2025 Belle Isle Blitz (5k)
2025 James River Scramble (10k)
2025 Bust the Banks Half Marathon
TRAIL RUNNING EVENTS
Friday, May 16 at 6:00 PM
The Belle Isle Blitz is a 5k-ish trail race winds around Belle Isle with tough climbs and super fun downhills. Sign up for the Dog Wave, a part of the Belle Isle Blitz, and bring your favorite canine through the trails, along the dry way, and across the river. There’s no better way to spend a Friday night than with man’s best friend!
Saturday, May 17 at 9:00 AM
Beware: The James River Scramble is not your typical Saturday stroll in the park! Along this 10k-ish course you may encounter roots, gravel, rough terrain, and low-hanging branches. Up for the challenge? You’ll get to experience firsthand some of RVA’s best outdoor gems. This is not a race for walkers.
Sunday, May 18 at 8:00 AM
Prepare to take on Richmond's urban single track system on foot. The great trails along the banks of the James River will provide a tough test for all in the Bust the Banks Half Marathon at Dominion Energy Riverrock. It’ll be gritty, and it’s gonna be dirty, but it’s not an event you want to miss. Dodge tree limbs, climb banks, coast downhill, and navigate to the finish. Run the banks alongside rapids, rocks, and see some amazing views of the city skyline.
CHALLENGES
Trail Takedown - Pick 2 Trail Running Events
Take on the challenge of completing two of the three trail races over the course of the weekend, with the Belle Isle Blitz on Friday, May 16, the James River Scramble on Saturday, May 17, and Bust the Banks Half Marathon on Sunday, May 18. With two courses in three days this challenge comes with some serious bragging rights!
* Note, if you would like to purchase event insurance, DO NOT register for the challenge through the Trail Takedown event. You must register for each race separately. We will mark your registrations as part of the Takedown.
James River Gauntlet - Multi-Day Triathalon
The James River Gauntlet is a three-day, multi-discipline race designed to test your endurance and versatility. Over the course of one action-packed weekend, competitors will take on three distinct events across three challenging days, each pushing different aspects of athletic performance. It all kicks off with the Mountain Bike Time Trial on Friday, May 16, followed by the James River Scramble on Saturday, May 17, and wrapping up with the Downriver Paddle on Sunday, May 18. With three races in three days, this stage race is designed to test your endurance and push your limits. Are you ready to rise to the challenge?
* Note, if you would like to purchase event insurance, DO NOT register for the challenge through the James River Guantlet event. You must register for each race separately. We will mark your registrations as part of the Gauntlet.
2025 Richmond Trail Mix
Take on Ragnar Trail Richmond, then run any of the Dominion Energy Riverrock trail races and you’ll earn the official “Richmond Trail Mix” medal.
Help Us Maintain Our World Class Trail System
The James River Park System & the Richmond Riverfront is an extremely important asset to RVA. Please consider a donation to benefit the James River Park System & riverfront. Your gift will help maintain, improve, & enhance the JRPS trails & riverfront. This nationally acclaimed trail system would not be what it is today without the hard work of countless volunteers & it is donations like yours that make this work possible. In the past donations were able to support not only general trail maintenance through RVA More’s tireless efforts but also very specific infrastructure & equipment improvements like a donation to the universal access ramp at Huguenot Flatwater, new trail ramps, & the replacement of all bike pumps at the bike repair stations around the Park System. The James River Park System & riverfront continues to see heavy use so donations to maintain & make improvements are important to the overall sustainability.
Our Story
We live and work by Richmond’s picturesque riverfront. With a network of trails and amazing views just steps away from a vibrant downtown, we knew we had to let everyone in on the secret that was Richmond, VA. And what better way to celebrate than with the nation’s premier outdoor sports and music festival?!
Sports Backers and Venture Richmond both work to make RVA a vibrant place to live. Bringing our two nonprofit organizations together to create one of the nation’s most beloved outdoor festivals was a no-brainer! Venture Richmond provides the entertainment, and Sports Backers brings the athletes. It all adds up to a great showcase of Richmond’s riverfront and all it has to offer!
Sports Backers is a nationally recognized nonprofit whose mission is to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively. Since 1991, Sports Backers has fostered a culture of active living in Central Virginia through its participatory sporting events and community-based programs that have inspired hundreds of thousands of people in the region to set fitness goals and pursue an active lifestyle. In everything that we do, we strive to promote health equity and create accessible opportunities for active living throughout our region. We fulfill our mission by: (1) advocating for bike and pedestrian infrastructure; (2) energizing the community through events; and (3) building a network of community-led group fitness programs in schools and neighborhoods.
Venture Richmond is a nonprofit organization formed to engage business and community leaders in partnering with the City to enhance the vitality of the community, particularly Downtown, through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy and events, to include: Friday Cheers, the 2nd Street Festival, the Richmond Folk Festival, and more.
Cancellation Policy
Entries are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-deferrable, even in the case of a event cancellation, postponement, event format changes, and/or if you are unable to participate.
Questions? Feedback?
Questions or Feedback please reach out below
