The Rundown: RVA’s active events for March 2016

Ah, March. We’re starting to thaw out and the weekends are filled up with plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs after a long winter’s rest.

March 11, 2016; 9:15 AM • by Kathryn Pullam

Photo by: m01229

BPES Spring Run for Fun – Saturday, March 12th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k
• Location: Battlefield Park Elementary School, 5501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville
• Time: 9:00 AM
• Registration: $15 individuals 13 and up; $10 individuals 12 and under; $50 for a family (up to 4 members, parents and students under age 18)

A fundraiser for Battlefield Park Elementary School, all elementary-aged participants will receive a finisher ribbon. The course is a quick out and back that winds through the nearby Pebble Creek neighborhood.

Longstreet’s White Bank Classic 5 Miler – Saturday, March 12th

• Event Type: Run
• Distance: 5 miles
• Location: White Bank Park; 400 White Bank Road, Colonial Heights
• Time: 9:00 AM
• Registration: $25

This event, another offering by the Tri-Cities Road Runners Club, gives you not only another unusual distance PR opportunity, but a co-ed Team Challenge option. Grab at least two of your fast running buddies and head to Southside for a rare opportunity to compete as a team in the typically solo sport of road racing.

Lucky Clover 5k – Saturday, March 12th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Fun Run
• Location: Clover Hill Elementary School, 5700 Woodlake Village Parkway, Midlothian
• Time: 8:45 AM (Kids’ Fun Run), 9:30 AM (5k)
• Registration: Before March 12th: $10 for Kids’ Fun Run; $15 for 5k 12 and under; $25 for 5k 13 and up

This school fundraiser event has an impressive array of extras that mean there is truly something for everyone: chip timing, ice cream trucks, local vendor booths, a book sale, a costume competition, a magician, face painting, and tattoos for the kids, and the true mark of a legit Richmond-area event–an appearance by Nutzy the Flying Squirrel. For the runners, the course will take you across the grounds of the school and through nearby trails at Woodlake.

Green Army 5k – Saturday, March 12th

• Event Type: Run/walk
• Distance: 5k
• Location: The Diamond, 3001 North Boulevard, Richmond
• Time: 11:00 AM
• Registration: $20

Another opportunity to race for a fantastic cause–the Green Army 5k benefits Operation Enduring Warrior, an organization run solely by volunteers that aids wounded veterans.

Shamrock Run – Sunday, March 13th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Mile
• Location: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 2410 Ownby Lane, Richmond, VA
• Time: 11:15 (Kids’ Mile); 11:30 (5k)
• Registration: $25 for individuals; $10 for Kids’ Mile

It’s no secret that (most) runners love beer. It’s also no secret that raising a glass on (or around) St. Patrick’s Day is pretty much a requirement. Come out to the Shamrock Run and you can check both of these boxes, happily filling up your free commemorative pint-glass with your favorite Hardywood brew after a quick 5k through the streets of RVA.

Rebel Run 5k – Saturday, March 19th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Mile
• Location: Douglas Freeman High School, 8701 Three Chopt Road, Richmond
• Time: 9:00 AM
• Registration: $25 for 5k; $15 for Kids’ Run

No prizes for costumes, but I double dog dare someone to show up to the Rebel Run in their best David Bowie ensemble.

Westchester Shamrock 5k – Saturday, March 19th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ 1k
• Location: Westchester Commons Shopping Center
• Time: 9:00 AM (5k); 9:45 AM (Kids’ 1k)
• Registration: $25 for individual 5k, $10 Kids’ 1k through February 28

If you didn’t get all of your St. Patrick’s Day spirit out at the Shamrock Run, pull out your green gear again and hit the Westchester Shamrock 5k. No beer at this event, but plenty of family-friendly activities including a moon bounce as well as a Health & Fitness Zone with local partners offering free advice and giveaways.

Run for the Hills! 5k – Saturday, March 19th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k
• Location: Forest Hill Park, 4021 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond
• Time: 9:00 AM
• Registration: $25

Hills. As a runner you either love them or you hate them. Not sure which side you fall on? Run this 5k, where you’ll encounter plenty of them and learn really quickly whether you eat hills for breakfast or if they eat you. Even if your feelings about hills are well-established, come give this challenging but pretty course your best shot.

Run on the Wild Side 5k – Saturday, March 19th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Fun Run
• Location: Marguerite Christian Elementary School, 14801 Woods Edge Road, Chesterfield
• Time: 9:00 AM (Kids’ Run); 10:00 AM (5k)
• Registration: $30

Another opportunity to head south to get your run on, this one has a cause close to any runner’s heart–helping raise funds for Marguerite Christian Elementary to put in a running track at the school.

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Previously

Shamrocks, beer, great causes, trails, co-ed teams, unusual distances, and much more for you on this month’s active events calendar.

1st Annual Dunlop Dash – Saturday, March 5th

• Event Type: Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k/2k
• Location: 235 Dunlop Farms Boulevard, Colonial Heights
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: $25 for individuals before February 29th; $30 after February 29th

Here is your chance to be one of those people who has participated in a race every single year it has been run (I’m always jealous of those people!). Or to try your legs out on a 2k–a race distance I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. This race is organized by the Tri-Cities Road Runners; proceeds will go to the Tri-Cities Alzheimer’s Association.

Red Light 5k – Saturday, March 5th

• Event Type: Trail Run/Walk
• Distance: 5k, Kids’ Mile
• Location: Deep Run Park, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway, Richmond, VA
• Time: 9:30 AM (Kid’s Mile); 10:00 AM (5k)
• Registration: $25

This race has an unexpected origin story: the event is the capstone project of Celie Ma and Tanvi Kohli, two International Baccalaureate (IB) students at J.R. Tucker High School. The Red Light 5k was created by these teenaged cross country runners to bring attention to human trafficking, and proceeds will go to the Gray Haven Project, a central Virginia non-profit that provides aid to human trafficking victims. In addition to helping a great cause, this 5k offers a unique cross country-style course of trails and grass in Deep Run Park.

Huguenot Park 3 Miler – Sunday, March 6th

• Event Type: Trail Run
• Distance: 3 Miles
• Location: 10800 Center View Drive, Richmond, VA
• Time: 9:00 AM
• Registration: $10 for Richmond Road Runner members; $15 for non-members

A no-frills Richmond Road Runners event with an unusual distance (which means it’s likely you’ll set a new personal record) and great packed gravel running trails for those who’d like to get off road but don’t want to worry about catching a tree root and face-planting.

March 11, 2016 9:15 AM 0