The Suntrust Richmond Marathon bills itself as “America’s Friendliest Marathon”, with big crowds of spectators and cool amenities for runners such as junk food stops. A dose of warm weather and southern hospitality sounded like a great way to close out the season, so we headed to Virginia’s capital to check it out. Here is our take on the 34th running of the Richmond Marathon.

For starters, with fall’s vibrant colors in full bloom, most of the course looks like a postcard. Running the broad avenues underneath the multi-colored canopy was simply breathtaking. The course is an interesting mix of rural scenes along the James River, tidy suburbs and funky downtown enclaves. The runner really gets a good tour of the city and all it has to offer.

There are a few spots of urban grit: the miles leading up to the Arthur Ashe Stadium standout in stark contrast to the rest of the course. But these sections are few in number, and only detract a little. It should also be noted that in the first 12 miles of the course, there are some very sharp turns which can slow a PR seeking runner, as the crowds have not thinned out enough. And on a final technical note, the last .2 of the course features a fairly steep downhill. While this can make for a fast finish, it can also really punish the quads. Runners should be prepared for this.

And as if having a stunning course wasn’t enough, Richmond truly is also one friendly race. Spectators and event personnel are very vocal and there are only a handful of quiet spots on the entire course (unlike the Atlantic City Marathon we recently covered). For much of the last 10k, the course felt a lot like Boston; people partying down and supporting the event. Many of these parties serve as unofficial aid stations, making Richmond one of the most well supplied races out there. From miles 20-23, I was offered everything from Powerade and gummie bears to whiskey and soda.

Smiles all around for this one. What a great way to wind down the season!

In keeping with the “friendliest” theme, Richmond has really embraced social media and this is GREAT for an out of town competitor. Follow their Facebook feed and you come into the race feeling well informed, even before you hit the expo. On race morning, the starts (marathon, half and 8k) are very well organized and the corral system works perfectly. In fact, if we had to grip about something it would be that the event traffic would benefit from a few more directional signs. After parking ten blocks away and hiking in, it would have been nice to see that we were walking in the right direction. This would be great for the finish area too, just a few saying “baggage check this way” or “massages this way”. While I did not have trouble locating any of the post race amenities, I spoke with several runners who did.

Here’s my breakdown:

Course: A-   This course takes full advantage of the season and it’s host town. Postcard worthy. That’s really all you need to know.

Organization: B+   No snags here other than a slight need for some better signage. Other races would also do well to adopt social media like these guys have.

Atmosphere: A   Some of the best vibes we’ve encountered this year. Kids and adults get in on the cheering action and the event feels very family friendly (even though there is no official kids’ race). And while all the spectators were great, a special shout out is deserved by the high-fiving Richmond Police officer who was stationed just before the finish. Thanks for that last kick!

Logistics: A-   We stayed outside the city, just a few exits down I-95 and had no trouble getting in or out of the expo or after the race. Again, a few more directional signs on race day would help improve traffic flow. For those that may travel without a car, the city is not served by a rail system so you will need to take a bus or cab to the expo.

Overall: A-   Suntrust Richmond’s mix of friendly faces and scenic spaces make for a special end of season treat.

-Mary

Related posts: