CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF TRAINING!

Need help preparing to run a marathon? Looking to make new friends while you train? Then look no further than the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, designed to motivate and train individuals to run the VCU Health Richmond Marathon. You’ll find yourself not just equipped with a detailed 22-week program, but a great crew of experienced coaches & inspirational teammates as well. One of our favorite perks, dedicated SAG team to support the weekend group runs. That’s right... water, nuun, & gummy bears while you TRAIN. Let Richmond’s running community carry you to 26.2; when you hit that final stretch, you’ll be glad you didn’t go it alone! 

Please Note: MTT is subject to change due to current COVID-19 mandates & recommendations. As we make decisions, we will be sure to update here.

2020 Event & Training Participant Discount

$10 Loyalty Discount

Discount for 2020 Marathon Training Team, Half Marathon Training Team, Richmond Marathon, Richmond Half Marathon, & Allianz Partners 8k participants.

In order to receive the discount you need to use the link below & your registration information must match your 2020 Richmond Marathon, Richmond Half Marathon, Allianz Partners 8k, Marathon Training Team, Half Marathon Training Team registration. 

MTT Registration Includes

• 22-week training program starting on Saturday, June 12 or Sunday, June 13 (you choose the day), with a detailed schedule for you to follow
• Organized and supported weekly group runs on your choice of Saturday or Sunday mornings
• Personal guidance from our veteran team of experienced coaches
• A special Sports Backers Marathon Training Team shirt and a technical race shirt
• FREE entry in the 44th VCU Health Richmond Marathon on November 13 and all associated race benefits
• Special Race Day support along the course from coaches
• Clinics on subjects like nutrition, running attire, and other related topics

Sports Backers created Kids Run RVA to make running & active living fun & easy. Kids Run RVA promotes physical activity to youth across the Richmond region & encourages more kids to get moving more often. Between our programs & events, Kids Run RVA instills healthy habits that continue to flourish into adolescence & adulthood.

The Covid-19 pandemic forced schools to close their doors, but moving is not cancelled. Kids Run RVA has a library of free online video workouts designed especially for kids!

Let’s Go, RVA! Sports Backers mission is to inspire active living in all corners of our community. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to producing quality sporting events & programs that motivate residents & visitors to be more active, supporting youth running & fitness programs, & advocating for safe bike & pedestrian infrastructure. 

Due to COVID-19, we had to stop all in-person events & cancel all in-person programming in the Spring. But, our staff is hard at work bringing virtual & social distancing options to our region including virtual & outside fitness classes, virtual kids physical activity videos & classes, workout challenges, virtual events, &, most recently, socially distanced in-person events.

Rules & Policies

Training Team entry fees are non-refundable and entries are non-transferable, no exceptions. Once we receive your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate or are unable to complete the program. 

You may defer your 2021 Sports Backers Marathon Training Team entry to the 2022 Marathon Training Team through July 12 for $20. After that date, there will be no more deferrals. Please note that your free entry in the 2021 VCU Health Richmond Marathon, by itself, may not be deferred to the 2022 event.

If you choose to run the Richmond Half Marathon or Allianz Partners Richmond 8k, rather than the VCU Health Richmond Marathon, on November 13 you may do so for no additional cost.