RunRace USA › Virginia › Richmond Marathon
The complete, course-first guide
Richmond Marathon
Saturday, November 14, 2026 · 7:00 a.m. ET ("7 a.m. sharp")
Broad Street just west of 1st Street (1st & Broad St.), downtown Richmond. The half marathon starts at 7th & Broad at 7:15 a.m. and the 8k at 8th & Broad at 7:30 a.m.
The race in 60 seconds
First run in 1978, Richmond Marathon has had time to become part of the city's running calendar. The route forms an open loop, finishing in the same part of the city without returning to the exact start point. The modeled line carries about 847 feet of total climb and ranges from roughly 40 to 274 feet above sea level. The elevation profile calls out the Lee Bridge, the Forest Hill Avenue climb so the defining work is visible before race morning. Look for William Byrd Hotel, Science Museum of Virginia (Broad Street Station), CarMax Park, The Diamond in the flyover, with recognizable forms modeled from architectural records.
Fly the course
The whole course, built from the best available published route trace and an extruded model of Richmond. Scrub it, change the camera, or let it play. Nothing here is a video: it is drawing the city live.
Route statusOrganizer-linked course file. Linked from the official marathon course page (richmondmarathon.org/race-weekend/course-information/marathon-course/) as 'View an interactive map'. JSON API (ridewithgps.com/routes/43438423.json) verified: name 'Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon', 42,580 m = 26.46 mi, 1,017 track points, first point 37.545104,-77.441217 matching the Broad St start. Created Jun 2023 / updated Oct 2023 but still linked from the 2026-edition course page (page modified 2026-07-06).
The route line uses the best published course trace available. Public-domain USGS and USDA aerial photography plus USGS 3DEP elevation are baked into RunRace USA, so the flyover makes no paid map API or third-party runtime requests. Buildings, roads, parks and water use OpenStreetMap, ODbL. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details are approximations; the organizer's published route remains the reference.
The elevation profile
This Marathon profile covers 26.2 miles, ranges from roughly 40 to 274 feet, and contains about 847 feet of modeled climb.
- the Lee Bridge, mile 14.97 to 17.73: 128 feet up, 0.9% average.
- the Forest Hill Avenue climb, mile 11.0 to 12.05: 77 feet up, 1.4% average.
- , mile 9.05 to 10.28: 71 feet up, 1.1% average.
The route at a glance
Gold is the selected modeled course; route provenance is stated beside the flyover.
Race-week weather, measured
At the start line, November 10-18 averaged a low of 40°F and a high of 58°F across 2016-2025. The same window reached 76°F at its warmest and 24°F at its coldest. Measurable rain appeared on about 22% of sampled days. Treat the range, not just the average, as the packing list.
Pace it by effort
The profile and grade strip come from the same route currently loaded in the flyover. Use even pace as a baseline, then protect effort on the highlighted climbs and exposed sections.
| Finish | Even pace | Halfway |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 6:52 /mi | 1:30 |
| 3:30 | 8:01 /mi | 1:45 |
| 4:00 | 9:09 /mi | 2:00 |
| 4:30 | 10:18 /mi | 2:15 |
| 5:00 | 11:27 /mi | 2:30 |
| Published course limit, 7:00 | 16:01 /mi | 3:30 |
Build your race weekend
The course
Live 3D flyover, synchronized elevation, route map, mile-by-mile shape and local landmarks.
Where to stay
17 mapped places to stay, compared by the endpoint that matters.
Expo and logistics
Packet pickup, the published weekend schedule, transit, parking and current entry tiers.
Spectators
Route-aware viewing anchors and a plan that respects the actual course geography.
The weekend
A city guide built around the places modeled beside the course.
Race listing
Dates, distances and the official registration link.
Common questions
When and where does the Richmond Marathon start?
Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. sharp, on Broad Street just west of 1st Street in downtown Richmond. The half marathon goes off at 7:15 a.m. from 7th & Broad and the 8k at 7:30 a.m. from 8th & Broad. The race organizer recommends arriving 45-60 minutes before your start, or closer to a full hour if you are checking a bag.
What is the course time limit?
Seven hours. The marathon course closes at 2:00 p.m., which works out to a 16:02 per mile pace. There are intermediate cutoffs you must clear to keep course support: Mile 7 by 9:05 a.m., Mile 11 by 10:10 a.m., Mile 16 by 11:30 a.m., Mile 20 by 12:30 p.m., and Mile 23 by 1:20 p.m.
Is Richmond a Boston qualifier, and is the course certified?
Yes. The course is USA Track & Field sanctioned and certified, the race is run under USATF and Road Runners Club of America rules, and the organizers describe it as "one of the most frequently used races to qualify for the Boston Marathon" and a "Top 25 Qualifying Race."
How hard is the course? Is it good for a first marathon?
The race calls the marathon course "great for first-timers" with "some rolling hills." It runs through historic downtown, along and across the James River, and ends on a downhill slope at 5th & Tredegar Street. That downhill finish is the course's signature feature.
The marathon is sold out. Can I still get in?
As of August 2026 both the full and half marathon have hit capacity (the marathon is limited to 7,200 entries) and only the waiting list is open. Waiting list members are notified as spots are released and then have 48 hours to claim the spot and complete registration at the current $200 price. The 8k is still open. Two other ways in: a charity entry through Sports Backers Youth Programs, which is free if you raise $750, or an elite complimentary entry if you have run under 2:25:00 (men) or 2:50:00 (women).
What does it cost?
The marathon is $200 as of August 2026, which is what you pay coming off the waiting list. Earlier published tiers this cycle were $115 from November 21 through April 14 and $140 from April 15 through June 30. The half is $170 and the 8k is $50 through September 15, rising after September 16. A $50 donation to Sports Backers Youth Programs at checkout automatically knocks $20 off a marathon or half entry, and income-qualified applicants can run the marathon for $40.
Where and when is packet pickup? Can someone else grab mine?
Packet pickup happens at the Health & Fitness Expo at Richmond Raceway on Thursday, November 12 from 3-7 p.m. and Friday, November 13 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Expo parking is free, and there is a complimentary roundtrip shuttle from the Omni Richmond Hotel running roughly every 30 minutes (about a 20-minute ride). Someone else can pick up your packet with a copy of your registration QR code and/or photo ID. If you cannot make the expo at all, you can pre-purchase race-morning pickup for $45 (closes Nov 13 at 9 p.m.) or have your packet mailed for $35 through Sept 15 or $45 through Oct 28.
Are there corrals, and can I start with a friend?
Yes. Marathoners are assigned a corral based on the predicted finish time on their entry form, printed on the bib. Corral 1 is 3:30 and under, 2 is 3:31-3:59, 3 is 4:00-4:14, 4 is 4:15-4:30, 5 is 4:31-5:00, and 6 is 5:01 and over. You may move back to a slower corral to run with someone, but you cannot move forward into a faster one.
What is on the course for fluid and fuel?
Sixteen hydration stations: at the start and roughly every two miles through Mile 20, then every mile after that. Every stop has water, Tailwind Rapid Hydration in Strawberry Lemonade, and portable restrooms. On top of that: GU energy gel (Vanilla Bean and Strawberry Banana) and Noogs energy chews (Lemon Zinger and Wicked Apple) at Miles 14 and 21, junk food stops with pretzels, gummy bears, Oreos and Coke at Miles 16 and 22, and a pickle juice stop at Mile 23.
Is there bag check, and where does my bag end up?
Yes, bag check opens at 6:00 a.m. near each start line. Marathoners use the Estes Freight truck at 3rd and Broad Street (half and 8k use 9th and Broad). Use the clear bag handed out at packet pickup and attach the "Bag Check" tear tag from your bib. Bags are trucked to the finish area parking lot at the American Civil War Museum.
Where is the finish line, and how far is it from the start?
All three races finish on a downhill on 5th Street north of Tredegar Street, at Brown's Island and the Canal Walk on the downtown riverfront. The finish is about seven blocks, roughly 0.75 mile, from the start area. There are no shuttles before the race, but a post-race shuttle runs from Brown's Island back to the start area for anyone who parked there. The CoStar Group Post Race Party runs on Brown's Island from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with post-race food, music, Hardywood craft beer, massages, and medal engraving.
Are there pace groups?
Yes, Pace Teams presented by Orangetheory Fitness, run with the Richmond Road Runners Club. Marathon groups are offered for 3:00, 3:10, 3:25, 3:30, 3:35, 3:45, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00, and 5:30. You can sign up through the online registration form on the race's Pace Teams page or at the Richmond Road Runners Club booth at the expo.
Can I get a refund, defer, or give my bib to someone else?
No refunds, ever, including for postponement, cancellation, format change, or your own inability to run. Bib transfers to another person are prohibited and will get both people disqualified and barred from future Sports Backers events. You can defer to the same distance in 2027 by October 31 for a $25-$35 fee, or switch distances for $10 (plus the fee difference if going up) online through November 4 or in person at the expo, if the target race has not sold out. Switching to the virtual version is free and includes packet mailing.
What is the weather usually like, and how will I know if it changes?
The race notes that November 14 in Richmond averages 51 degrees, with an average high of 62 and low of 40. The race uses an Event Alert System, a color-coded flag system communicating weather conditions that may affect the race, with flags posted at the expo, the start area, and every hydration station.
What is not allowed on the course?
No hand cycles, strollers, baby joggers, babies in carriers or backpacks, motorized scooters, in-line skates, skateboards, bicycles, or animals. The race says this is strictly enforced. Contact the race directly if your animal is a service animal. The minimum age for the marathon is 16 on or before race day.
How do awards work?
Overall awards go by clock time, age group awards by chip time. The top five in every age group are recognized, with marathon age groups running 19 and under, then five-year bands from 20-24 up to 85 and over. An age group needs at least six participants for awards to be given, and winners are emailed in early December with instructions to redeem a personalized award. Separately, the Richmond-Area Marathon Championship pays the top local finishers from the Richmond-Petersburg MSA $500, $300, and $100 for first through third, men and women.
Register for the 2026 Richmond Marathon →on RunSignup
Course geometry provenance is stated beside the player; elevation profiles always use the same route loaded there. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Aerial imagery is from USGS and USDA; other images carry their own source credits. Weather figures use Open-Meteo reanalysis for November 10-18 across 2016-2025 at the start line. Schedule, prices and expo hours were checked in August 2026 and are the fields most likely to move: confirm them on www.richmondmarathon.org before you book anything. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.