The Rundown: RVA’s active events for June 2016

The mud has dried and it’s time to hit the road again. 

June 3, 2016; 9:16 AM • by Kathryn Pullam

Photo by: DFChurch

June brings many questions: Will I ever get the mud out of my trail shoes? What is the name of that big yellow thing that now appears in the sky? What’s a bubble bog? Why can’t the adult races have a slip and slide at the finish line? How long do you think I’ll still glow in the dark after the Black Light Run? Will I ever get up the nerve to do a triathlon? I don’t have all of the answers, but I do have some in this month’s active event round up.

National Running Day – Friday, June 3rd

• Event Type: Fun Run & Festival
• Distance: 5k, 1 Mile
• Location: Forest Hill Park, 42nd Street Entrance, Richmond
• Time: 5:30 PM
• **Registration: **Free 

The Hook: Gather every runner friend you have and head to Forest Hill Park for a celebration of National Running Day! We’ve got a goal of gathering 500 of Richmond’s runners for a group photo before heading out for a friendly, casual 5k or 1-mile trail or road run. Afterwards, hang out to meet folks from Richmond’s local running stores and then do what runners do best – enjoy some good eats from some of RVA’s favorite food trucks. (The run is free, but dinner is on you.)

Boxer Brief 5k – Saturday, June 4th 

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k
• Location: Stony Point Fashion Park, 9200 Stony Point Parkway, Richmond
• Time: 8:30 AM
• Registration: $35 per participant

The Hook: I’ve got to hand it to the organizers of this race – encouraging adults to literally run around with their underwear on the outside is a very clever way to raise awareness for the very serious cause of colorectal cancer prevention. 

Bubble RUN Richmond – Saturday, June 4th

• Event Type: Novelty Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k
• Location: Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Avenue
• Time: 8:00 AM
• Registration: $20 per participant through June 1st; $50 after. Kids under 4 free with paid adult registration.

The Hook: In May, races were all about getting dirty, and now June brings us good clean fun in the form of the Bubble Run. Organizers promise a course filled with “bogs” of colored bubbles four to seven feet deep. A quick look at the FAQ and it seems like these bubble bogs are serious business – instructions include “Hold on to personal items including KIDS when going through bogs!” As if bubble bogs weren’t enough, the after party includes bubble cannons spurting colored foam bubbles into the crowd. 

Pro Tip: Bring $10 cash for parking; participants are encouraged to wear sunglasses to protect eyes and to carry a bandana or towel to wipe bubbles from faces. 

Happy Hour Races – Saturday, June 4th

• Event Type: Run/Walk 
• Distance: 10k, 5k
• Location: Center of the Universe Brewing, 11293 Air Park Road, Ashland
• Time: 4:45 PM (10k); 5:00 PM (5k)
• Registration: $55 per adult/$25 for kids under 15 for 5k; $50 per adult for the 10k “Make Mine a Double” option

The Hook: Few things go together better than runners and beer; Center of the Universe has wisely decided to tap into this well known fact with its inaugural Happy Hour Race. Instead of a medal, you’ll be rewarded with a drink ticket to redeem for one of the brewery’s signature beers. While it might be shorter-lived than a medal, I can guarantee the beer will taste better. As a bonus to add to your good feelings, the event benefits Feedmore–a fantastic cause.

Hope 5k and Endorphin Fitness Kids Mile – Saturday, June 4th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, 1 Mile Kids’ Run
• Location: Hope Church, 12445 Patterson Avenue
• Time: 8:30 AM (5k); 9:30 AM (Kids’ Mile)
• Registration: $35 per participant for 5k; $15 per child for the Kids’ Mile. 

The Hook: Three Words: Free Chick-Fil-A Biscuits. Yep, you heard me right. The organizers of the Hope 5k know their way straight to my little banana-hating heart by offering runners post-race Chick-Fil-A. There’s also free childcare for runners, which means that all of you moms and dads won’t have to worry about finding a babysitter for race morning (pretty sweet!). If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a bounce house, a DJ, AND proceeds benefit the work of the Children’s Home Society of Virginia. 

James River Run – Saturday, June 4th

• Event Type: Trail Run
• Distance: 10k, 4 Mile
• Location: Legend Brewery, 321 W. 7th Street, Richmond
• Time: 10:30 AM
• Registration: $30 per participant

The Hook: Do you love the James River Park System Do you love Legend Brewery? Do you love running on trails? If you answered “yes” to any of the above then this one is for you. Enjoy your choice of a four-mile or 10k trail run along the beautiful James River followed by an afterparty at Legend where participants will enjoy a private tasting along with Legend’s usual fare. Proceeds go to the James River Outdoor Coalition, a volunteer organization helping improve our awesome urban James River Park System. If you can’t make it to this event, you can still help support the Coalition by going to Legend and drinking Legend Z-Dam Ale throughout the month of June–a portion of the sales will go back to the Coalition.

Miles for Missions 5k – Saturday, June 4th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Fun Run
• Location: Bon Air Baptist Church “The Village” Campus, 7250 Patterson Avenue
• Time: 8:30 AM (Kids’ Fun Run); 9:00 AM (5k)
• Registration: $25 per participant for the 5k; $8 per child for the fun run

The Hook: Help the Bon Air Baptist Church Student Ministries raise $2,500 to help fund work in Romania, Kentucky, Virginia, and South Carolina

Run Like a Girl Pocahontas – Sunday, June 5th

• Event Type: Trail Run 
• Distance: 4 Miles
• Location: Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield
• Time: 8:30 AM (pre-race warm-up); 9:00 AM (race begins)
• Registration: $30 per participant

The Hook: Ladies only for this race, which makes a fantastic first trail running experience for the trail virgins out there. The course covers four miles of mostly wide, flat, graveled horse trails at Pocahontas State Park and the four mile distance is just enough to break a good sweat before you enjoy what is always a great post-race festival. In lieu of the ubiquitous race T-shirt, the organizers do a great job of picking out a unique race swag item each year–past items have included soft-sided coolers, knee socks, and water bottles. More importantly, this race series is dedicated to supporting the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation, which promotes Health, Empowerment, Research, and Awareness to stop the loss of women from a silent and often overlooked killer–Ovarian Cancer. This one is a personal favorite of mine, so check it out if you can!

Pro Tip: Bring $7 for parking; bug spray and sunscreen are also a really good idea.

Spring Run Huskies 5k–Sunday, May 1st

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Fun Run
• Location: Spring Run Elementary School, 13901 Spring Run Road, Midlothian
• Time: 10:00 AM (Kids’ Fun Run); 10:30 AM (5k)
• Registration: $15 per participant

The Hook: A fundraiser to support the Pennington Family, who lost their daughter to a rare form of cancer.

Connects Federal Credit Union Corporate 4 Miler – Thursday, June 9th

• Event Type: Run/Walk 
• Distance: 4 Miles
• Location: Innsbrook Office Park, 5000 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Registration: $40 per participant through June 2nd; $50 walk up registration June 8th and 9th 

The Hook: A reimagining of the staff retreat, the Corporate Four Miler is all about bonding with your coworkers through a little bit of friendly competition and also promotes a healthy lifestyle both in and out of the workplace. Team up to stick it to the evil industry rival by beating their employees across the finish line or even better – convince your boss to run in the CEO Challenge. Once the race is over, hang out in your team’s tent while enjoying live music, food, and drinks. 

Endorphin Fitness Slash and Dash – Saturday, June 11th

• Event Type: Kids’ Run/Swim 
• Distance: Short pool swim followed by short run (distance varies by age group)
• Location: Shady Grove YMCA, 11255 Nuckol’s Road, Glen Allen
• Time: Swim Warm Ups start at 7:30am; rolling starts based on age group starting at 8:00 AM
• Registration: $40 per participant

The Hook: The Splash and Dash is an introduction to multi-sport racing for kids ages 5 through 15 years old–and the finish line after the run features a slip and slide! The event is also part of the Shady Grove Y’s Summer Kick-Off Festival, which means there will be an inflatable pirate ship (!), live pirates and pirate school (!!), face painting, games, and Kona Ice. They should totally do an adult version of this.

5k for Dave – Sunday, June 12th

• Event Type: Trail Run 
• Distance: 5k
• Location: Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield
• Time: 4:00 PM
• Registration: $35 per participant

The Hook: A fundraiser for Richmond Police Detective Dave Melvin, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in December 2014 and is currently undergoing treatment through clinical trials.

Pro Tip: Bring $7 for parking

James River Off-Road Triathlon and Trail Run – Sunday, June 12th

• Event Type: Run/Off-road triathlon/Relay off-road triathlon 
• Distance: 5 Mile Run or ½ mile open water swim, 12 mile mountain bike, and 5 mile trail run
• Location: Historic Tredegar, 500 Tredegar Street, Richmond
• Time: 8:00 AM (5 Mile Run); 10:00 (Triathlon and Relay Triathlon)
• Registration: $40 per participant for the run; $85 per participant for the triathlon; $30 per team member for the relay triathlon

The Hook: This off-road triathlon showcases exactly why Richmond’s James River Park System is such a treasure – there are very few cities that can offer a completely off-road triathlon happening right in the heart of the urban jungle. 

Richmond Road Runners Club Thanks Dad 5k & Kids Run – Sunday, June 19th

• Event Type: Run/Walk 
• Distance: 5k; Kids’ Fun Run
• Location: Urban Farmhouse Market & Café, 13872 Coalfield Commons Place, Midlothian
• Time: 8:30 AM
• Registration: $20 for RRRC Members/$40 for a team; $30 for non-members/$60 for a team

The Hook: Do you love running with your Dad? Or have a Dad who loves to run? If so, then forget the tie, beer koozie, or whatever else you were going to give him and offer to run this with him instead – complete with a big sweaty finish line hug. Sign up as a team and be eligible for special awards in the father-son, father-daughter, grandfather-grandson and grandfather-granddaughter categories. This event is in memory of RRRC volunteer coordinator Pete Neal, who succumbed to blood cancer in 2014, but not before passing on his love of athletics to his kids Rebekah and Jacob. 

Blacklight Run – Saturday, June 25th

• Event Type: Novelty Run/Walk 
• Distance: 5k
• Location: Richmond International Raceway, 602 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond
• Time: Check in starts at 6:00 PM; race starts at 9:00 PM
• Registration: $50 per participant

The Hook: The opportunities for crazy-looking selfies are endless at this novelty run that is 75% rave and 25% run. Things kick off at 7:45 PM with a live DJ and dance party before you head out for the run featuring Glow Zones where you’ll get doused with multiple colors of glowing powder along the course before hitting the after party where still more glowing powder will come your way.

Pro Tip: Bring $10 cash for parking; bring a towel or trash bag to protect your car seats on the ride home and best keep that phone in a plastic baggie too.

Jack & Abby 5k Race for the NICU – Saturday, June 25th

• Event Type: Run/Walk 
• Distance: 5k; ½ Mile Kids’ Fun Run
• Location: Innsbrook North Shore Commons, 4951 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen
• Time: 8:00 AM
• Registration: $30 per participant; $15 for kids aged 3-12 years old

The Hook: After the devastating loss of their premature twins, Abby and Jack, Stefanie and Karl Smith have channeled their energy into the Jack & Abby Foundation, which provides support for families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and those at risk for pre-term labor. This race is a celebration of Jack & Abby’s memories and a fundraiser for the Foundation.

Twilight Delightfully Different 3.5 Miler – Saturday, June 25th

• Event Type: Run/Walk 
• Distance: 3.5 Miles
• Location: Richard Bland College, 11301 Johnson Road, Petersburg
• Time: 7:15 PM
• Registration: $20 per adult ($17 for Tri Cities Road Runners members, active military, fire, police, and EMS); $15 for students K-12; $30 for couples

The Hook: Everything about this race is indeed “delightfully different” – from its length to the late evening time frame. Go set a 3.5 mile personal record on the lovely campus of Richard Bland College and enjoy the sunset.

Robious Landing Triathlon – Sunday, June 26th

• Event Type: Sprint Triathlon 
• Distance: 650 meter open water swim, 18.8 mile bike, 5k run (including some trails)
• Location: Robious Landing State Park, 3800 James River Road, Midlothian
• Time: 7:00 AM
• Registration: It’s complicated – check out the website for details

The Hook: Formerly known as the “I Love the Tavern Triathlon,” this is the 10th year for this great and very beginner-friendly triathlon. The swim is down river, the bike promises one good climb and then “flying” back to the transition, and the run is 70% on the shaded and relatively easy trails of Robious Landing State Park. Organizers also offer a pre-swim the night before and a pre-race briefing for first timers. There are also a ton of different race categories to participate in (including relays) and it all benefits a wonderful cause – the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation. Don’t miss it.

Pro Tip: Registration fees do not include required USAT membership fee ($15 for one day coverage).

June 3, 2016 9:16 AM 0