Cap Trail Summer Challenge

Choose Your Distance Goal: Summer Challenge Distances are 51.7 Miles, 103.4 Miles, and 517 Miles. You will need to complete the entire Virginia Capital Trail (each of the 51.7 miles), and any additional miles needed.  Run, walk, bike, skate - whatever mode you choose.  Make sure to record your results!

How can you complete the entire Trail?  You've got options!

No matter your goal, you'll need to cover each mile of the Trail at least once.  Think in terms of passing every mile marker.  This means you'll want a drop off and pick up system.  Or plan to visit different sections of the trail throughout the summer. Sign up with a friend and shuttle vehicles (one at each end of the section you intend to complete) or ask somebody to pick you up when you're finished.  Check out our interactive Trail map to help with planning.  You can also utilize Amtrak.

Note:  You could go 26 miles out and 26 miles back, thereby doing 52 miles on the Trail but still not have done ALL of the miles of the Trail which is needed to complete the Challenge.

If you're aiming to do one of the longer challenges (103.4 miles or 517 miles), you can park in different places along the Trail and go out and back to your vehicle each time!

For each month of the Summer Challenge, your mileage must be submitted by the first day of the next month.

• May Mileage must be Submitted by June 1

• June Mileage must be submitted by July 1

• July Mileage must be submitted by August 1

• August Mileage must be submitted by Sept 1

• September Mileage must be submitted by Sept 8

To submit your mileage, do the following:

• Log into your RunSignUp profile.

• Click on your profile picture in the upper right-hand corner.  From the drop down menu, click "Profile".

• Scroll down until you find the "Cap Trail Summer Challenge".

• On the right side of the event listing, click on "Submit Virtual Results".

• Select your activity (note the distinction between "Ride" and "Ebike"), enter the date you did the activity and how many miles you completed (recording time is optional).  Then click "Submit Activity".

• On the activity saved confirmation page, you can select to record another activity or submit your photos!

You can also check out RunSignUp's result submission instructions page.

Share your efforts on social media, using #CapTrailChallenge

To support you in your Summer Challenge efforts, we will host Pop-Up Rest Stops on the following dates:

• June 28, 10:00am-1:00pm: Charles City County Courthouse

• July 19, 10:00am-1:00pm: Jamestown Trailhead

• August 16, 10:00am-1:00pm: Great Shiplock Park

• September 13, 10:00am-1:00pm: End of Summer Challenge Party at Location TBD

On Saturday, September 13th from 10 AM - 1 PM the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation will be hosting an End of Summer Challenge Party at Location TBD!  All registrants will be invited and finishers can pick up their t-shirts on-site.

There will also be prizes awarded to top finishers!  Winners will be based off of submitted results and will be awarded in the following categories:

• Most Cycled Miles Overall: Prize TBD!

• Most E-Biked Miles Overall: Prize TBD!

• Most Ran Miles Overall:  Prize TBD!

• Most Walked Miles Overall:  Prize TBD!

• Most Skated Miles Overall: Prize TBD!

• Most Variety:  Prize TBD!

• Most Improved Returning Participant:  Prize TBD!

• Best Photo:  Prize TBD!

Show us what you can do this Summer!

Each participant who completes their chosen mileage challenge will receive a Challenge T-Shirt to commemorate their achievement.

How to Get Your Shirt:

**Upload your completed Mileage for each month by the first day of the following month.**

Participants who complete their Challenge mileage goal by July 1 will have the following options:

1. Rest Stop Pickup on July 19 at Jamestown Trailhead, 10:00am-1:00pm

2. Ship Your T-shirt ($12, will be mailed in mid-July)

3. Office Pickup at VCTF located at 200 S 3rd St. Richmond, VA 23219 during the following dates/times:

   • Wednesday 7/23, 9:00am-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm

   • Thursday 7/24, 9:00am-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm

Participants who complete their Challenge Mileage after July 1 and submit by September 8 will have the following options:

1. End of Challenge Party Pickup on September 13 at Location TBD, 10:00am-1:00pm

2. Ship Your T-Shirt ($12, will be mailed in late September)

3. Office Pickup at VCTF located at 200 S 3rd St. Richmond, VA 23219 during the following dates/times:

   • • Tuesday 9/23, 9:00am-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm

   • Wednesday 9/24, 9:00am-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm

Once you receive your shirt, take a photo with it and share it on social media using #CapTrailChallenge

How do I participate?     Register for a distance and complete the whole Trail (51.7 miles) at least once.  You can run, walk, bike, skate, hand-cycle, dance - whatever gets you active on the trail!  The Cap Trail Summer Challenge presented by Atlantic Union Bank is about keeping you motivated to have an active summer.  If you're on wheels, you're required to wear a helmet. 
As you complete your miles, submit your results so you can reach your goal.
**Your mileage for each month must be submitted by the first day of the following month.**

How do I submit my results?     Through your RunSignUp profile.  Follow these instructions on how to do so. 
Please note the distinction between "Ride" and "Ebike". Participants using E-Bikes must submit their mileage in the "E-Bike" category.

Where does the Challenge take place?     At least partially on the Virginia Capital Trail.  For each challenge, you will need to complete all 51.7 miles of the Trail. Think of this as passing each Milepost at least once. If you've signed up for more miles, it's up to you where to ride the rest (either on the Trail or elsewhere).

What is the Virginia Capital Trail?    The Virginia Capital Trail is a 51.7 mile multi-use trail running from Jamestown to Richmond along the scenic Route 5 corridor.  Get more info here.

When do I get my Finisher's Shirt?     Simply registering for the Cap Trail Summer Challenge presented by Atlantic Union Bank does not guarantee you a finisher shirt - this is a Challenge!  Once your submitted results reflect your completion of the distance you registered for, your Finisher's Shirt will be available for you to pickup up or ship. ***Please note, the shipping fee cannot be refunded, even if you don't reach your goal.***  

I completed my challenge and want to keep going!  What do I do?     That's awesome!  You have a couple of options.  1) Continue to log your miles as you have been.  You won't be receiving anything additional after you've completed your Challenge, but you can continue to track your progress with us.  2) Sign up for another Challenge!  You will need to register again, but this is the only way to get another shirt.  You can log the miles you already completed this summer or start from scratch, your call!

We do not allow refunds on this event.  
Once your registration is processed after the 15 minute grace period, you cannot change your distance or remove yourself.  In case of severe weather or a local/state/national emergency, VCTF reserves the right to cancel/alter/modify the event for safety concerns.  In any case, we do not refund fees, transfer registration to another year, or transfer registration to other riders.  In the unlikely case an event is canceled, you may claim your registration fee as a tax-deductible donation.