentrics in the gym so your quads don’t scream too much on the back flats around mile 19. Holding race pace between miles 19 and 25 is the toughest since it’s such a change in terrain from the majority of the race and is all flats. Hold tight though, you’ll love the roar of the crowd during the last mile and a downhill finish.
Beautiful Course - Not only is the course fast, but the mix of city and nature is a combo you’ll love. You start downtown, weave through various neighborhoods heading down towards the river. Once you cross the bridge, you’ll run on the bike path along the river for a long time. Eventually, you cross the river again, head out towards the historic neighborhoods, and back towards downtown, finishing by the river.
Easy Logistics - Running a major is great, but there’s something special about being able to run a well-supported race without the hassle of traffic and too many people. There are hotels close to the start line, but we were able to get downtown easily and had no issues finding a parking space. We warmed up in the convention center where there were no people and no lines for our last-minute stop to use the restroom. Always a huge win, long port-a-potty lines pre-race are the worst.
Well Supported - The volunteers and the city of Richmond did a phenomenal job. There were plenty of people lining the streets to keep the energy going every mile. There were plenty of aid stations offering a variety of drinks and nutrition. Some of the best aid stations were run by local businesses or families. Some of these stations were handing out small water bottles, which is 10x better than trying to drink from a paper cup while on the run. In 2023, the race was also on Veterans Day. It was really special to see the veteran bibs and military folks line the streets cheering you on in uniform.
Plan to Spectate - The only con we have about Richmond is that it is not the most spectator-friendly. In 2022, I ran Chicago and my family was able to see me 5x but my family only saw me 1x during Richmond. With road closures, they ran into traffic trying to drive to mile 18. I recommend doing more research ahead of time to get a good idea of which miles your family will want to see you. If they are all able to bike, this would probably be the best due to road closures and traffic.
