Trails & No Ales

Changing leaves, crisp breezes, views of the river…nothing says fall like trail running in RVA! No craft beer this year, since we’re flipping times, so we’re all Trails—no Ales! Come celebrate the start of the season on Sat, Oct 24th at Forest Hill Park. Wake up & enjoy the beautiful fall foliage & cooler temps. With 2 distances (10k & a 5k), we think this is one event every trail runner can get excited about! Ditch your pumpkin spice lattes & pie scented candles, put some grit in your morning run! All participants will receive a RVA Trail merch shirt from our Sports Backers Store!

 

UPDATES FOR 2020

Location: Forest Hill Park

Participant Limit: 500

Distances: 5k & 10k (register for both & receive a $5 discount)

Packet Pick Up: Race Morning Only. 10k pick up: 6:00 am - 7:30 am. 5k pick up: 7:30 am - 9:00 am.

 

 

Sign Up Website COVID -19 Impacts & Procedures

10k (ish) Information

Water Refill Stations: Belle Isle

Course: Start near the Stone House at the front of Forest Hill Park before heading onto the single track trail counterclockwise. Cross through the tubes underneath Riverside Dr. & head east on Buttermilk Trail. Continue until you get to the 42nd St. stairs, down the stairs, & continue to the vehicle access bridge to Belle Isle. Follow the trail counterclockwise as to the east side of the island before looping back around to hit the trails at the top. After the loop, head back across the vehicle access bridge, take the low water trail to the fire road before hopping on the Reedy Creek riverside trails. You'll exit the trails at the Reedy Creek JRPS Headquarters building, cross over the train tracks, before briefly hoping back on Buttermilk heading west, which brings you along Riverside Dr. where you will exit & take a left turn towards 42nd St. Follow 42nd St. back to Forest Hill Park to the finish line!

Course Map

Schedule

 

UPDATE! Packet Pick Up will only happen Saturday Morning according to your race. 

 

Saturday, October 24

6:00 am - 7:30 am: 10k ONLY packet pick up

7:30 am: First 10k Wave

7:30 am - 9:00 am: 5k ONLY packet pick up 

9:00 am: First 5k Wave

 

Schedule

COVID-19 UPDATES

 

Cup-less event - There will be self-serve water refill stations on the course. Remember to bring your handheld water bottles, hydration belts, or hydration pack.

Masks - Masks must be worn when not racing.

Start times - Start times are based on your per mile trail pace that you enter when registering. 

Starting blocks - starting groups will be 5 participants about every 2 minutes 

COVID -19 Impacts & Procedures

5k (ish) Information

Water Refill Station: Forest Hill Park

Course: The 5k will start near the historic Stone house & then head straight for the challenging trails that loop around the park. The course starts out nice & easy, then a little rock hopping gets you across Reedy Creek. After that the difficulty picks up with undulating trails & meandering switchbacks that overlook the creek & lake in the park. Another Reedy Creek crossing via bridge signals you are closing in on the finish but there is still work to be done. There is approximately another mile of trails filled with hairpin turns before you approach the finish line back near the Stone House.

 

Course Map

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.

 

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Cancellation Policy

Entry fees are non-refundable, even in the case of a race cancellation, postponement, 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 chip to anyone else. Anyone found participating with another person’s number will be disqualified and both people will be barred from future Sports Backers events, including the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k and Richmond Marathon.

 

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