Plogging 3/15/2018

Become a RVA Plogger

Plogging...The term is a mash-up of jogging and the Swedish “plocka upp,” meaning pick up. In this case, litter. 

What better time than now to do a little Spring cleaning of the streets and trails along which we run regularly. RRRC's President Ralph Gibbs encourages all RRRC members to shake up their running with a little "plogging."  Some runners like Mark "Iscool" Guzzi have been ploggers for years...Mark just called it packing out the trash when on his trail runs. 

See this Washington Post article for more on plogging.

Amy Garber 4/15/2018

RRRC's Amy Garber won the "Dash for the Cash" at Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K

Amy Garber, RRRC member and participant in RRRC's Advanced 10K Training, presented by Active Chiropractic, earned $2,500 by easily beating the field in the 6.2-mile race. She was randomly picked by Sports Backers and given about a 2.5-mile head start based on her projected time and the times of some of the top runners. RTD Story

Photo credit: Alexa Welch Edlund/Times-Dispatch

Richmond, VA - 4/15/2018

Jim Oddono 4/15/2018

RRRC's Jim Oddono featured in Times Dispatch Story

Jim Oddono, RRRC's vice president for operations, is featured in one of the Richmond Times Dispatch stories about the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K. RTD Story

Photo credit: Alexa Welch Edlund/Times-Dispatch

Richmond, VA - 4/15/2018

Boston Marathon Finishers 4/17/2018

RVA-area Finishers of the Boston Marathon 2018

Congratulations to all of the Richmond area runners who ran the Boston Marathon 2018. We look forward to your stories. Your RVA running community is a "safe space" for sharing (and re-sharing) the highs and lows of what was an epic day of running for everyone from the 1^st place finishers to the DNFs.

Click here for the listing of finishers from the local area. 

Carytown 10K 4/29/2018

Carytown 10K

Congratulations to the 825 finishers of the RRRC Carytown 10K. It was a beautiful day for a road race in Carytown. And there was a great turnout for the Kids Run!

Results are posted.           Photos are available on RRRC's Facebook site.

The winners of the this Road Runners Club of America's State Championship 10K Event were:

• Open Female - Kate Gardner, 38:34.08
• Open Male - Richard Morris, 32:15.8
• Master Female - Karen Parry, 42:07.85
• Master Male - Jason Dowdy, 33:42.16
• Grand Master Female - Amber Rader, 46:39.93
• Grand Master Male - Doug Fernandez, 37:13.95
• Senior Grand Master Female - Carolyn Harrison, 47:27.1
• Senior Grand Master Male - Jack King, 45:30.86

Photos courtesy of Doug Ash Photography and Jay Proffitt Creative Media.

College Scholarship 4/1/2018

College Scholarship Program

The application and instructions for the 2018 RRRC College Scholarship Program are available at www.rrrc.org/college-scholarship. RRRC will award up to three (3) $2,000 scholarships. 

All applications and all documentation must be received on or before midnight, May 31, 2018.

Stratford Hills 10K 5/27/2018

Stratford Hills 10K 

Congratulations to the 248 runners and walkers who completed a warm and humid 10K on Sunday morning.  Results are posted.   Some photos are posted.

The top finishers are:

• Overall Male - Ryan Murphy, 35:06
• Overall Female - Jackie Morgan, 40:25
• Master Male - Warner Winthrop, 43:11
• Master Female - Debbie Goodpasture, 45:19
   

And a BIG THANKS to all who made it possible: the volunteers guiding, cheering on, and supporting the runners and walkers; our sponsor Road Runner Running Store; the officers of the Richmond Police Department; and race director Mike Levins.

RVA Trails Day 6/2/2018

RVA Trails Day with RRRC 

Saturday, June 2 - What a great turn out for RVA Trail Day on National Trails Day®. Thanks to our volunteers who led runners and walkers on the trails of the James River Park System - North Bank, Texas Beach, Buttermilk, Belle Isle, and Forest Hill Park trails. Our thanks also goes to the staff of James River Park System, the Friends of James River Park System, and especially RRRC's own Mark "Iscool" Guzzi for organizing the event.   

Thanks Dad 5K 6/17/2018

Thanks Dad 5K, presented by Sentry

Sunday, June 17 -- Congratulations to the 222 runners and walkers who celebrated fathers and running by completing RRRC's Thanks Dad 5K on Sunday, June 17.   Results are posted.   Photos are posted.

The top finishers were:

Overall Male - Matt Hannay, 17:42.0
Overall Female - Tiel Westbrook, 18:42.2
Master Male - Alan Baugh, 20:40.4
Master Female - Terri Gerloff, 25:12.1

THANK YOU to those who made it all happen: all of the VOLUNTEERS; our presenting sponsor Sentry, gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop, and bronze sponsor Urban Farmhouse; the officers of the Chesterfield County Police Department; and race director Sarah Akin and Matt Nordin.

RRRC @ Richmond Flying Squirrels Game 6/20/2018

<h3>RRRC @ Richmond Flying Squirrels Game</h3>
<p><strong>Thursday, June 21</strong> -- The threat of rain did not deter many hardy runners from gathering to cheer on the Squirrels from section 213. We enjoyed 4&frac12; innings of exciting baseball as the Squirrels beat the Altoona Curves 2-1. Rain shortened the night out...and washed out the fireworks...but we did get to see them deploy the tarp over the infield (woohoo)!</p>

Run with the Governor 6/20/2018

Run with the Governor 

Wednesday, June 20 -- Runners headed out for another informal 3-mile group run in downtown Richmond and along the James River. Richmond Road Runners Club and its volunteers supported the group run with volunteers at key turns along the course and at water stop. 

The Governor and his staff are sponsoring monthly, morning group runs over the summer.

The next Run with the Governor is Wednesday, July 18.

To run or walk (or to volunteer), SIGN UP HERE.

Additional scheduled dates are: Wednesdays, August 15 and September 19.

Cul-de-sac 5K #1 7/2/2018

Cul-de-sac 5K #1 -- A SweatFest

Monday, July 2 - On a hot and humid evening, 268 runners and walkers challenged themselves to do a 5K in 95° temperatures with a 75° dew point. [Did you know? If the dew point reaches 80°, RRRC will cancel a race or turn off the timing clock and make it an untimed, fun run.]  Results are posted. Photos are posted. 

Congratulations to the top finishers:

Overall Male - Curtis Vollmar, 16:57.3
Overall Female - Maria Elena Calle, 18:48.7 
Master Male - John Sharp, 17:54.4
Master Female - Cathy Cosner, 22:28.6

THANK YOU to those who made it all happen in the heat: all of the VOLUNTEERS; the residents of the Wyndham neighborhoods; our presenting sponsor Tri-Ad Chiropractic and gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop; the officers of the Henrico County Police Department; and race directors Steve Lerner and Mike Gholson.

Survey about RunSignUp Features -- Your Responses 7/7/2018

Survey about RunSignUp Features -- Your Responses

We asked you about your interest in RRRC using some of the features offered by RunSignUp. We received 321 responses and 54 comments. Here's what you told us.

Thank you for all of your responses. Congratulations to Zoyla Hochfelder and Jim Riordan who were randomly selected to receive gift cards. Your Club officers, board members and race directors will consider your responses and comments in planning for future races and Club events.

Cul-de-sac 5K #2 7/9/2018

Cul-de-sac 5K #2 -- A Cool Dream

Monday, July 9 - It was a cool(ish) evening for a Cul-de-sac 5K. 286 runners and walkers tested themselves to see how much faster they could run if the temperature and dew point were 15° lower. Results are posted. 

Congratulations to the top finishers:

Overall Male - Emmett Saulnier, 16:22.1
Overall Female - Gabi Wechsler, 18:43.3 
Master Male - John Sharp, 17:28.1
Master Female - Cathy Cosner, 21:09.0

THANK YOU AGAIN to those who made it all happen: all of the VOLUNTEERS; the residents of the Wyndham neighborhoods; our presenting sponsor Tri-Ad Chiropractic (those post-race popsicles are a great treat) and gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop; the officers of the Henrico County Police Department; and race directors Steve Lerner and Mike Gholson.

Cul-de-sac 5K #3 7/16/2018

Cul-de-sac 5K #3 and the end of the RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K Series, presented by Tri-Ad Chiropractic

Monday, July 16 - The third "hot but not rainy" evening of running and walking saw 262 folks complete Cul-de-sac 5K #3 and a few little runners enjoy the Kids Run.

Congratulations to the top finishers of Cul-de-sac 5K #3!:

Overall Male - Aaron Johnson, 16:27.7 
Overall Female - Teal Burrell, 18:36.2  
Master Male - John Sharp, 17:25.0
Master Female - Cathy Cosner, 21:12.6

Series Competition Scoring for the Cul-de-sac 5K Series

FINAL AGE GROUP STANDINGS

186 runners competed in all 3 races and earned place points to be eligible for Series Competition awards. 

Congratulations to the overall top finishers in the Series Competition: Men -- Jason Driscoll, Robert Agaba and John Sharp; Women - Teal Burrell, Gabi Wechsler, Sarah Bohn and Jacqueline Morgan

THANK YOU AGAIN to those who made it all happen: all of the VOLUNTEERS; the residents of the Wyndham neighborhoods; our presenting sponsor Tri-Ad Chiropractic and gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop; the officers of the Henrico County Police Department; and race directors Steve Lerner and Mike Gholson.

Run with the Governor 7/18/2018

Run with the Governor 

Wednesday, July 18 -- A dedicated, but fewer than usual, group of runners headed out for this morning's informal 3-mile group run in downtown Richmond and along the James River. Richmond Road Runners Club and its volunteers supported the group run with volunteers at key turns along the course and at water stop. 

The Governor and his staff are sponsoring monthly, morning group runs over the summer. When Governor Northam is in town, he joins the group runs.

The next Run with the Governor is Wednesday, August 15.

To run or walk (or to volunteer), SIGN UP HERE.

Additional scheduled date is: Wednesday, September 19.

Pony Pasture 5K 7/28/2018

Pony Pasture 5K, presented by Edward Jones

Saturday, July 28 - Today's Pony Pasture 5K had 449 humidity-soaked finishers -- a 100+ increase in runners and walkers compared to 2017. Members of Dr. Peter Stills' family joined us to start the race and to run in the race.   CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS    Photos posted HERE and HERE.

Congratulations to the top finishers of the Pony Pasture 5K!

• Overall Male - Jason Driscoll, 16:28 
• Overall Female - Keira D'Amato, 17:25  
• Master Male - John Sharp, 17:29
• Master Female - Rachel Wheeler Northup,18:49

And a BIG THANK YOU to all who made it happen: all of the VOLUNTEERS; our presenting sponsor Edward Jones and bronze sponsor New Balance Richmond; the officers of the Richmond City Police Department; and especially race director Mara George. 

RRRC College Scholarship Recipients 2018 7/28/2018

The Governor's Race Announcement 8/13/2018

The Governor's Race -- a new 5K and kids fun run

On Sunday September 23, join Virginia's Governor Ralph Northam for The Governor's Race featuring the Governor's 5K (a run/walk) and the First Lady's Kids Run in downtown Richmond and along the James River. Read the Governor's new release. The 5K promises to be a challenging urban course featuring bridges, hills and views of the river and historic sites. All runners and all walkers are welcome. RRRC has partnered with the Governor's Office to offer this new September race. Participation in the 5K is capped at 500 registered runners and walkers. 

We also need volunteers to help make the race a success. Sign Up to Volunteer here.

All profits from this race will be donated to the following nonprofit organizations: FeedMore to support the weekend BackPack program; Keep Virginia Beautiful; and the Friends of the James River Park.

Run with the Governor 8/15/2018

Run with the Governor 

Wednesday, August 15 -- Over 100 runners and walkers were sent on their way by the Governor at this morning's informal 3-mile group run in downtown Richmond and along the James River. Richmond Road Runners Club and its volunteers supported the group run with volunteers at key turns along the course and at water stop. 

There will be no Run with the Governor in September...sign up for The Governor's Race instead.

Sara Lasker wins Reykjavik Marathon 8/18/2018

Sara Lasker wins Reykjavik Marathon

Saturday, August 18 - Congratulations to Richmond runner and RRRC board member Sara Tierney Lasker -- winner of the 2018 Íslandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon. Sara finished in 2:58:43...top in the field of 445 women runners...and 32^nd overall. She was one of several Richmond area runners who traveled to Iceland to join over 14,000 people running Reykjavik's  marathon, 21K (half marathon) or 10K races. RRRC hopes everyone had a great visit to Iceland and a great race.

Patrick Henry Half Marathon 8/25/2018

Patrick Henry Half Marathon

Saturday, August 25 - For an August race, you would be hard pressed to imagine better weather for a half marathon. 900 finishers enjoyed blue skies, start-time temperature of 57° and temps that stayed in the 60s, humidity around 50%, and an occasional cool breeze. CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS. 

Congratulations to the top finishers of the 2018 Patrick Henry Half Marathon!

Overall Male - David McCollam, 1:12:58.49 
Overall Female - Keira D'Amato, 1:18:12.99  
Master Male - John Sharp, 1:18:43.98
Master Female - Ashton Harris, 1:36:21.08

And a BIG THANK YOU to all who made it happen. The VOLUNTEERS and their cheers and support were amazing from check-in, at all of the turns, at the multiple water stops, and through the finish chute. Thank you to all of the officers of the Ashland Police Department and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the EMTs with Hanover County Fire/EMS units. Finally, a special thank you to race director Michael George and his race management team. 

New Runners Program 9/6/2018

New Runners Program starts September 6

Do you want to start running or get back into running? Richmond Road Runners Club has the perfect 4-week program to help you start and succeed. Held at Richmond's Bryan Park, the first session is Thursday evening September 6. The goal for the first week is to run or walk/run 1½ miles then increase the distance by a ½ mile each week. By the end of the program, you will be able to run or run/walk for 3 miles or 5 kilometers...the distance of many popular local runs and races. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP.

The Governor's Race 9/23/2018

The Governor's Race was a great success

Sunday, September 23 - This morning Governor Ralph Northam was joined by 324 runners and walkers for the inaugural Governor's 5K. The skies were gray but the temperature was cool and the rain stayed away. And we had a passel of kids smiling, running and chasing Spider-Man in the First Lady's Kids Run.   

CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS     

Some photos are posted (courtesy of Dave Pearson)     More photos posted (by Ed Kelleher)     And more photos posted (courtesy of Jesse Peters)

Congratulations to the top finishers of the Governor's 5K!

 

All profits from this race will be donated to the following nonprofit organizations: FeedMore to support the weekend BackPack program; Keep Virginia Beautiful; and the Friends of the James River Park. Thank you to the 59 individuals who donated an additional $737 to our charity partners and to those who donated food items on-site for delivery to FeedMore. 

And a HUGE THANK YOU to all who made it happen. Especially the VOLUNTEERS who guided and cheered the runners and walkers from check-in, on the start line, at all of the turns on this new course, at the water stops, and up 10^th Street and through the finish line. Thank you to all of the officers of the City of Richmond Police Department. Thank you to our run shop supporter Road Runner Running Store for race prizes and the pre-race day check-in venue. Finally, a special thank you to the multiple folks with the Governor's Officer, OnTheSquare, Department of General Services and RRRC leadership who made this new race happen. It will be on the Running in RVA Calendar for at least the next 3 years.

Poop Loop 4ish Miler 10/28/2018

Poop Loop 4ish Miler 

Sunday, October 28 - The first Poop Loop 4ish Miler treated 70ish runners to an evening amble from Ancarrow's Landing, along the Slave Trail and Floodwall paths, to the Manchester climbing wall overlook and back. While the race started in twilight, the headlamps came in handy as the runners completed the course. Hopefully next year, the Poop Loop trails will be dry on race night so that everyone can enjoy the headlamps bouncing through the woods.

Results are posted. 

Congratulations to the top finishers of the Poop Loop 4ish Miler!

And a BIGish THANK YOU to all who made it happen - the VOLUNTEERS, the officers of the City of Richmond Police Department. Thank you to our run shop supporter Road Runner Running Store for race prizes. And a special thank you to co-race directors Crystal Koch and Jake Wiseman.

Richmond T. Rex Run 11/11/2018

Richmond T. Rex Run

Sunday, November 11 - And just like that, our inaugural #TRexRVA is a wrap. 64 people checked in and ran in dinosaur costumes on a 4/10-mile loop around the lake. There were T. Rex 40-yard dashes and line dancing to the Cha Cha Slide, YMCA, and Shout. Finally the T. Rex took over the playground area for some fun photography! Thanks to everyone who helped with this event, including our sponsors Good Run Research and B Fitness. Without your support we wouldn't have been able to make this happen. Thanks as well to @henricorecnparks for allowing us to use Dorey Park for the event! We can't wait til next year when we'll up the T. Rex fun, RVA!!! #TRexRVA 

Check it out

Video on RRRC's Facebook page
Photos courtesy of Doug Ash Photography
WRIC 8 coverage
WTVR 6 coverage

Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K 11/22/2018

Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K

Thursday, November 22 - We had 1,532 finishers of the 41^st running of the Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K. CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS. And we had lots of little runners warm us up with their Kids Run.

Congratulations to the top finishers of the 2018 Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K!

Overall Male - Andrew Akright, 33:19.42 
Overall Female - Natalie Kretzer, 39:35.70  
Master Male - Mike Colaiacovo, 36:49.17
Master Female - Robyn Hartley, 43:35.8

And a SPECIAL THANK YOU to all who made RRRC's biggest race of the year happen. The VOLUNTEERS and their cheers and support warmed our hearts from check-in, at all of the turns and climbs, through the water stops, to the bestowing of medals at the finish line. Thank you to all of the officers of the University of Richmond Police and the Richmond City Police Departments. And thank you to race director Michael George, co-race director Rosie Schutte and their race management team. Finally, thank you to our sponsors Wegmans and Lucky Road Run Shop.


PHOTOS - Thank you to our volunteer photographers Alex and Neil Miyazaki. We tried something different and uploaded the photos to RunSignUp.

You can view the photos and scroll through them HERE or look for the photos tab on the race website. You also can search for photos by bib number or name and link to photos from the individual's race results page. One disclaimer...the bib number tagging program is good, but it is not perfect.


DONATIONS - We collected lots of peanut butter and tuna fish on race day and had 200 individuals donate $3,110.00 to FeedMore during race registration.

NEXT YEAR - Registration for next year's Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K will open around September 1, 2019. Plan to sign up early for the best deal and to avoid finding the race sold out.

Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run 12/3/2018

Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run

Sunday, December 3 - Thank you for joining us today for RRRC's Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. We hope you enjoyed your trail run through the forests of Bear Creek Lake State Park and Cumberland State Forest. We promised that the "the trail crosses several creeks, has numerous short hills and includes some challenging sections with fallen trees across the path and roots and mud underfoot." We hope you weren't disappointed.

CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS

Congratulations to todays top finishers:

Overall Male - Emmett Saulnier, 1:14:16 
Overall Female - Kate Gardner, 1:24:18  
Master Male - Joe Urbanski, 1:24:16
Master Female - Chrissie Blevins, 1:43:03



We offer a SPECIAL THANK YOU to Barry Kreisa on his last year as the race director of the Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. He carried on the traditions of the race over the years and has now trained his successors (yep...two needed to replace him) to carry the torch for this unique Richmond Road Runners Club race. Thanks to the VOLUNTEERS at the water stops and road crossings and at check-in and the finish line. And finally, thank you to the rangers and staff of Bear Creek Lake State Park. 


PHOTOS - CLICK HERE for some photos posted on RRRC's Facebook page (courtesy of Glenn Melton) and CLICK HERE to view a few photos (iPhone quality) posted on the race's website.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, December December 8, 2019 for the next running of the RRRC Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. Registration will open in early September 2019.

First Day 5K 1/1/2019

A Great Start to 2019

Tuesday, January 1 -  Runners, walkers, volunteers and spectators enjoyed surprisingly and pleasantly balmy weather for January 1. We had 583 finishers of the RRRC First Day 5K, presented by Davenport & Company LLC...a 15% increase over 2017. And we had lots of very youthful runners participate in the Kids Run.

We got some nice coverage in the Richmond Times Dispatch...thanks in part to Virginia's Governor Ralph Northam, who ran the race again this year.  

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS

Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC First Day 5K, presented by Davenport & Company LLC!

Overall Male - Cole Shugart, 15:23.1 
Overall Female - Keira D'Amato, 16:43.1  
Master Male - Mike Colaiacovo, 17:46.8
Master Female - Tressa Breindel, 19:32.9

And a SPECIAL THANK YOU to all who made RRRC's first race of 2019 a great success. Thank you to the VOLUNTEERS and their cheers and support from check-in, along the course, through the water stop, to the finish line chute. And thank you to race director Bill Anderson for another great First Day 5K.

THANK YOU to our sponsors Davenport & Company LLC, Lucky Road Run Shop, and Chick-Fil-A. And a big thanks to our host ACAC Midlothian who opened their facility for our use. 

PHOTOS - Thank you to our volunteer photographer Ed Kelleher. 

You can view the photos and scroll through them HERE or look for the photos tab on the race website. You also can search for photos by bib number or name and link to photos from the individual's race results page. One disclaimer...the bib number tagging program is good, but it is not perfect.

DONATIONS - Thank you to the 49 folks who donated a total of $345.00 to our charity partner Northstar Academy. 

NEXT YEAR - Registration for next year's First Day 5K will open in October 2019.

Grand Prix Finalists 2018

Grand Prix Finalists for 2018

Congratulations to the 101 RRRC members who through their race participation as runners and walkers and as volunteers at club and contract races achieved Grand Prix Finalist for 2018!

CLICK HERE to view the list of Finalists.

Frostbite 15K 1/20/2019

The Frost-free Frostbite

Sunday, January 20 - Frost-free but the undulating course still had its bite. Runners, walkers, volunteers and spectators enjoyed a remarkably warm and precipitation-free window of opportunity for running the 35^th RRRC Frostbite 15K. We had 848 finishers on the streets in Byrd Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. 

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS

Congratulations to the top finishers and RRCA State Championship award recipients of the RRRC Frostbite 15K!

Overall Male - Ned Fischer (Richmond), 50:25.4 
Overall Female - Kerry Allen (Washington, DC), 58:22.8  
Master Male - Jeff Harrington (Lynchburg), 53:03.7
Master Female - Tressa Breindel (Richmond), 1:02:19.619:32.9
Grand Master Male - William Dinkin (Richmond), 59:36
Grand Master Female - Victoria Harness (Mechanicsville), 1:12:02.6
Senior Grand Master Male - Pete Gibson (Murfreesboro, NC), 59:46.5
Senior Grand Master Female - Deb Romig (Chesterfield), 1:24:11.5

And a BIG THANK YOU to the large number of volunteers that were needed to make Frostbite a success! The race could not have happened without your service. We also want to thank the many officers of the Richmond City Police Department who helped to keep us safe along the roadways. And finally a another BIG THANK YOU to race directors Mara George and Chris Mason.


THANK YOU to our sponsors Good Run Research & Recreation, Richmond Road Runner Store, Dunkin' Donuts, Gatorade and Road Runners Club of America. And thank you to Richmond City Public Schools for access to the Amelia Street School 


PHOTOS - Thank you to our volunteer photographer Ed Kelleher. 

You can view the photos and scroll through them HERE or look for the photos tab on the race website. You also can search for photos by bib number or name and link to photos from the individual's race results page. One disclaimer...the bib number tagging program is good, but it is not perfect.

Race Directors 2018 1/25/2019

A Shout-Out to Our Race Directors

Did we order enough porta-potties? Who’s taking care of the bibs? Are there enough volunteers to handle packet pickup? Hey, who’s in charge of the weather?! Did the parade permit come through? What’s the ratio of pizzas per 100 runners? Did I order enough shirts and finisher medals? Who’s bringing the boom box?

Those are just a fraction of the issues that face those lucky souls who sign on as race directors, some of them for the umpteenth time. They put in countless hours planning, checking and double-checking, and then, on D-Day, having to deal with last-minute "emergencies," the occasional complainer, and challenges like flooded courses or December snow storms. For all of that, they deserve our undying gratitude.    

Here is a salute from the RRRC officers to the Race Directors of 2018:

• First Day 5K – Bill Anderson & Eric Collins
• Frostbite 15K – Mara George & Chris Mason
• Sweetheart 8K – Marcy George
• Huguenot 3 Miler – Michael Muldowney
• Carytown 10K – Anne Brown
• Stratford Hills 10K – Mike Levins
• Thanks Dad 5K – Sarah Akin & Matt Nordin
• Cul de Sac 5K Series – Steve Lerner & Mike Gholson
• Pony Pasture 5K – Mara George
• Patrick Henry Half Marathon – Michael George
• The Governor’s Race 5K – Bill Kelly & Ralph Gibbs
• Poop Loop 4ish Miler Trail Run – Crystal Koch
• Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K – Michael George
• Bear Creek 10-Mile Trail Run – Barry Kreisa
• Toy Run 5K – Nikkia Young & Joe Flynn

Thank you, RDs. The club couldn’t have done it without you!

Sweetheart 8K 2/17/2019

A Sweet Morning to Run the Sweetheart 8K

Sunday, February 17 - We had an amazing window of wonderful weather for the RRRC Sweetheart 8K, presented by TowneBank. It was chilly, but there was sun, blue skies, and light winds for the race! We had 439 finishers (a 23% increase over 2018) of the 8K and a small contingent of kids enjoy the kids run.

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS


Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Sweetheart 8K, presented by TowneBank!

Overall Male - Emmett Saulnier, 26:52.5
Overall Female - Keira D'Amato, 29:15.0
Master Male - Robert Flanigan, 29:31.0 
Master Female - Tressa Breindel, 33:40.9

RESULTS FOR THE COUPLES' COMPETITION ARE HERE

We had 43 couples participate as teams in the Sweetheart 8K. 

Congratulations to Team Trev & Leah in 1^st place with a cumulative time of 59:56.9 - Trevor Hopper (27:07.1) and Leah Schubel (32.39.8)!

⇐ And we even had some cute couples who weren't in the couples' competition. 




THANK YOUs

We send out a BIG THANK YOU to all of the  volunteers that made Sweetheart a success! The race could not have happened without your service, smiles and cheers. We also want to thank the many officers of the Chesterfield County Police Department who helped to keep us safe along the roadways. 

⇐ And finally a BIG BIG THANK YOU to race director Marcy George.

THANK YOU to our presenting sponsor TowneBank, our gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop and our on-site host Urban Farmhouse.  


PHOTOS & FINISH LINE VIDEO 

CLICK HERE TO SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS by our volunteer photographer Ed Kelleher.

Check the Results page and click the Video link to see the finish line video for each runner.

RRRC Annual Banquet 3/2/2019

RRRC Annual Banquet

Saturday, March 2 - RRRC members lifted flutes of champagne to toast the 40-year history of the Richmond Road Runners Club and the promise of continued growth and achievement in the decades ahead. The Meadowbrook Country Club was at capacity to hear an inspiring story of life and running from our guest speaker professional ultra runner Sally McRae.

The highlight of the night were the awards ceremonies.

RRRC's Grand Prix Competition recognized a record number of 103 Grand Prix Finalists for 2018. The Grand Prix Champions were: Open Champions - Gabi Wechsler & Jason Driscoll; Masters Champions - Debbie Goodpasture & Ralph Gibbs; and Grand Masters Champions - Dawn Eberhard & Steve Lerner. The Iron Runner program bestowed the title of Titanium Runner on Gabi Wechsler. Nine other runners achieved Iron Runner status: Bill Anderson, Charles Beverage, Ralph Gibbs, Aaron Harlan, Kelly Harris, Steve Lerner, Jessica Reber, Christian Toro, and Nikkia Young.

Club Race Champions for 2018 received trophies in the open, masters and veterans divisions for their accomplishments at the Frostbite 15K, Carytown 10K, Pony Pasture 5K and Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. Special congratulations go to Jason Dowdy and Doug Fernandez who were the champions in their divisions at all four races.

The night closed with three very special rewards. Lucky Road Run Shop (Jeff & Desiree Van Horn) received the Community Partner Award. The Volunteer of the Year Award was bestowed on Mara George. And Frank Gerloff received the RRRC Spirit Award.

We offer a big THANK YOU to Nancy Jakubec, Diane Glaze Kelley and Rosie Schutte who were the driving forces that organized the banquet and program this year. Thank you to the wonderful staff of the Meadowbrook Country Club who hosted us for a delightful meal with awesome desserts.

RRRC Race Team 3/30/2019

Does RRRC have a Race Team?

Saturday, March 30, 2019 - Yes, we do. It is brand spanking new for 2019.

The RRRC Race Team just ran the first race in a challenge series with race teams from Tri Cities Road Runners and Fredericksburg Area Running Club.

And guess which team took five of their six divisions at the Tri Cities Road Runners Longstreet's White Bank Classic 5 Miler? If you guessed, RRRC Race Team...you are RIGHT. Check out these very impressive results!
 
Next race in the competition is our own RRRC Carytown 10K. Whether running or volunteering, you'll be able to watch and cheer your RRRC Race Team in action...and in their stylish RRRC Race Team gear. #RRRCRT

Special thanks to the RRRC Race Team organizers and coaches, Rosie Schutte and Bill Kelly.

Boston Marathon Finishers 4/15/2019

RVA's Boston Marathon Finishers!

Congratulations to all of RVA's Finishers. Click here to see the list.

Top RVA honors go to Teal Burrell (bib F43 - the women's elite field). She finished in 2:44:45...the 48^th woman finisher.

Volunteer Rewards Program 4/15/2019

Volunteer Rewards Program's 1^st Recipients

April 15, 2019 - Congratulations to the 18 volunteers who were selected at random to receive a gift certificate as a small token of RRRC’s thanks for their volunteer service to the club during the 1^st quarter of 2019.

• Anne Brown (Timer x 2) 
• Kelly Browning (Course Marshal)
• Sam Browning (Lead Bike/Sweep Bike)
• Shelby Brush (Post-Race Food)
• Madelyn Campbell (Finish Line)
• Suzen Collins (Course Marshal & General Volunteer)
• Brendan Conway (Course Marshal x 3)
• Marcy George (Registration Guru x 2)
• Sandra Gray (Finish Line)
• Katherine Housden (Course Marshal)
• Mary Ellen Kinser (Course Marshal)
• Michele Marr (Registration/Check-In & Finish Line)
• Glenn Melton (Truck Driver x 2)
• Neil Miyazaki (Registration/Check-In
• Michael Muldowney (Onsite Volunteer Coordinator & Truck Assistant)
• Maizah Rashid (Post-Race Food)
• Nora Rossi (Water Station)
• Ford Scott (Course Marshal Coordinator)

To be eligible for the drawing, a volunteer had to sign up to volunteer in advance (at least 24 hours before the start of the main race) via RunSignUp for one or more of the club races (First Day 5K, Frostbite 15K, Sweetheart 8K or Huguenot 3 Miler). 187 volunteers earned a total of 506 entries in the drawing. Some obviously improved their odds of being selected by having multiple entries, because they: volunteered at more than one race; signed up early to volunteer (by midnight of the fifth day before the race); and/or volunteered for certain positions that earned them extra entries (e.g., course marshal or truck assistant).

Volunteer at one of the three club races during the 2^nd quarter (Carytown 10K, Stratford Hills 10K or Thanks Dad 5K) to be eligible for the next drawing. Click here for more details about the Volunteer Rewards Program.

Carytown 10K 4/28/2019

Carytown 10K 2019

Sunday, April 28, 2019 - It was a beautiful spring morning for running the RRRC Carytown 10K.

The 10K had 823 finishers. And there was a wonderful group of young runners for the kids' run.

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS

Over 800 photos are posted on Facebook - CLICK HERE to see them
Thanks to our volunteer photographer Paul Mashack.

Find this link with your results to see video as you crossed the finish line!


Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Carytown 10K!
A Road Runners Club of America 10K State Championship Event

Overall Male - Thomas Adams, 32:38
Overall Female - Tressa Breindel, 37:40
Master Male - Jason Dowdy, 34:38 
Master Female - Rachel Northup, 38:51
Grand Master Male - Stefan Calos, 39:27
Grand Master Female - Stefanie Ryan, 45:06
Senior Grand Master Male - Preston Evans, 45:52
Senior Grand Master Female - Terri Gerloff, 51:05

THANK YOUs

We send out a BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made Carytown 10K a success! The race could not have happened without your service, smiles and cheers. We also want to thank the many officers of the Richmond City Police Department and the EMTs of Richmond Ambulance Authority who helped to keep us safe along the roadways. 

THANK YOU to our gold sponsor Richmond Road Runner Store, the sports massage team from Richmond Sports Massage, and our gracious hosts around Cary Court and all along Cary Street.

And finally a BIG BIG THANK YOU to race director Anne Brown.

RRRC Race Team 4/28/2019

RRRC Race Team had a great day at the Carytown 10K

Sunday, April 28, 2019 - The RRRC Race Team took lots of first places in RRRC's Carytown 10K, the second race in the challenge series with race teams from Tri Cities Road Runners and Fredericksburg Area Running Club.

They do look sharp in their RRRC Race Team gear!
 
The next and final race in the challenge series will be the Fredericksburg Area Running Club's Downtown Mile on Saturday, July 20. 
 
Continued thanks to the RRRC Race Team organizers and coaches, Rosie Schutte and Bill Kelly.

College Scholarship Announcement 2019

RRRC accepting applications for college scholarships

This year, RRRC will award up to three (3) $2,000 college scholarships to students who have and will contribute to the running community and represent the beneficial aspects of running as a healthy lifestyle. All applications and documentation must be received on or before midnight, May 31, 2019.
 


To be eligible, a student must be:
1.     A graduating high school senior who resides or attends school in the Richmond area;
2.     Accepted at an accredited institution of higher education; and
3.     Involved in running in some capacity (e.g., as a cross-country or track team member, as a team manager or trainer, as a member of a running or track club, or volunteer in a running activity).
 
For more details and the application form, visit our College Scholarship page.

DONATE to support RRRC's College Scholarship Program

Stratford Hills 10K 5/26/2019

40^th running of the Stratford Hills 10K

Sunday, May 26 - It was a beautiful morning for the 40^th running of the Stratford Hills 10K, which had 283 finishers (a 14% increase over 2018). Yep...it was a tad warmish and a smidge humid, but the skies were clear and there was an gentle breeze. And the company was great. 


Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Stratford Hills 10K!

Overall Male - Jason Driscoll, 37:52
Overall Female - Tressa Breindel, 39:12
Master Male - Troy Unger, 42:02 
Master Female - Amy McCann, 46:05


CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS


Photos are posted in RunSignUp and "may" be linked to runner's bib number. Find the runner's race results and look for/click on the Photos link. 
Photos also are posted on RRRC’s Facebook site. Thank you to our volunteer photographer Ed Kelleher.


THANK YOUs

A BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made the 40^th running of the Stratford Hills 10K a huge success! The race could not have happened without your presence, smiles and cheers. We also want to thank the many officers of the Richmond City Police Department who helped to keep us safe along the roadways. 

THANK YOU to our gold sponsor Richmond Road Runner Store, and to Max's Positive Vibe Cafe and the other businesses in the Stratford Hills Shopping Center.

And finally a BIG BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU to race director Mike Levins.



It was Mike's 40^th and last year as race director for the Stratford Hills 10K. RRRC recognized him with a newly-created award -- the RRRC Mike Levins Above & Beyond Award. It recognizes the commitment embodied by Mike's 40 years of service to the club as a race director, race timer, club president and vice president, board member, and countless other volunteer roles. Read the article in the latest Miles & Minutes to hear from Mike and learn more about him.

Proposed Amendments to RRRC's Constitution and By-Laws 5/19/2019

Proposed Amendments to RRRC's Constitution and By-Laws

The Club's officers are proposing amendments to the Club's Constitution and By-Laws that will be considered under new business during the Club meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. The meeting begins at 6:00 PM. The location will be announced at a later date. 

All RRRC members in attendance at the Club meeting on June 12 are eligible to vote on any action to approve amendments to the Club's Constitution and By-Laws.

The proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws address, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Adds agreeing to the Club’s Code of Conduct as a requirement for membership.
• Identifies duties of directors who are not serving as officers. 
• Revises elements of the requirements and process for election as an officer or as a director, including but not limited to:

         - Candidates for election must have been a member for at least 12 months prior to nomination.
         - Nominating committee presents slate at the October meeting.
         - Nominations accepted from the floor at the November meeting.
         - Candidates for president and treasurer are subject to a criminal background check before the election.
         - Election requires a vote in favor for each officer and director position by a majority of ballots cast.

• Revises authority of the Board to fill vacancies in elected officer or director positions. 
• Adds authority of the Board to remove an officer or director for illegal activity or for failure to fulfill duties.

CLICK HERE to view the full text of the Constitution and By-Laws with the proposed amendments (additions in red and underlined; deletions struck through). 

If you have any questions about this announcement and proposed action, please contact RRRC's President Ralph Gibbs at president@rrrc.org.

Safe Sport Act Compliance 4/16/2019

Safe Sport Act Compliance

April 16, 2019 - Road Runners Club of America recently published guidance on what is required of its affiliate clubs (e.g., RRRC) to be in compliance with the “Safe Sport Act" (Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017), which was enacted by Congress and became federal law on February 14, 2018. 

To ensure the Club’s compliance with the Safe Sport Act, the RRRC Board of Directors adopted a Safe Sport Act Compliance Policy and a revision to the Club’s Code of Conduct at its April 10, 2019 meeting.

If you have any questions about the new policy and the change to the Code of Conduct, please contact the RRRC President, Ralph Gibbs, at president@rrrc.org.

Thanks Dad 5K 6/16/2019

Thanks Dad 5K

Sunday, June 16 - It was hard to imagine a better June morning for RRRC's Thanks Dad 5K.

No better way to share the day than running with dad or granddad in person or in spirit!



Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Thanks Dad 5K!

Overall Male - James Hazelwood, 18:13
Overall Female - Sara Baugh, 18:43

And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our TOP COMPETITIVE TEAMS
(They had to finish together to be eligible for awards.)

1^st Place - Cameron Hopper & Lauren Moring, 21:07
2^nd Place - Ed Murray & Katie Murray, 26:13 
3^rd Place - John Riley & Connor Riley, 34:02

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS
To view Team Results, click Result Set and select "5K Run/Walk Team"

Finish Line Video is posted.
Find your results and click "Race Video." 
The runners in the Kids Run cross the finish line at the video's 40 minute mark. 
 
Photos are posted in RunSignUp and "may" be linked to your bib number. Find your race results and look for/click on the Photos link to see what our volunteer photographers Ed Kelleher and Ed Paterek captured. 

Or you can CLICK HERE to browse through all of the photos.

THANK YOUs

A BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made 2019's Thanks Dad 5K a success! The race could not have happened without your presence, smiles and cheers. We especially thank Crystal Koch and all of the other Club officers and directors who stepped up to fill the void when the race directors and the race timer unfortunately had to be out of town because of deaths in their respective families.

THANK YOU to our gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop and our bronze sponsor Urban Farmhouse.

1 down...and 2 to go...in the Cul-de-sac 5K Series 7/1/2019

 1 down...and 2 to go...in the Cul-de-sac 5K Series

Monday, July 1, 2019 - We had 340 runners finish Cul-de-sac 5K #1 -- a 27% increase over 2018. The "not brutally hot and humid conditions" may have been a contributing factor, but the Cul-de-sacs are also just great events in our RVA running community.

Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K #1!
Overall Male - Ryan Murphy, 16:34.8
Overall Female - Teal Burrell, 18:39.0
Master Male - John Sharp, 17:02.8 (and 2^nd overall male)
Master Female - Cathy Cosner, 21:43.3

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT 3-RACE SERIES COMPETITION STANDINGS
Runners have to finish all 3 races to be eligible for series competition awards.

Finish Line Video is posted.
Find your results and click "Race Video." 

Photos are posted in RunSignUp and "may" be linked to your bib number. Find your race results and look for/click on the Photos link to see what our volunteer photographers Ed Kelleher captured. 

Or you can CLICK HERE to browse through all of the photos.

A BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made Race #1 in RRRC's Cul-de-sac 5K Series for 2019 a HUGE success! The race could not have happened without your presence, your smiles and your encouragement at the start/finish area and along the course. We especially thank race director Mike Gholson.

THANK YOU to our gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop and to our supporters who provided food and fluids: Silver Diner, Urban Farmhouse and Hanover Vegetable Farm (for that chilled watermelon).

RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K #2 is Monday, July 8. Past race weather is not a guarantee of future race weather.

Cul-de-sac 5K Series is 2 down...1 to go! 7/8/2019

Cul-de-sac 5K Series is 2 down...1 to go!

Monday, July 8, 2019 - We had 321 runners finish Cul-de-sac 5K #2 -- an 11% increase over 2018. The unseasonably "only warm and overcast" July evening made for many faster times than last week.

Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K #2!

Overall Male - Ryan Murphy, 16:01.5
Overall Female - Teal Burrell, 18:17.5
Masters Male - John Sharp, 16:54.5
Masters Female - Tressa Breindel, 18:32.4

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT 3-RACE SERIES COMPETITION STANDINGS
Remember these are just the current standings in the now 5-year age groups. Some folks won't run race #3 (and you have to run all 3 to be award eligible). You may move up in your age group as the top 3 overall finishers (male and female) and the top masters finishers will be eliminated from age-group award eligibility.   

Finish Line Video is posted.
Find your results and click "Race Video." 

Look for Photos on RRRC's Facebook account in the next day or so.
Thank you to our volunteer photographer Andrew Leisure. 

THANK YOUs

Again, a BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made another Cul-de-sac 5K a GREAT success! The race could not have happened without your presence, your smiles and your encouragement at the start/finish area and along the course. We especially thank race director Mike Gholson.

THANK YOU to our gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop and to our supporters who provided all of that wonderful post-race food and fluids: Silver Diner, Urban Farmhouse and Hanover Vegetable Farm.

We hope to see most of you at next week's RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K #3 - the last race in the Cul-de-sac 5K Series!

It's kind of scary that the extended forecast calls for temperatures just in the 80°s at race time next week. What are we going to complain about if we don't have to run at least one CDS 5K in 90° weather?

 

Volunteer Rewards Program Q2 7/1/2019

Volunteer Rewards Program's 2^nd quarter recipients

July 1, 2019 - CONGRATULATIONS to the 18 volunteers who were selected at random to receive a gift card as a small token of RRRC’s thanks for their volunteer service at Club races during the 2^nd quarter of 2019. 

• Debbie Bader (Water Stop)
• Brendan Conway (Course Marshal x 2)
• Marcy George (Registration/Check-In Coordinator x 3)
• Debbie Goodpasture (Registration/Check-In)
• Kathy Han (Course Marshal)
• Ann Hirn (Course Marshal)
• Martha Hodges (Course Marshal)
• Pam Hunter (Water Stop & Water Stop Coordinator)
• John Hurley (Course Marshal)
• Edward Kelleher (Course Marshal & Photographer x 2)
• Diane Kelley (Finish Line)
• Emily Martin (Course Marshal)
• Michael Muldowney (Course Marshal)
• Bird Murray (Water Stop)
• Eddie Parsley, Jr (General Volunteer)
• Sam Thorpe (Water Stop)
• Laura Vasel (Water Stop)
• Dawn Walker (Registration/Check-In)

To be eligible for the drawing, a volunteer had to sign up to volunteer in advance (at least 24 hours before the start of the main race) via RunSignUp for one or more of the club races (Carytown 10K, Stratford Hills 10K or Thanks Dad 5K). 128 volunteers earned a total of 333 entries in the drawing. Some obviously improved their odds of being selected by having multiple entries, because they: volunteered at more than one race; signed up early to volunteer (by midnight of the fifth day before the race); and/or volunteered for certain positions that earned them extra entries (e.g., course marshal or truck assistant).

Volunteer at one of the six club races during the 3^rd quarter (Cul-de-sac 5Ks, Pony Pasture 5K, Patrick Henry Half Marathon, Poop Loop 4ish Miler) to be eligible for the next drawing. Click here for more details about the Volunteer Rewards Program.

Cul-de-sac 5Ks are over for 2019 7/15/2019

Cul-de-sac 5Ks are over for 2019

Monday, July 15, 2019 - We had 308 runners finish Cul-de-sac 5K #3. But the kids race again was a highlight of the final day of the Cul-de-sac 5K Series. (Photo credit - Kate Spangler)

First...a congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K #3!

Overall Male - Ryan Murphy, 16:10.6
Overall Female - Teal Burrell, 18:19.3
Masters Male - John Sharp, 17:12.6
Masters Female - Cathy Cosner, 21:49.1

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE #3 RESULTS

Photos from Cul-de-sac 5K #3 are POSTED HERE and may be linked to your bib number.

Now...CONGRATULATIONS to the 224 runners and walkers who finished all 3 races in the Cul-de-sac 5K Series! That's a big step up from the 187 runners/walkers who were 3-race finishers in 2018.

Congratulations to the top finishers in the Series Competition!

1st Male  - Ryan Murphy       1st Female - Teal Burrell

2nd Male - Jason Driscoll       2nd Female - Gabi Wechsler

3rd Male - John Sharp       3rd Female - Kate Spangler

1st Male Masters - Andy Almarode       1st Female Masters - Cathy Cosner

Congratulations to all of the top age group finishers!

CLICK HERE FOR FINAL AGE GROUP STANDINGS IN THE SERIES COMPETITION - UPDATED 7/21/2019

This listing only includes runners who completed all 3 races and excludes the top 3 overall male and female finishers and top masters male and female finishers. 

Contact administrator@rrrc.org if you have questions about the series competition scoring.

THANK YOUs

And one more time....a BIG, BIG, BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made another Cul-de-sac 5K and the Cul-de-sac 5K Series a HUGE success! The races could not have happened without your presence, your smiles and your encouragement at the start/finish area and along the course. We especially thank race director Mike Gholson.

THANK YOU to our gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop and to our supporters who provided all of that wonderful post-race food and fluids: Silver Diner, Urban Farmhouse and Hanover Vegetable Farm.


We hope to see you all again next year for this always sweaty, but always fun series of races!

Registration for next year's Cul-de-sac 5K Series will open in March 2020.

 

YMCA Youth Cross Country Starts Soon 8/1/2019

YMCA Youth Cross Country Starts Soon

YMCA of Greater Richmond offers co-ed cross country programs for youth 8-14 years old -- for beginner or experienced runners and for athletes of other sports looking for some cross training. The price is $72 for YMCA members and $110 for non-members. (YMCA offers financial scholarships for its sports programs for those who qualify.) 

The program runs from mid-August to late October. Practices will be held two times per week. Participants learn proper running skills and technique and receive training in long-distance running, as well as speed, agility, endurance, and plyometrics. YMCA Cross Country teaches the character values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring as the cornerstones of the program. The program includes 3 race meets and culminates with an Association-wide 5K Meet on October 26 at Dorey Park.

CLICK HERE to view details of and to register for the cross country program at the following YMCA locations:

• Manchester
• Tuckahoe
• Atlee Station
• Shady Grove
• Swift Creek
• Midlothian
• Patrick Henry
• Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan
• Goochland
• Petersburg
• Chicahominy
• Chester

Pony Pasture 5K & RRRC College Scholarship Recipients 8/3/2019

Pony Pasture 5K & RRRC College Scholarship Recipients

Saturday, August 3, 2019 - We had 385 runners finish today's RRRC Pony Pasture 5K, presented by Edward Jones Investment. 

First...congratulations to the recipients of the RRRC College Scholarships for 2019. Virginia Kauders (Collegiate School), Mohini Johri (Collegiate School), and Dylan Moore (Cosby High School) were each awarded $2,000 scholarships. All profits from the Pony Pasture 5K support the RRRC College Scholarship Program. Special thanks to Kirk Millikan who managed the College Scholarship program this year. And thank you to the 69 donors who contributed an additional $1,592 to the scholarship fund. You can still DONATE.

Now...congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Pony Pasture 5K!

Overall Male - Brian Flynn, 15:37
Overall Female - Maggie Drazba, 17:02
Masters Male - Jason Dowdy, 17:29
Masters Female - Debbie Goodpasture, 21:35

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS

Photos from Pony Pasture 5K are POSTED HERE and may be linked to your bib number. Thank you to our volunteer photographer Ed Kelleher.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU...to all of the volunteers that made the Pony Pasture 5K a BIG success! Your presence, your smiles and your cheers at check-in, as van drivers, and at the water station, turnaround, finish line and post-race refreshment table as always helped make the day. We especially thank race director Mara George.

THANK YOU to our Presenting Sponsor Edward Jones Investments and our gold sponsor Richmond Road Running Store.

Approved Amendments to RRRC's Constitution and By-Laws 8/14/2019

Approved Amendments to RRRC's Constitution and By-Laws

At the Club meeting on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the members present unanimously approved the amendments to the Club's Constitution and By-Laws. Having been approved by a vote of the members present at two regular Club meetings, the Club's Constitution and By-Laws as amended are now in effect.

CLICK HERE to view the full text of the amended Constitution and By-Laws.

If you have any questions about the Constitution and By-Laws, please contact RRRC's President Ralph Gibbs at president@rrrc.org.

Patrick Henry Half Marathon 2019 8/24/2019

Patrick Henry Half Marathon 2019 

Ashland, VA - Saturday, August 24 - Sports Backers and Richmond Road Runners Club hosted 972 runners, who finished 2019's Patrick Henry Half Marathon. The temperature was cool, the skies overcast, and the breeze gentle for a great run through the pretty town of Ashland and the neighboring farmland.

Congratulations to the top finishers:

Overall Male - John Leder - 1:12:00
Overall Female - Keira D'Amato - 1:15:48 (and 2^nd overall) 
Masters Male - Burke Lewis, 1:18:27
Masters Female - Cathy Cosner, 1:34:55 

Click here for everyone's race results. 

THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made the race a great success. And it took a lot of volunteers to cover all of the start/finish area duties and to provide guidance and hydration along the 13.1 miles. Your presence, your smiles and your cheers helped make the day. Thank you to all of the officers of the Ashland Police Department and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the EMTs with Hanover County Fire/EMS units. We especially thank race director Michael George and his race management team. All profits from the race support Kids Run RVA.

The band is getting back together 9/1/2019

The band is getting back together again!

Roy Saettel is hosting a gathering of old Richmond Road Runners. Although "old" may not be the right term. Maybe...vintage, veteran, long-time, venerable, emeritus, grizzled, long-ago. You know who you are!

Regardless...all Old and New Richmond Road Runners are welcome to attend! Just be prepared to hear about running and racing in and about Richmond in the old days.

When: Saturday, September 21 - 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Where: RRRC Club House, 2219 Tomlynn Street, Richmond, VA 23230

What to bring: chair, side dish/dessert and BYOB. A main dish will be provided.

There will be an old Runner Shirt contest: So, dig deep in your closet and wear your oldest Running Shirt!

If you have any questions, please contact Roy Saettel at 804-651-7334 or 2oldrunners@gmail.com.

Nominations are open for RRRC Officers and Board Members 9/13/2019

Nominations are open for RRRC Officers and Board Members

Nominations are now being accepted for the positions of Richmond Road Runners Club president, vice president-operations, vice president-marketing, treasurer, secretary and members of the Board of Directors for the years 2020-2021. 

Elections will be held during the Club’s Board Meeting on Dec. 11, 2019 at Basic City Beer Co. (212 W. 6^th St. in South Richmond, about a block from Legend Brewing Co.). Those elected will begin their term of office the following day.

In addition to the officers, the Club's Constitution calls for electing no less than five and no more than 20 other members of the Board of Directors.

Please submit any nomination as soon as possible. Each candidate is required to submit a statement not to exceed 250 words giving the candidate’s qualifications for office and interest in serving as an officer or Board member.  The statements should be emailed to nomination@rrrc.org.

On or before the Board’s Oct. 9 meeting, the Elections and Nominations Committee shall submit to the membership the names of one or more candidates for each officer position and at least five candidates for the position of director. To be eligible to hold any of the elective positions, a club member must have demonstrated interest in RRRC activities by volunteering for at least one Club activity during the current calendar year and by attending at least one Club meeting during that time.

Any RRRC member may submit a nomination. Nominations are currently being accepted, and additional nominations for any office may be made from the floor at the Club’s Nov. 13 Board meeting, provided that the nominee is present and consents to the nomination. Qualification statements for those nominees must be submitted to nomination@rrrc.org by Nov. 20.

In the case of nominees who were nominated by another person, the Elections and Nominations Committee will reach out to the nominees to ensure that they agree to be nominated and agree to file the required statements.

The Club's Constitution & By-Laws outlines the duties and responsibilities of officers and members of the Board. Candidates for Club president and treasurer, because of their access to Club finances, must agree to submit to a criminal background investigation.

A final list of candidates and their qualification statements will be published on the Club website by Nov. 27. Proxy ballots will be made available online for Club members who wish to vote by proxy. At the Dec. 11 Board meeting, elections will be held using paper ballots. Members may vote in person or by proxy, pursuant to the Club’s designated proxy form given to a Club member who will be present at the meeting.

The candidate receiving a majority of votes cast, ignoring completely blank ballots, for each officer position shall be declared the winner. When more than two candidates are nominated for an officer position and a majority vote is not reached on the first ballot, the candidates having the two highest numbers of votes are put on a ballot for a runoff. A candidate for member of the Board of Directors is declared elected if a majority of votes cast, ignoring completely blank ballots, are a vote for the candidate’s election.

RRRC Race Team 2019 9/19/2019

Congratulation to the 2019 RRRC Race Team

The RRRC Race Team dominated the 2019 season taking 13 of 18 divisions during the 3-race competition. The 2019 season was a 3-race series with Tri-Cities Road Runners, Fredericksburg Area Run Club, and Richmond Road Runners. We will be expanding our 2020 season with 6 running clubs involved and a 6-race season. Congratulations to those members that represented Richmond in 2019: Shihan Wijeuerante, Dustin Winton, Brian Welch, Kristen Kelley, Maegan Bendit, Ashley Simard, Jackie Morhan, Sara Bohn, Josh Hochstein, Chris Piper, Warner Winthrop, John Turner, Joe Flynn, Rachel Northrup, Carrie Roth, Debbie Goodpasture, Cathy Cosner, Ashton Harris, Karl Cover, Stephan Calos, Jim Oddono, Bil Cullen, Karen McClintick, Katherine Zampolin, Terri Gerloff, Janice Shaheen, and MayAnn Cooley. Photo: Women's heat at Fredericksburg's Downtown Mile.

RVA runners made their marks at the Berlin Marathon 9/30/2019

RVA runners made their marks at the Berlin Marathon

On Sunday, several RVA runners completed the Berlin Marathon. All deserve BIG CONGRATULATIONS for their accomplishments, but we make special note of three runners.

Keira D'Amato (photo left), a RRRC member, finished the Berlin Marathon in 2:34:55. She was the 17^th woman finisher overall and the 5^th fastest American woman! She set a new marathon PR and achieved the "A" standard for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trial to be run on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta. 

Kirk Millikan (photo right), a RRRC board member, finished in 3:15:10 and set a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon wearing lederhosen (verification pending).

Nikkia Young, RRRC's treasurer, finished the Berlin Marathon with her own inimitable style and spirit.

Rocketts Landing Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K 

It's happening soon...Rocketts Landing Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K 

On Saturday, October 26, join the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, the Richmond Road Runners Club, and our presenting sponsor Rocketts Landing to enjoy these new races -- a 10-miler and a 5K race, run or walk on the "Cap Trail." A 52-mile dedicated multi-use trail connecting Richmond and Williamsburg along the beautiful and historic Route 5 corridor, our Virginia Capital Trail is a gem of a resource for RVA runners, walkers, and cyclists.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION and to SIGN UP for these races. 

All profits from the races will benefit the programs of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation to enhance, promote, and advocate for the continued development of the Trail. Check out VCTF's "What We Do" site for more information.

Volunteer Rewards Program Q3 10/17/2019

Volunteer Rewards Program's 3^rd quarter recipients

October 17, 2019 - CONGRATULATIONS to the 18 volunteers who were selected at random to receive a gift card as a small token of RRRC’s thanks for their volunteer service at Club races during the 3^rd quarter of 2019. 

• Gregory Barch (registration/check-in)
• Cheryl Christensen (water stop)
• Ishani Deshpande (water stop x 3)
• Pat Dorch (registration/check-in x 5)
• Liam Du (finish line x 3)
• Marcy George (registration/check-in guru x 5)
• Debbie Goodpasture (finish line) 
• Mary Beth Hall (registration/check-in x 4 + water stop)
• Pam Hunter (water stop x 3)
• Diane Kelley (course marshal x 2)
• Donnie Lane (course marshal x 3)
• Mike Levins (timer x 2)
• Laci Lizarraga (course marshal)
• Robert Orndorff (finish line) 
• Caroline Osenga (finish line x 2) 
• Julie Sherrill (finish line x 2) 
• George Somerville (water stop x 2)
• John White (water stop)

To be eligible for the drawing, a volunteer had to sign up to volunteer in advance (at least 24 hours before the start of the main race) via RunSignUp for one or more of the club races (Cul-de-sac 5Ks, Pony Pasture 5K, Patrick Henry Half Marathon*, Poop Loop 4ish Miler). 163 volunteers earned a total of 486 entries in the drawing. Some obviously improved their odds of being selected by having multiple entries, because they: volunteered at more than one race; signed up early to volunteer (by midnight of the fifth day before the race); and/or volunteered for certain positions that earned them extra entries (e.g., course marshal or truck assistant). *Patrick Henry volunteers signed up using the Sports Backers system, so we were unable to document and assign points for early sign up. 

Volunteer at one of the four club races during the 4^th quarter (Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K, Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K, Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Race, Toy Run 5K) to be eligible for the next drawing. Click here for more details about the Volunteer Rewards Program.

Rocketts Landing Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K 10/26/2019

Rocketts Landing Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K 

Saturday, October 26 - The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, the Richmond Road Runners Club, and presenting sponsor Rocketts Landing hosted two new races on the "Cap Trail." Runners of all speeds enjoyed beautiful weather and a vibrant scene along the Virginia Capital Trail. If you were there, you say that it is a gem of a resource for RVA runners, walkers, cyclists, and users of the river.

THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that made the race a great success. Thank you to all of the officers of the Richmond City and Henrico County Police Departments, who kept everyone safe at the road crossings. We especially thank race directors Claire Butler with Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and Ralph Gibbs with RRRC, who guided this first iteration of the Cap Trail races to a successful conclusion.

Thank you to the race sponsors:

• Rocketts Landing, our presenting sponsors
• Stone Brewing Richmond, for hosting us in their parking areas and providing a great patio for post-race conversations 
• Richmond Road Running Store, which provided gift certificates for the awards and the pre-race check-in venue 

288 runners completed the 10 Miler. Congratulations to the top finishers of the 10 Miler:

• Harrison Toney, 54:43.16, 1^st male overall
• Kerri Toney, 1:01:37.58, 1^st female overall
• Randy Shelton, 1:06:14.98, 1^st male master (40+)
• Megan Reynolds, 1:12:05.1, 1^st female master (40+)
• Jhony Chacon, 1:11:59.18, 1^st male grandmaster (50+)
• Debbie Goodpasture, 1:13:13.51, 1^st female grandmaster (50+)

211 runners completed the 5K. Congratulations to the top finishers of the 5K:

• Jason Dowdy, 16:51.2, 1^st male overall
• Fumi Kelleher, 24:28.64, 1^st female overall
• Jim Carter, 19:44.62, 1^st male master (40+)
• Sharon Wake, 26:18.08, 1^st female master (40+)
• Marc Dixon, 23:57.46, 1^st male grandmaster (50+)
• Linda Gulick, 26:47.53, 1^st female grandmaster (50+)

Click here for everyone's race results. Finish line video clips are available through race results.

All profits from the races benefit the programs of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation to enhance, promote, and advocate for the continued development of the Trail. Thank you to the 116 individuals who donated an additional $1,019.00 to VCTF. 

Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K 11/28/2019

1,544 Turkey Trotters had a great Thanksgiving morning

Thursday, November 28 - It was a sunny day with pleasant running weather for the 1,544 finishers of the 42^nd Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K. We had lots of little runners kick it off with the Kids Run.

CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS

Congratulations to the top finishers of the 2019 Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K!

Overall Male - Jason Driscoll, 35:18.48 
Overall Female - Molly Breidenbaugh, 39:31.6  
Master Male - Robert Green, 39:02.3
Master Female - Robyn Hartley, 46:36.11

THANK YOU to all who made RRRC's biggest race of the year happen. The VOLUNTEERS and their cheers and support warmed our hearts from check-in, at all of the turns and climbs, through the water stops, to the bestowing of medals at the finish line. Thank you to all of the officers of the University of Richmond Police and the Richmond City Police Departments. And thank you to race director Michael George and the race management team. Finally, thank you to our sponsors Wegmans and Lucky Road Run Shop.

PHOTOS - Check out 835 photos on our Facebook site. Thank you to our volunteer photographers Purvi Patel and Paul Maschack. 
FINISH LINE VIDEO - Look for the video link with your race results.

DONATIONS - We collected lots of peanut butter and tuna fish on race day and had 212 individuals donate $3,741.00 to FeedMore during race registration.
 

Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run 12/8/2019

Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run

Sunday, December 8, 2019 - Once the running started and everyone started to warm up, it was a gorgeous day to be out on the trails. 249 runners and walkers completed RRRC's Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. It offered a tricky route through the woods and some runners found their way off course for a little bit. The leaves were pretty but hid pesky roots and stones, so there were several falls and stumbles along the way. Regardless, there were lots of smiling faces crossing the finish line. 

CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS

Congratulations to the day's top finishers:

Overall Male - Jason Driscoll, 1:20:58 
Overall Female - Natalie Hall, 1:30:28  
Master (40-49) Male - Michael Spinos, 1:43:06
Master (40-49) Female - Lori Cooper, 1:47:47
Grandmaster (50-59) Male - Marty Stiegmann, 1:33:30
Grandmaster (50-59) Female - Diane Haupt, 1:45:12
Senior Grandmaster (60+) Male - Gary Hearn, 1:47:55
Senior Grandmaster (60+) Female - Kathy Headlee, 2:04:54 


Thank You - Thanks to the VOLUNTEERS who greeted runners and walkers at water stops, road crossings, and key trail intersections. And thank you to the VOLUNTEERS at parking, check-in and the finish line. We also thank the rangers and staff of Bear Creek Lake State Park. Thank you to the race's next generation of race directors - Ralph Gibbs and Dave Trump - for their leadership of the 21^st running of the Bear Creek 10 Miler. 

PHOTOS & FINISH LINE VIDEO - CLICK HERE to view photos by our volunteer photographer Erjan Akkus. Bib number may be auto-linked to some photos for easy searching, however, that feature is not perfect. Finish line video is available via a link with each person's race result.

New Club Leadership 12/11/2019

New Club Leadership

Wednesday, December 11 - RRRC held its biennial elections at our December meeting and social at Basic City Beer Company. 

Congratulations to the Club's new leadership team.

Officers

President - Nikkia Young
VP-Operations - Crystal Koch
VP-Communications/Marketing - Jennifer Perrin
Secretary - Victoria Hauser
Treasurer - Ralph Gibbs

Photo (left to right): Jennifer Perrin, Victoria Hauser, Crystal Koch, Nikkia Young, Ralph Gibbs

Board of Directors

• Megan Alper (Novak)
• Mike Bender
• Amy Black
• Farleigh Fitzgerald
• Joe Flynn
• Mara George
• Marcy George
• Michael George
• Mike Gholson
• Mary Beth Hall
• Shawn Lafland
• Mike Levins
• Chris Mason
• Allison May
• Kirk Millikan
• Eric Nachman
• Jim Oddono
• Rosie Schutte
• Suzi Silverstein
• Katherine Zampolin

 

Toy Run 5K 12/15/2019

Record numbers for the Toy Run 5K

Sunday, December 15 - RRRC Toy Run 5K, presented by Primrose Schools of Richmond was a huge success. 812 runners and walkers finished the 5K, including over 200 girls completing the fall Celebratory 5K for Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond. That's a 28% increase in finishers compared to the last run in 2017. Just as big was the truck load of toys for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

Thank You to the VOLUNTEERS who helped make the race a success from check-in, along the course, and through the finish line. Thank you to the officers of the Richmond City Police Department. Thank you to race directors Nikkia Young and Joe Flynn, who guided the race through its first iteration on the new course out of City Stadium.

Volunteer Rewards Program Q4 2019 12/26/2019

Volunteer Rewards Program's 4^th quarter recipients

December 26, 2019 - CONGRATULATIONS to the 18 volunteers who were selected at random to receive a gift card as a small token of RRRC’s thanks for their volunteer service at Club races during the 4^th quarter of 2019. 

• Daniel Alper (water stop)
• Debbie Bader (check-in x 2)
• Kaitlyn Baker (water stop)
• Charles Beverage (check-in & finish line)
• Vivien Broughton (water stop)
• Kevin Bruny (finish line)
• Mary Beth Hall (check-in x 3 & course marshal)
• Pam Hunter (water stop coordinator)
• Bill Kelly (parking)
• Alison Lance (water stop)
• Emily Martin (course marshal)
• Dean Miller (course marshal)
• Rich Mortimer (finish line)
• Jessica Reber (check-in)
• Hervey Sherd (course marshal)
• Suzi Silverstein (general)
• Ryan Stimmler (finish line)
• Laura White (check-in)

To be eligible for the drawing, a volunteer had to sign up to volunteer in advance (at least 24 hours before the start of the main race) via RunSignup for one or more of the club races (Rocketts Landing Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K, Wegmans Turkey Trot 10K, Bear Creek 10 Mile Trial Run, Toy Run 5K, presented by Primrose Schools of Richmond). 152 volunteers earned a total of 416 entries in the drawing. Some obviously improved their odds of being selected by having multiple entries, because they: volunteered at more than one race; signed up early to volunteer (by midnight of the fifth day before the race); and/or volunteered for certain positions that earned them extra entries (e.g., course marshal or truck assistant).  

Volunteer at one of the four club races during the 1^st quarter 2020 (First Day 5K, Frostbite 15K, Sweetheart 8K, Huguenot 3 Miler) to be eligible for the next drawing. Click here for more details about the Volunteer Rewards Program.

First Day 5K 1/1/2020

They started the New Year with the First Day 5K 

Wednesday, January 1 - 587 runners and walkers kicked off the New Year at First Day 5K. The weather was ideal for a first run/race of 2020. A few runners even forgot to change after celebrating the night before.

CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS



Congratulations to the day's top finishers:

Overall Male - Silas Frantz, 15:08.4 
Overall Female - Keira D'Amato, 16:08.1  
Master Male - Josh Hochstein, 17:46.6
Master Female - Tressa Breindel, 18:10.4 

Thank You - Thanks to the VOLUNTEERS who greeted and supported runners and walkers as parking assistants, at check-in, as course marshals, at the water stop, at the start/finish line, and with post-race food and water. We thank our hosts at ACAC Midlothian and in the Roxshire neighborhood. Thank you to our race directors, Bill Anderson and Shawn Lafland.

PHOTOS - CLICK HERE to view photos by our volunteer photographer Ed Kelleher. Bib number may be auto-linked to some photos for easy searching, however, that feature is not perfect. 

 

Frostbite 15K 1/19/2020

2020's Frostbite 15K, presented by Good Run Research & Recreation

Sunday, January 19 - 852 runners and walkers finished the RRRC Frostbite 15K, presented by Good Run Research and Recreation, on Amelia Street after circling in and around Maymont Park and the Maymont neighborhood. It was a pretty Sunday morning for running and there were some fast times on the course.  

CLICK HERE FOR RACE RESULTS

Congratulations to the day's top finishers:

Overall Male - Brian Flynn, 47:59.6
Overall Female - Kerri Toney, 57:40.8  
Master Male - Andrew Bupp, 56:08.6
Master Female - Cathy Cosner, 1:01:13.6

Thank You - Thanks to the many, many VOLUNTEERS who greeted and supported runners and walkers at check-in, as marshals all along the course with its many turns, at the water stop, at the start/finish line, and with post-race food and water. Thank you to our sponsors: presenting sponsor, Good Run Research & Recreation; gold sponsors, Richmond Road Runner Running Store and Whole Foods Market; and bronze sponsor, Topgolf. Thank you to our race directors, Mara George and Chris Mason.

PHOTOS - Over 1,000 photos are posted on RRRC's Facebook site. Other photos are posted in RunSign (Click here) and may be auto-linked to to bib number. Finish line video is linked to runner's results.

Sweetheart 8K 2/16/2020

2020 Sweetheart 8K is in the record books

Sunday, February 16 - Skies were clear for this year's RRRC Sweetheart 8K, presented by TowneBank. There were 559 finishers (a 27% increase over 2019) of the 8K and a small contingent of kids to enjoy the kids run.

CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RACE RESULTS


Congratulations to the top finishers of the RRRC Sweetheart 8K, presented by TowneBank!

Overall Male - Harrison Toney, 25:43.0
Overall Female - Tiel Westbrook, 29:31.4
Master Male - Jason Dowdy, 27:33.7 
Master Female - Tressa Breindel, 30:29.5

We send out a BIG THANK YOU to all of the  volunteers that made Sweetheart a success! The race could not have happened without your service, smiles and cheers. We also want to thank the officers of the Chesterfield County Police Department who helped to keep us safe along the roadways. And finally a  BIG THANK YOU to race director Marcy George.

THANK YOU to our presenting sponsor TowneBank, our gold sponsor Lucky Road Run Shop and our on-site host Urban Farmhouse.  

Congratulations Keira and Teal 2/29/2020

Congratulations to our RVA runners Keira D'Amato and Teal Burrell at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon!

Huguenot 3 Miler 3/1/2020

<h3>The trails were dry for the Huguenot 3 Miler @ Robious Landing Park<br /><br /></h3>
<img style="padding: 0 15px; float: left;" src="https://d2mkojm4rk40ta.cloudfront.net/us-east-1-src/prod/clientUploads/2020-03/03/3/894/193ddc1a-4849-4829-9920-3fa798313a34-bExVFY.png" alt="" width="200" height="261" />Sunday, March 1, 2020 - There was a great turnout for this little gem of a trail race on the dry trails of Robious Landing Park along the James River. It was sunny, dry and a little chilly but the runners soon warmed up.&nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>47 runners (23% of all runners) were age 14 and under.</strong> It was great to see so many kids running trails. Most were there thanks to Kids Run RVA, NextUp RVA and their coaches at Lucille Brown Middle School, Elkhardt-Thompson Middle School and Harrowgate Elementary School.<br /><br /><strong>Congratulations to the top finishers&nbsp;of the RRRC Huguenot 3 Miler!</strong><br /><br />Overall Male - Colby Miller, 17:04<br />Overall Female - Heather Lambert, 20:26<br />Master Male - John Turner, 19:35<br />Master Female - Amanda Edmondson, 22:11<br /><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/41594/#resultSetId-189224;perpage:10" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">CLICK HERE FOR EVERYONE'S RESULTS and FINISH LINE VIDEOS</a></strong></span><br /><br />And a BIG&nbsp;THANK YOU&nbsp;to all of the volunteers and to race director Michael Muldowney who made Huguenot a success.&nbsp;

RRRC Annual Banquet 3/7/2020

RRRC Annual Banquet

Saturday, March 7, 2020 - RRRC's Grand Prix finalists and Club Race Champions gathered for the annual awards ceremony and banquet at the Meadowbrook Country Club.

Our guest speaker was Michael Wardian, a fellow Virginian and a marathoner, ultramarthoner, and adventure runner. 
WATCH THE VIDEO of Mike Wardian's presentation

The highlight of the night was the awards ceremony.

RRRC's Grand Prix Competition recognized a record number of 107 Grand Prix Finalists for 2019. The Grand Prix Champions were: Open Champions - Gabi Wechsler & James Hazelwood; Masters Champions - Rebecca Randolph & Jim Oddono; and Grand Masters Champions - Karen Marsh & Charles Beverage. The Iron Runner program again bestowed the title of Titanium Runner on Gabi Wechsler. Twelve other runners achieved Iron Runner status: Michael Bender, Charles Beverage, Pamela Faulkner, Aaron Harlan, Stephen Kelley, Mark Lohman, James Marr, Randall Miller, Rebecca Randolph, Jessica Reber, John Sicat, and Dawn Walker. 

Club Race Champions for 2019 received trophies in the open, masters and veterans divisions for their accomplishments at the Frostbite 15K, Carytown 10K, Pony Pasture 5K and Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. Special congratulations go to Tressa Breindel who was a champion at all four races.

The night closed with three very special rewards. Road Runner Running Store (Brandon Croft) received the Community Partner Award. The Volunteer of the Year Award was bestowed on Mike Gholson. And Rosie Schutte received the RRRC Spirit Award.

We offer a big THANK YOU to Nancy Jakubec and Suzi Silverstein who were the driving forces that organized the banquet and program this year. Thank you to the wonderful staff of the Meadowbrook Country Club who hosted us for a delightful meal with awesome desserts.

Volunteer Rewards Program Q1 2020 4/1/2020

Volunteer Rewards Program 1^st quarter 2020 recipients

CONGRATULATIONS to the 18 volunteers who were selected at random to receive a gift card as a small token of RRRC’s thanks for their volunteer service at Club races during the 1^st quarter of 2020. 

• Joe Amico (course marshal)
• Debbie Bader (check-in x2)
• Lesley Brocato (check-in)
• Welcon Chafe (course marshal)
• Suzen Collins (course marshal & volunteer coordinator)
• Jennifer Daniels (check-in x 2)
• Marcy George (check-in guru x 2)
• Sandra Gray (finish line & check-in)
• Patty Henson-Dacey (check-in x 2)
• Larry Holstrom (course marshal x 2)
• Rasmi Ranjan Mishra (finish line x 2)
• Steve Nolan (truck driver)
• Eddie Parsley Jr (course marshal x 2 & truck assistant)
• Edward Paterek (course marshal x 2)
• Won Rinthalukay (course marshal)
• Suzi Silverstein (check-in)
• Jenni Treadwell (course marshal & check-in)
• Blair Wilcox (check-in)

To be eligible for the drawing, a volunteer had to sign up to volunteer in advance (at least 24 hours before the start of the main race) via RunSignup for one or more of the club races (First Day 5K, Frostbite 15K, Sweetheart 8K, Huguenot 3 Miler). 154 volunteers earned a total of 414 entries in the drawing. Some obviously improved their odds of being selected by having multiple entries, because they: volunteered at more than one race; signed up early to volunteer (by midnight of the fifth day before the race); and/or volunteered for certain positions that earned them extra entries (e.g., course marshal or truck assistant).  

The Volunteer Rewards Program will be on hold until we resume in-person club races. Click here for more details about the Volunteer Rewards Program.

Virtual RRRC Board Meeting 4/9/2020

Virtual RRRC Board Meeting

Your Club's leadership met virtually on Wednesday evening. The meeting format was different but the discussions (audible and via chat) were just as informative and entertaining as usual. 

The virtual format allowed some folks to participate who normally can't make in-person meetings. And we had the added benefits of seeing Ranger (Nikkia's pup) and joining in an end-of-meeting toast with one's beverage of choice.

For the foreseeable future, RRRC meetings will be held virtually on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month starting at 6:00 PM.

RRRC College Scholarships 4/5/2020

RRRC College Scholarships -- Help us get the word out to send in those applications!

RRRCers, it's that time of the year again! In 2020, RRRC will award up to three (3) $2,000 scholarships to students who have and will contribute to the running community and represent the beneficial aspects of running as a healthy lifestyle. 


To be eligible, a student must be:

• A graduating high school senior who resides or attends school in the Richmond area;
• Accepted at an accredited institution of higher education; and
• Involved in running in some capacity (e.g., as a cross-country or track team member, as a team manager or trainer, as a member of a running or track club, or volunteer in a running activity).

If you know of a high school student that meets these criteria, have them click College Scholarship for the details and the application. All applications and documentation must be received on or before midnight, May 31, 2020.  

You may direct any questions to Kirk Millikan, RRRC Scholarship Committee Chair, at scholarship@rrrc.org.

Donate   Support the Scholarship program by donating to the Scholarship Fund!

 

Executive Order 55 3/30/2020

Governor's Executive Order 55 (2020)

An excerpt, bold added for emphasis.

"To the extent individuals use shared or outdoor spaces, whether on land or on water, they must at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person, with the exception of family or household members or caretakers. Individuals may leave their residences for the purpose of: ... 

e. Engaging in outdoor activity, including exercise, provided individuals comply with social distancing requirements; ..."

Effective March 30, 2020 and will remain in full force and in effect until June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.

RRRC's first virtual race is in the record books 5/7/2020

RRRC's first virtual race is in the record books

608 runners or walkers posted their finish time or finisher status for RRRC's Quarantown 10K - the club's first virtual race - during April.  Results

Everyone who registered received this neat commemorative magnet (from K2 Awards, a local business). 

The race purchased and awarded $50 gift cards from Road Runner Running Store to 40 finishers, who were selected at random. RRRC wants to support the local running stores that have been great sponsors of our past races.

Special thanks to race director Anne Zielinski Brown, who readily transitioned her organizational skills from directing the Carytown 10K to virtually directing the Quarantown 10K! And she personally made sure you got your magnet.

Stay at Home 10K 4/22/2020

Virtual Stay at Home 10K is replacing Stratford Hills 10K

This was to be the 41^st year for Richmond Road Runners Club's Stratford Hills 10K, but unfortunately our in-person race isn't going to happen.

Have no fear, though, as the Richmond Road Runners Club offers you the opportunity to race or run your own Stay at Home 10K in May. 

 - Sign up for this virtual race, then run your 10K anytime during the month of May. 
- Report your time and you'll be entered in a drawing for one of our several prizes provided by our sponsors - Outpost Richmond, Lunge Yoga and Road Runners Running Store! 
- As always, please share your accomplishment on your favorite social media platform (and in our Facebook event, too) as we want to see your smiling faces! #stayhome10k

We don't care how you run, jog or walk your 10K. Just do it -- on the streets, a road, a trail, or even a dreadmill. You can do: one 10K; two 5Ks; ten 1Ks; 10K worth of loops around your home or apartment building; or 10K equivalent minutes worth of running in place on your balcony. 

Hills (especially in the last mile of your 10K) are optional. But if you do a hilly Stay at Home 10K, please brag on your elevation gain in your social media post. If you know the Stratford Hill 10K course, you know exactly why we're saying this. #neverends

There is no giveaway or swag. Stratford Hills 10K was always a low-frills race and so is the Stay at Home 10K. We think the reward is the opportunity to record a 10K "race" time for May 2020 and savoring your sweet success afterwards!

SignUp  Price: RRRC members, $5.00; non-members, $8.00

ALREADY REGISTERED FOR RRRC STRATFORD HILLS 10K? You can transfer your registration to the Stay at Home 10K at no cost. You can obtain a refund on your Stratford Hills 10K registration. Or you can get a refund and still do the Stay at Home 10K. See the race website for details. 

Grand Prix 2020 Participants: Finish and post your results for the Stay at Home 10K to get one (1) club race point for the Grand Prix and Iron Runner competitions. There will be no overall or age-group place points.

When will races be back? No one really knows. 4/26/2020

When will races be back? No one really knows.

This Runner's World article https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a32249569/running-races-after-coronavirus/ is worth a read. It includes the following from Jean Knaack, Executive Director, Road Runners Club of America:

Knaack is worried that a rush to resume racing could harm running’s reputation. “You don’t want a race to become a contagion cluster,” she says. “It’s like the cruise industry. Their reputation is destroyed right now. We don’t want that to happen in the running industry if it’s too much, too soon.”

 

Stay at Home 10K 6/2/2020

Virtual Stay at Home 10K 

We had 172 folks sign up and 154 post results for their virtual Stay at Home 10K. #stayhome10k

Thank you to our sponsors who provided several prizes for randomly selected runners/walkers: Outpost Richmond, Lunge Yoga and Road Runners Running Store! 

Thank you to our Race Director (and RRRC President) Nikkia Young.

RRRC Coro-na-sac 5K Series Announcement 6/17/2020

RRRC Coro-na-sac 5K Series

We're keeping it real with our virtual replacement for the RRRC Cul-de-sac 5K Series.

We want you to test yourself in the hot, humid, end-of-the-day conditions that you all love with the Cul-de-sac 5Ks.

You'll run or walk your three 5Ks (3.1 miles) on Monday evenings (July 6, July 13, & July 20) between 7 and 9 PM.

Just like at Cul-de-sac, you'll know that you're not doing these races alone. Your fellow runners and walkers will be doing their 5Ks in the same conditions those same evenings. Yes, you can do your 5K with a small group, just maintain that 6-feet spacing.

SignUp

As a RRRC member, you sign up for $30.00 out-of-pocket, which includes: 

• Registration for all three phases of the Coro-na-sac 5K Series.
• $10.00 RRRC member discount.
• Your $5.00 donation to Feed More in exchange for an additional $5.00 discount on your registration.
• Purchase of a Coro-na-sac 5K race shirt. (Shirt purchase is optional.)
• Processing fee.

If you finish and submit your times for all three 5Ks, you'll be eligible for:

• Awards for the fastest finishers in several categories across all three races.
• Random selection for other awards.

We encourage you to join in the spirit of running together as a club and running community on these Monday evenings in July.

RRRC member Keira D'Amato runs a 15:04 5,000m time trial 6/15/2020

RRRC member Keira D'Amato runs a 15:04 5,000m time trial

Story by Alison Wade in Fast Women weekly email, June 15, 2020, Issue 76
Subscribe to Fast Women weekly email! You won't regret it.

There are a lot of time trials happening right now, some publicized, some not, but Keira D’Amato’s 15:04 5,000m on Sunday was one of the most impressive ones I’ve seen yet. Because D’Amato, 35, has followed a less traditional path through the sport, it’s easy to think that her performances this year, including her 15th place finish at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, are coming out of nowhere. But if you look at who she kept up with back in her college days at American University (for example, she beat Molly Huddle, Shannon Rowbury, and Amy Cragg at the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championships), it’s no surprise that she’s excelling now.

But still, going into Sunday’s time trial, which you can watch here, D’Amato’s 5,000m personal best was 16:07, so her 15:04 was a big leap. D’Amato had a male pacer, so even if this had been an official meet, the time wouldn’t have counted. But she proved that she’s on a different level than she was the last time she raced this event. She hit splits of 4:53, 4:52, and 4:46. Had this been an official race, the time not only would have qualified her for the Olympic Trials, it’s also faster than the Olympic qualifying standard of 15:10.

Around the time D’Amato was running her time trial, I was listening to this podcast episode with Obsie Birru. (It’s good, I recommend it, and she comes on around the 11:20 mark.) Birru talked about the misconception within the elite running world that if running isn’t your full-time job, you can’t be successful. Both she and D’Amato, along with others, are disproving that.

Executive Order 65 6/5/2020

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 65 (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency 6

This Executive Order is effective June 5, 2020 for Virginia's "Phase Two easing of certain temporary restrictions due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) excluding the City of Richmond and the Northern Virginia Region."

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

A. EASING OF BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS

13. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the Guidelines for All Business Sectors and the sector-specific guidelines for recreational sports expressly incorporated by reference herein. Such guidance includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

a. Ten feet of physical distance must be maintained by all instructors, participants, and spectators, with the exception of incidental contact or contact between members of the same household. This applies during instruction and practice and during competitive events. Competition that involves close contact with other athletes must be avoided.

b. The total number of attendees (including both participants and spectators) of outdoor recreational sports cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the occupancy load of the venue, if applicable, or 50 persons. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 50 persons per field.

B. CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS

2. All Public And Private In-Person Gatherings

All public and private in-person gatherings of more than 50 individuals are prohibited. The presence of more than 50 individuals performing functions of their employment is not a “gathering.” A “gathering” includes, but is not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, whether they occur indoors or outdoors.

RRRC's Coro-na-sac 5K Series was a small, but mighty, success 7/22/2020

RRRC's Coro-na-sac 5K Series was a small, but mighty, success

Over three Monday evenings in July, runners and walkers carried on the hot, steamy RRRC tradition that is the Cul-de-sac 5K Series by participating in the virtual Coro-na-sac 5K Series. 141 folks registered for the Series and 107 runners and walkers submitted times for all 3 races.
 
Check out the Results.

Congratulations to our top finishers in the 3-race competition:

• John Turner, 1^st Male Overall
• Aaron Harlan, 2^nd Male Overall
• John Sicat, 1^st Male Master (age 40 and over)
• Megan Schulze, 1^st Female Overall
• Debbie Goodpasture, 2^nd Female Overall
• Marit Bank, 1^st Female Master (age 40 and over)

The top finishers' submitted times and runs were verified. Placing was based on the total of their finish times for the three races. They were eligible for top finisher awards because they all had runs that: started on each specified Monday evening between 7:00 and 9:00 PM; were at least 3.10 miles in length; and were based on elapsed time.

Thank you, first to all of the runners and walkers who joined in the spirit of running together as a club and running community on these Monday evenings. Second, thank you to the 91 folks who donated $750.00 to Feed More, our race charity. Third, thank you to Lucky Road Run Shoppe for donation of gift certificates. Finally, a big thanks to race director Mike Gholson.

Congratulations to the 2020 RRRC College Scholarship recipients 7/22/2020

Congratulations to the 2020 RRRC College Scholarship recipients

In 2020, RRRC is awarding three (3) $2,000 scholarships to Richmond-area high school seniors who have and will contribute to the running community and represent the beneficial aspects of running as a healthy lifestyle.  

Ellen Herrera (left)
Wade Carter (center)
Avery Hairfield (right)

• Ellen Herrera graduated from St. Catherine's School in Richmond and will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall. Ellen was a captain of the cross country and track teams her senior year, fostering a positive team culture and encouraging her teammates to reach their full potential. She has volunteered at Richmond Marathon water stops and hopes to join a marathon training program in college to accomplish her next goal, running a marathon.
• Wade Carter graduated from Glen Allen High School in Henrico County and will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall. Wade was a captain of the cross country and track teams his senior year and actively recruited and mentored younger team members. Throughout high school he volunteered with Healthy Kids Running Series and plans to join the club running team at UVA. 
• Avery Hairfield graduated from Cosby High School in Chesterfield County and will be attending Queens University of Charlotte in the fall. Avery was a captain of the cross country and track teams her junior and senior years, planning pasta parties and inspiring her teammates. She has volunteered at races and events at Pocahontas State Park and plans to study exercise and sport sciences at Queens.

Thank you to the 11 members of the RRRC Scholarship Committee, which was chaired by Kirk Millikan, for the tough job of reviewing 25 applications and having to recommend only three for scholarships. Click here for more information about the RRRC Scholarship Program.

Donate  Contribute to the RRRC Scholarship Fund for 2021!

2020 Patrick Henry Half Marathon is a GO for in-person racing!  8/12/2020

2020 Patrick Henry Half Marathon is a GO for in-person racing! 

Saturday, August 29 is race day on the roads for the Patrick Henry Half Marathon. 

SignUp

There are lots of changes, including:
- Start and finish at Poor Farm Park
- 500-participant limit (about 200 spots left)
- Separate start line and finish line
- Staggered starts (3-hour course limit is still in effect for last wave)
- Drive-thru packet pick up ONLY on Friday, August 28 at Sports Backers Stadium (no race day pick up)

This website has ALL of the details, requirements, restrictions, recommendations, etc.
https://www.sportsbackers.org/events/patrick-henry-half-marathon/covid-19-impacts-procedures/

Before signing up for the race, please read and understand what to expect and what is expected of you the runner! 

Our partners at Sports Backers have worked hard to revise the event plan to meet the current social distancing requirements so that we can get back to celebrating active lifestyles through these events in the safest way possible. The RVA running community can only do this if everyone does their part to keep themselves, other participants, the volunteers and staff, and the community safe and healthy.

2020 Patrick Henry Half Marathon was a GO for in-person racing! 8/29/2020

2020 Patrick Henry Half Marathon was a GO for in-person racing! 

Saturday, August 29 - It was hot. It was humid. But 326 intrepid souls ran and walked the 2020 Patrick Henry Half Marathon in-person. 

Check out the RESULTS!

Sports Backers and RRRC worked hard to revise the event plan to meet the current social distancing requirements. Thanks to the runners and the organizers it was a highly successful return to racing in-person in RVA.

Poop Loop 4ish Miler 8/30/2020

Poop Loop 4ish Miler -- another "live and in-person" race for 2020

DATE CHANGE* - NOW SUNDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 4 - Join us for the 3^rd annual Richmond Road Runners Club's Poop Loop 4ish Miler. RRRC is partnering with the James River Park System to offer this low-frills Sunday night run. This run/walk will be held in-person (but socially distanced) on roads, paths, and trails.

You have two options:
⇒ Trail - mostly run on paved paths and the mountain bike trails. Limited to 75 registrants.
⇒ Road - mostly run on the road and paved paths. Limited to 75 registrants. 

The trails are beginner-friendly. Children age 6 and older and youth are welcome to run this event.

* Access from Hull Street to the Floodwall is temporarily closed because of construction. Rather than reroute the road race, we decided to shift the date. 

Check out the details here.


SignUp Don't miss out. The race is only 2 weeks away.

Take a survey about WMT 9/21/2020

Take a survey about RRRC's Winter Marathon & Half Marathon Training (WMT)

Richmond Road Runner Club wants to judge interest in its Winter Marathon & Half Marathon Training (WMT) program for this winter (December 2020 - April 2021). 

WMT is a training program with supported weekly long runs to help prepare runners for the Shamrock Marathon and Half Marathon in March, the Boston Marathon in April, or other spring races.

COVID-19 and a new WMT head coaching team are prompting us to ask some questions so RRRC can best support the RVA running community over the coming months.

We want to hear your opinions whether or not you participated in WMT in the past. Please take a few minutes to compete our survey. All responses are anonymous. 

GO TO THE WMT SURVEY!

Poop Loop 4ish Miler 10/8/2020

Poop Loop 4ish Miler offered in-person racing 

Sunday, October 4 - The 3^rd annual RRRC Poop Loop 4ish Miler had 24 runners complete the road run and 40 runners complete the trail run. The weather cooperated and provided dry trails and a cool evening. It was low-frills and socially-distanced, but fun was had. 

Check out the Results here.

Congratulations to the top finishers of the trail run: John Sicat (32:56) and Carrie Parker (36:46).

Congratulations to the top finishers of the road run: Matthew Crane (26:56) and Kate Spangler (28:27).

Special shout-out to Kate Spangler who took advantage of the staggered starts and chip timing to do a DOUBLE and almost take top woman honors in both races.
 
Thank you to the 16 donors who contributed a total of $220 to the Friends of the James River Park.   

Thank you to our co-race directors Crystal Koch and Jake Wiseman, the loyal volunteers, and the Richmond City police officers who made it all happen. 

Executive Order 67 7/29/2020

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 67 (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency 7

This Executive Order was effective July 1, 2020 for Virginia's "Phase Three Easing of Certain Temporary Restrictions due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)."

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

A. EASING OF BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS

12. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the Guidelines for All Business Sectors and the sector-specific guidelines for recreational sports expressly incorporated by reference herein. Such guidance includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

Ten feet of physical distance should be maintained by all instructors, participants, and spectators, where practicable.
The total number of attendees (including both participants and spectators) of recreational sports cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue, if applicable, or 250 persons. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 persons per field.

B. CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS

1. All Public And Private In-Person Gatherings

All public and private in-person gatherings of more than 250 individuals are prohibited. The presence of more than 250 individuals performing functions of their employment is not a “gathering.” A “gathering” includes, but is not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, whether they occur indoors or outdoors.

Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K 11/6/2020

Virtual 10 Miler & 5K raised $3,500 for the Cap Trail

RRRC and the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation partnered up again to offer the East 51 @ Rocketts Cap Trail 10 Miler & 5K presented by Dominion Energy. 161 registered and 104 posted their finish for their respective races. Congratulations to the winners of the photo contest who received gift certificates from Lucky Road Run Shop.

All profits from the races benefit the programs of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation to enhance, promote, and advocate for the continued development of the 52-mile dedicated multi-use trail that connects Richmond and Williamsburg.

Thank you to all you participated. And added thanks to the 54 runners who made a total of $545 in direct donations to VCTF. 

Executive Order 67 (amended) 11/5/2020

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 67 Fifth Amended (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency 7

This amended Executive Order is effective November 5, 2020 for Virginia's "Phase Three Further Adjusting of Certain Temporary Restrictions due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)."

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

A. Easing of Business Restrictions

12. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the following requirements:

a. The total number of attendees (including both participants and spectators) of recreational sports cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue, if applicable, or 250 persons. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 persons per field. Races or marathons may have up to 1000 participants, provided staggered starts separate runners into groups of 250 or less.

b. Conduct screening of coaches, officials, staff, and players for COVID-19 symptoms prior to admission to the venue/facility.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread associated with indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities, consult the Virginia Department of Health’s “Considerations for Recreational Sports” webpage, which can be found here.

B. Continued Restrictions

1. All Public and Private In-Person Gatherings

All public and private in-person gatherings of more than 250 individuals are prohibited. The presence of more than 250 individuals performing functions of their employment is not a “gathering.” A “gathering” includes, but is not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, whether they occur indoors or outdoors.

Executive Order 67 (amended) 11/5/2020

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 67 Fifth Amended (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency 7

This amended Executive Order is effective November 5, 2020 for Virginia's "Phase Three Further Adjusting of Certain Temporary Restrictions due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)."

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

A. Easing of Business Restrictions

12. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the following requirements:

a. The total number of attendees (including both participants and spectators) of recreational sports cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue, if applicable, or 250 persons. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 persons per field. Races or marathons may have up to 1000 participants, provided staggered starts separate runners into groups of 250 or less.

b. Conduct screening of coaches, officials, staff, and players for COVID-19 symptoms prior to admission to the venue/facility.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread associated with indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities, consult the Virginia Department of Health’s “Considerations for Recreational Sports” webpage, which can be found here.

B. Continued Restrictions

1. All Public and Private In-Person Gatherings

All public and private in-person gatherings of more than 250 individuals are prohibited. The presence of more than 250 individuals performing functions of their employment is not a “gathering.” A “gathering” includes, but is not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, whether they occur indoors or outdoors.

Winter Marathon Training Notice 10-18-2020

RRRC Winter Marathon & Half Marathon Training (WMT) is happening!
 

Registration opens Monday, October 19 @ 8:00 AM for this year's WMT. Price will remain the same $40 and you may even find a little RRRC member discount.  


SignUp


RRRC WMT will offer Saturday morning runs from Dogwood Dell from December to March. Some great routes will happen from this starting point.

We will have both half marathon and marathon training again. Runners and run/walkers of any pace and skill level are welcome! Our only pace requirement is that you be able to do a longer run at 14 minutes/mile, including the time for water stops and potty breaks, or faster. Runners and run/walkers moving up to the half marathon or marathon distance for the first time are welcome!  

We had some great feedback from our WMT Survey that has informed the planning for this year. 

RRRC received 281 responses to the WMT survey between September 21 and October 6, 2020. Respondents were 54.4% female and 43.8% male. By age, 70 (24.9%) were age 25-39; 171 (60.9%) were 40-59; and 37 (13.2%) were 60 and older. Most respondents (236, 84%) had participated in WMT in the past. 

Over 70% were interested in participating in WMT even if there were no spring races: 44% were interested in training for a marathon and 46% for a half marathon. For 75% of respondents, it was important or very important that RRRC’s WMT be inclusive of runners of all paces. Because of COVID-19, 11% were not interested in participating in group runs at this time. 

We got a lot of great information on what people valued regarding WMT. We also took an extra look at the 45 folks who had not done WMT in the past to see what would be of interest to them in a winter training program. 

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and shared your opinions and comments. 

Interested in being WMT Coach. Email vp-operations@rrrc.org

A few words from your officers 3/22/2020

A few words from your RRRC Officers

These are challenging times.

We will do our best to continue to engage and connect runners and walkers in the RVA community. We'll be using email and social media to stay in touch. As needed, we'll put on other low-cost virtual events to help keep us all motivated to stay physically active. 

We will work with our race directors to continue the behind-the-scenes planning for upcoming RRRC races so we all can gather on the roads and trails again when that is allowed. Those races may open for sign up later than usual and may be low-frill, but we plan to be ready.

We thank the wise leadership of RRRC over years past. RRRC established and has maintained a healthy financial reserve that will allow this organization to weather these uncertain times. 

We encourage you to stay physically active. We're preaching to the choir, but you know that running and other forms of physical activity offer untold benefits to our own and our communities' well-being.

3/22/2020

Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run 12/6/2020

It was a gorgeous day for a run in the woods

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 - 2020 gave us near perfect weather for the Bear Creek 10 Mile Trail Run. It was RRRC's second in-person race during the time of COVID-19. We had 167 runners finish the race. Check out all of the results and some race day photos (many linked to bib numbers) here. 
 
The runners were awesome in being social while maintaining social distance and in wearing face masks before the race start and as soon as they got back across the finish line. And the volunteers set the example with masks in place while at work. 

Congratulations to our top finishers:
Open Male
#1 - Cory Fines
#2 - Will Voelzke
#3 - Matthew Daly 

Open Female
#1 - Tressa Breindel
#2 - Allison Mineheart
#3 - Debbie Goodpasture

Masters - James Lane and Lesley Brocato
Grand Masters - Gary Martin and Kimberly Speed
Senior Grand Masters - Mark Cerny and Christiann Rogers

Thank you to the wonderful volunteers without whom this race could not have happened. They cheered, provided encouragement, and overall stepped up to get the jobs done that needed doing. Thank you to Heather Herman, Julie Wilcox, Blair Wilcox, Andrew Hersey, Carl Patow, Megan Cruz, Shawn Lafland, Ben Shaw, Francie Mann, Paul Davis, Suzi Silverstein, Ben Walters, Rachel Sloan, George Turner, Flora Hezel, Lisa Ziropoulo, Rebecca Randolph, Stephanie Millholland, Karen Holt, Michael Muldowney, Andrea Norris, Aaron Townsend, Rick Kwiatkowski, Catherine Dueweke, Erin Hamilton, Donna Schultz, Katherine Zampolin, and Victoria Hauser.

We also cannot thank enough Glenn Melton on the truck, Marcy George playing the check-in tablets, and Anne Zielinski-Brown (and Stephen Brown) running the timing equipment. Finally, thank you to race directors Ralph Gibbs, Jr. and Dave Trump.

RRRC member Keira D'Amato is not letting any of 2020 go to waste 12/7/2020

RRRC member Keira D'Amato is not letting any of 2020 go to waste

RRRC member Keira D’Amato ran 51:23 to set a new women’s-only American 10-mile record at the invite-only Up Dawg Ten Miler on November 24^th in Washington, D.C. Read about her race in the Washington Post. (Photo credit Bob Burgess)

Keira is not letting any of 2020 go to waste. She’s scheduled to race in the Marathon Project in Arizona on December 20. You can support Keira by joining her team in the Marathon Project Virtual Challenge. 

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 67 Amended 11/15/2020

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 67 Sixth Amended (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency 7

This amended Executive Order is effective November 13, 2020 for Virginia's "Phase Three Tightening of Certain Temporary Restrictions due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)."

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

A. Business Restrictions

5. Fitness and Exercise Facilities

Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, sports facilities, and exercise facilities may continue to operate indoor and outdoor activities, provided such businesses comply with the Guidelines for All Business Sectors and the sector-specific guidelines for fitness and exercise facilities expressly incorporated by reference herein. Such guidance includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

a. Patrons, members, and guests who are not Family members must remain at least ten feet apart during all activities except where necessary for the physical safety of an individual.

b. Instructors and all participants of group exercise and fitness classes who are not Family members must maintain at least ten feet of physical distancing between each other at all times...

d. The total number of attendees (including both participants and instructors) in all group exercise and fitness classes cannot exceed the lesser of 75% of the minimum occupancy load on the certificate of occupancy or 25 persons.

13. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the following requirements:

a. The total number of spectators cannot exceed the lesser of 30% of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue, if applicable, or 25 spectators per field. Races or marathons may have up to 250 participants, provided staggered starts separate runners into groups of 25 or less.

b. Conduct screening of coaches, officials, staff, and players for COVID-19 symptoms prior to admission to the venue/facility.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread associated with indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities, consult the Virginia Department of Health’s “Considerations for Recreational Sports” webpage, which can be found here.

RRRC's Virtual First Day 5K started our New Year 1/11/2021

RRRC's Virtual First Day 5K started our New Year

221 runners and walkers signed up for RRRC's Virtual First Day 5K. See everyone's Results. 

Congratulations to DJ Vile who posted a finish time of 20:22 and won the award for finishing closest to 20:21. He actually ran two 5Ks trying to get it perfect: one on Saturday in 20:19 and one on Sunday in 20:22.

Thank you to all participants who posted Photos in RunSignup. It was great to see your smiling faces, along with creative routes & "first" signs on your run! Three winners among those who posted photos were randomly selected to receive gift certificates from Lucky Road Run Shop. The winners were Margaret L. Broaddus, Timothy Stewart, and Heidi Villanueva.

Thank you to the 40 individuals who donated a total of $453 to RRRC's scholarship fund. Applications for high school seniors will be available in late spring.

Thank you to new race directors Victoria Hauser and Suzi Silverstein for their work this year.

Look for those First Day 5K runners sporting their new RRRC neck gaiters.

Virtual Toy Run 5K raised over $1,000 for Toys for Tots 1/3/2021

Virtual Toy Run 5K raised over $1,000 for Toys for Tots

Thank you to the 59 runners and walkers who registered for the Virtual Toy Run 5K this year! Your registrations and donations raised over $1,000 for the United States Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots here in the Richmond area! Thank you to race directors Nikkia Young and Joe Flynn for continuing the Toy Run tradition in 2020.

RRRC Frostbite 12K, presented by Final Gravity Brewing Co. - 2/3/2021

RRRC Frostbite 12K, presented by Final Gravity Brewing Co., was an in-person and virtual success

Sunday, January 24 - There was a bite in the air for the 2021 RRRC Frostbite 12K, presented by Final Gravity Brewing Co.. 211 runners finished the in-person race and 145 runners posted times for their virtual 12Ks. The chance to race and run in-person was appreciated by all, although the course did manage to cram a little extra elevation in this smaller package for 2021.

Congratulations to the top finishers (Click here for all Results):

First female open - Tressa Breindel, 48:25
First male open - David Brown, 41:18
First female master - Lesley Brocato, 57:05
First male master - Robert Green, 47:58

Gift certificates will be mailed out soon to top finishers. In addition, there will be a few gift certificates for randomly selected runners.

Check out quite a few race photos on the club's Facebook site.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this in-person race event possible. Thank you to the City of Richmond's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities that worked with us to put on the race in a new location. Thank you to our sponsors - Final Gravity Brewing Co. and Lucky Road Run Shop.

Finally, a huge thanks to race directors Mara George and Chris Mason (left) who pulled RRRC's first in-person race of 2021 all together. 

RRRC Grand Prix Competition 11/22/2020

2021 Grand Prix Competition is open for registration (no cost)!

The Grand Prix Competition is RRRC’s free running competition that encourages and rewards speed, participation and volunteerism.

We're optimistic for 2021, but anticipate that COVID-19 will continue to impact RRRC races. We hope to host many of our club races in-person, but each of those races will have a virtual option if local or state directives require limits on participation or continue to recommend the wearing of masks and social distancing. If a 2021 Grand Prix club race cannot be held in-person, RRRC will host a virtual race. So GP participants can earn race points for in-person or virtual races, earn place points for in-person races, and earn volunteer points supporting our races and other club activities.

SignUp  Check out the GP rules for details, including other changes because of COVID-19.

RRRC Advanced 10K Training 11/6/2020

RRRC Advanced 10K Training (A10K) started Sat, Jan 30 but you can still sign up

This program is designed for intermediate to advanced runners with a goal of completing a 10K race in less than one hour. In support of our runner’s ambitions, the 2021 program is a 12-week program that provides a defined range of weekly volume for both the intermediate or advanced runner supplemented with prescriptive pacing guidance for tempo and track workouts. Tempo runs will be Saturday mornings from the RRRC Club House. Track workouts will be a weekday evening (TBD) at Sports Backers' Stadium.

This is an in-person program (if permitted by local and state directives).

Check here for more information about the A10K training program.

SignUp 

Executive Order 72 1/3/2021

Virginia Governor's Executive Order 72 (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency 9

This Executive Order is effective December 14, 2020 and shall remain in full force and effect January 31, 2021.

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

13. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the following requirements:

a. For sports played indoors, spectators must be limited to 25 persons per field. For sports played outdoors, spectators are limited to two guests per player. The total number of spectators cannot exceed 30 percent of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue.
b. Races or marathons may have up to 250 participants, provided staggered starts separate runners into groups of 25 or less.
c. Conduct screening of coaches, officials, staff, and players for COVID-19 symptoms prior to admission to the venue/facility.
d. Employees must wear face coverings while working in their place of employment.
e. Spectators must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth at all times.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread associated with indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities, consult the Virginia Department of Health’s “Considerations for Recreational Sports” webpage, which can be found here.

Congrats again to Keira D'Amato 1/3/2020

Congrats again to Keira D'Amato

RRRC member Keira D'Amato delivered on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 at The Marathon Project in Chandler, AZ. She covered the 26.2 miles in 2:22:56 to place second behind Sara Hall.

In the process, Keira set a personal best by over 10 minutes and claimed the 7^th spot among the top 10 fastest American women marathoners. And she took the D'Amato family marathon record away from her husband Anthony (2:31:49). Photo credit @kevmofoto

Keira D'Amato 2/28/2021

Congrats again to Keira D'Amato on another OTQ

Saturday, Feb. 28, 2021 - RRRC member Keira D'Amato ran 32:16.82 to finish 2^nd in an elite 10,000 meters race on the track at the Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier in Austin, TX. Her time qualifies her to compete in the 10,000 meters at U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June.

Executive Order 72 Amended 2/24/2021

Virginia Governor's Executive Order Eases Some Restrictions

The Third Amendment to Executive Order 72 (2021) and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine -Easing-of-Commonsense-Surge-Restrictions-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19) is effective March 1, 2021. 

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

13. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the sector-specific guidelines for recreational sports, which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. Such guidance includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

b. Races or marathons may have up to 1000 participants, provided staggered starts separate runners into groups of 25 or less.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread associated with indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities, consult the Virginia Department of Health’s “Considerations for Recreational Sports” webpage, which can be found here.

When and where RRRC can hold races still remains dependent on finding a venue with sufficient capacity and obtaining permissions from local governments. You can anticipate that announcements about a specific race may occur only 1-2 months before the event.  

Executive Order 72 Amended 3/23/2021

Virginia Governor's Executive Order Further Eases Some Restrictions

The Fourth Amendment to Executive Order 72 (2021) and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine - Further Easing of Commonsense Surge Restrictions Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was effective April 1, 2021. 

We're sharing relevant excerpts that guide decisions on club races and training programs.

I. CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS A. BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS

11. Recreational Sports

Indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities are permitted, provided participants and organizers of recreational sports activities comply with the sector-specific guidelines for recreational sports, which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. Such guidance includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

b. Races or marathons must use a ratio of 40 square feet per person to determine occupancy limits – only square footage that is likely to be accessed may be included. For example, a 100,000 square foot race course would have an occupancy load of 2,500 – of which no more than 30% (750 persons) shall be permitted. Races and marathons organizers must stagger starts and separate runners into groups of 50 or less.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread associated with indoor and outdoor recreational sports activities, consult the Virginia Department of Health’s “Considerations for Recreational Sports” webpage, which can be found here.

II. CONTINUED REQUIREMENT TO WEAR MASKS

B. Masks Required – Outdoors

All individuals in the Commonwealth aged five and older must cover their mouth and nose with a mask, as described and recommended by the CDC, when outdoors and unable to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from other individuals who are not Family members as defined in section I, subsection D, paragraph 2.

When and where RRRC can hold races still remains dependent on finding a venue with sufficient capacity and obtaining permissions from local governments. You can anticipate that announcements about a specific race may occur only 1-2 months before the event.  

Carytown 10K @ Pocahontas State Park 5-2-2021

Carytown 10K @ Pocahontas State Park was a success

For this year's RRRC Carytown 10K on Sunday, May 2, the streets of Carytown were replaced by the dirt and pine needles of Pocahontas State Park's Bright Hope Trail, but the running, walking, and camaraderie was just the same. It was a beautiful morning for in-person racing.

237 runners and walkers completed the course. 59 folks posted times for the virtual event. Check out everyone's results.

Congratulations to the top finishers of the in-person race:

First male open - Travis Booker, 36:46
First female open - Linsey Cousins, 42:37

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this in-person race event possible. Thank you to the rangers at Pocahontas State Park who worked with RRRC to put on the race in this new location. Finally, a huge round-of-applause to race director Anne Brown who led the team that made it all happen. 

New Runner Program 2021

The New Runners Program is back for 2021

Do you want to start running or get back into running? RRRC has the perfect 6-week program to help you start and succeed. All runners and walkers welcome!

The New Runners Training will meet for six (6) weeks on Wednesday evenings (6:00-7:30 PM) at Richmond's Bryan Park. The first session is Wednesday, May 12. 

Head Coach Herv Sherd and his assistant coaches will help you build up your running so you can run one or more of RRRC's summer 5Ks (Thanks Dad 5K, the Cul-de-sac 5Ks, Pony Pasture 5K) or other 5Ks in the community.

SignUp $5.00 registration fee.

RRRC College Scholarship Program 2021

RRRC is accepting applications for its College Scholarship Program

RRRC has a scholarship program for Richmond-area high school seniors involved in running or running-related activities. In 2021, RRRC will award up to three (3) $2,000 scholarships to students who have and will contribute to the running community and represent the beneficial aspects of running as a healthy lifestyle.  
 
Each RRRC scholarship will be a one-year, non-renewable award of $2,000. To be eligible, a student must be:
1.     A graduating high school senior who resides or attends school in the Richmond area;
2.     Accepted at an accredited institution of higher education; and
3.     Involved in running in some capacity (e.g., as a cross-country or track team member, as a team manager or trainer, as a member of a running or track club, or volunteer in a running activity).
 
Click here for details, including the application instructions and form. All applications and documentation must be received on or before midnight, May 31, 2021. 

Special thanks to Colonial Granite for helping to support the 2021 RRRC College Scholarship Program.

Whitney Richman on National Team 5/11/2021

RVA runner selected for the U.S. team for the 24 Hour World Championships

May 11, 2021 - Whitney Richman is one of 12 athletes offered spots to represent the U.S. at the 24 Hour World Championships in October in Romania. On the women's team, she joins Camille Herron, Courtney Dauwalter, Marisa Lizak, Micah Morgan, and Pam Smith.  

In December, Whitney qualified by running 139.69 miles at the Desert Solstice 24 Hour and 100 Mile Track Invitational in Phoenix, Ariz. Midlothian woman runs 130 miles in 24 hours to qualify for world championship (Richmond Times Dispatch, Dec. 24, 2020) Photo credit: Howie Stern.

Whitney has been running extremely well at the ultra distances on the track, road, and trails for many years (UltraSignup). While we may not see her at RRRC's "short" races, we applaud Whitney's athleticism and thank her for being an inspiration to all RVA runners.

RRRC Stratford Hills 10K 5/29/2021

Stratford Hills 10K was our Memorial Day weekend race

Saturday, May 29 - Congratulations to everyone who completed the RRRC Stratford Hills 10K! 

RESULTS ARE POSTED - 109 runners/walkers completed the in-person race and 17 posted times for the virtual race. 

Congratulations to our top finishers of the in-person race:
Male Open - Harrison Toney, 31:38
Female Open - Kerri Toney, 39:33

And a BIG THANKS to all who made it possible: the volunteers guiding, cheering on, and supporting the runners and walkers, our sponsors Road Runner Running Store and Outpost Richmond, the officers of the Richmond Police Department, and our race director Nikkia Young.

RRRC Pony Pasture 5k 7/24/2021