Hold back on River Road
The descent to the James around miles 6 to 7.5 is the easiest place to lose your head. Take a few free seconds, not a few minutes, because you climb most of that back after mile 15.
Richmond, VA · Saturday, November 14, 2026
Richmond Marathon race guide
Richmond calls itself America’s Friendliest Marathon, and the course is friendly too: rolling rather than hilly, with about 480 feet of climbing. It loops west along Monument Avenue and River Road, crosses the James twice, and climbs back through the city’s north side before the race’s signature finish, a steep downhill on 5th Street to the riverfront. It’s one of the most popular Boston qualifiers in the country.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
The marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. Later corrals cross the line a few minutes after that.
Splits
Your Richmond Marathon02
Average pace
8:01/mi
- First half
- 1:45:10
- Second half
- 1:44:50
- Finish line
- 10:30 a.m.
Hover or tap a bar to see that mile.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Monument AvenueMile 3 · Should feel easy | 24:05 | 7:24 a.m. |
| Top of River RoadMile 5.7 · The high point. Effort, not pace | 45:50 | 7:46 a.m. |
| Huguenot RoadMile 7 · Cutoff: 9:05 a.m. | 55:59 | 7:56 a.m. |
| Forest Hill AvenueMile 11 · Cutoff: 10:10 a.m. | 1:28:09 | 8:28 a.m. |
| Halfway, Forest HillMile 13.1 · Even pace, or a few seconds behind | 1:45:10 | 8:45 a.m. |
| Belvidere StreetMile 16 · Off the bridge. Cutoff: 11:30 a.m. | 2:08:16 | 9:08 a.m. |
| Hermitage RoadMile 20 · Cutoff: 12:30 p.m. Race from here | 2:40:30 | 9:40 a.m. |
| Brook RoadMile 23 · Cutoff: 1:20 p.m. | 3:04:28 | 10:04 a.m. |
| FinishMile 26.2 · 5th & Byrd, on the riverfront | 3:30:00 | 10:30 a.m. |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 a.m. ET
- Start
- Broad Street, just west of 4th Street
- Finish
- 5th & Byrd Streets, downtown riverfront
- Time limit
- 7 hours (16:02 per mile). Pass mile 7 by 9:05 a.m., 11 by 10:10, 16 by 11:30, 20 by 12:30 p.m. and 23 by 1:20 p.m.
- Elevation gain
- About 480 ft
- Official site
- richmondmarathon.org
- Profile
- Gentle climbs to mile 6, a drop to the river, rolling in the middle, and a downhill finish
- Best for
- A Boston qualifier or a first marathon, with great crowd support
- Biggest mistake
- Pushing the River Road descent and the climb back from the James too hard
- Cutoffs
- Mile 7 by 9:05 a.m., mile 11 by 10:10, mile 16 by 11:30, mile 20 by 12:30 p.m., mile 23 by 1:20 p.m.
The course
Mile by mile, at your pace
- Miles0–3
Broad Street & Monument Avenue Flat
You start on Broad Street at 4th and head west, then turn onto Monument Avenue. The road rises gently, about 30 feet over the first three miles. It’s crowded and it feels easy. Settle in and don’t chase early splits.
8:02 /miMile 3 at 24:057:24 a.m.
- Miles3–6.2
Museum District & River Road Rolling
Westmoreland Street and Grove Avenue take you through the Museum District to River Road. The course keeps climbing gradually to its high point, about 265 feet, around mile 5.7. Run it by effort.
8:02 /miMile 6.2 at 49:487:50 a.m.
- Miles6.2–8
Down to the James Downhill
River Road drops about 150 feet toward Huguenot Road, and you cross the James on the Huguenot Bridge. It’s the biggest descent of the course. Keep your stride quick and light; your quads have a long way to go.
7:52 /miMile 8 at 1:03:598:04 a.m.
- Miles8–9.8
Riverside Drive Flat
Flat and shaded along the south bank of the river. A good place to lock into goal pace and start fueling.
8:04 /miMile 9.8 at 1:18:308:19 a.m.
- Miles9.8–11.5
Up to Westover Hills Climb
Scottview and Windsorview Drives climb about 60 feet away from the river to Forest Hill Avenue. It’s short but steep for this course. Ease off and let the pace come back at the top.
8:04 /miMile 11.5 at 1:32:138:32 a.m.
- Miles11.5–15.2
Forest Hill Avenue Rolling
Rolling along Forest Hill Avenue past Forest Hill Park and halfway, then gradually downhill on Semmes Avenue toward the river at 21st Street. The first cutoff points are behind you. Keep the effort steady.
7:59 /miMile 15.2 at 2:01:449:02 a.m.
- Miles15.2–18
Over the James & back uptown Climb
You cross the James again on the Belvidere Street bridge, then climb about 120 feet over the next three miles, through Oregon Hill and along Main Street to Arthur Ashe Boulevard. It’s gradual, but it comes as the race starts to bite.
8:08 /miMile 18 at 2:24:319:25 a.m.
- Miles18–24
Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Hermitage & Brook Roads Flat
North on Arthur Ashe Boulevard and Hermitage Road to Bryan Park, then back south along Bellevue Avenue and Brook Road. It’s mostly flat, around 200 feet, with a short rise near mile 19.5. Junk food at mile 22 and pickle juice at mile 23 if you need them.
7:59 /miMile 24 at 3:12:2510:12 a.m.
- Miles24–25.8
Lombardy & Broad Rolling
Back toward downtown, rolling gently with the crowds building. Hold your form. The best part is coming.
8:01 /miMile 25.8 at 3:26:5010:27 a.m.
- Miles25.8–26.2
The downhill finish Downhill
The race’s famous finish: a steep drop down 5th Street to Byrd Street, about 80 feet in the last few hundred yards. Let your legs go, but stay in control on tired quads.
7:34 /miFinish at 3:30:0010:30 a.m.
Every mile split for 3:30:00
| Mile | Terrain | Pace /mi | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 8:03 | 8:03 | 7:08 a.m. |
| 2 | Flat | 8:02 | 16:05 | 7:16 a.m. |
| 3 | Flat | 8:00 | 24:05 | 7:24 a.m. |
| 4 | Flat | 8:03 | 32:08 | 7:32 a.m. |
| 5 | Flat | 8:03 | 40:11 | 7:40 a.m. |
| 6 | Flat | 8:04 | 48:16 | 7:48 a.m. |
| 7 | Downhill | 7:43 | 55:59 | 7:56 a.m. |
| 8 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:03:59 | 8:04 a.m. |
| 9 | Flat | 7:58 | 1:11:57 | 8:12 a.m. |
| 10 | Climb | 8:11 | 1:20:08 | 8:20 a.m. |
| 11 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:28:09 | 8:28 a.m. |
| 12 | Rolling | 8:09 | 1:36:17 | 8:36 a.m. |
| 13 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:44:18 | 8:44 a.m. |
| 14 | Downhill | 7:55 | 1:52:13 | 8:52 a.m. |
| 15 | Downhill | 7:53 | 2:00:06 | 9:00 a.m. |
| 16 | Rolling | 8:10 | 2:08:16 | 9:08 a.m. |
| 17 | Rolling | 8:10 | 2:16:25 | 9:16 a.m. |
| 18 | Flat | 8:06 | 2:24:31 | 9:25 a.m. |
| 19 | Flat | 7:56 | 2:32:27 | 9:32 a.m. |
| 20 | Flat | 8:03 | 2:40:30 | 9:40 a.m. |
| 21 | Flat | 7:59 | 2:48:28 | 9:48 a.m. |
| 22 | Flat | 7:59 | 2:56:28 | 9:56 a.m. |
| 23 | Flat | 8:00 | 3:04:28 | 10:04 a.m. |
| 24 | Flat | 7:57 | 3:12:25 | 10:12 a.m. |
| 25 | Flat | 8:04 | 3:20:28 | 10:20 a.m. |
| 26 | Flat | 7:57 | 3:28:25 | 10:28 a.m. |
| Finish | Downhill | 7:12 | 3:30:00 | 10:30 a.m. |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Richmond Marathon
Run the climbs by effort
The climb to Westover Hills near mile 10 and the long climb back uptown from mile 15 to 18 will slow your splits. Let them. The middle of the course rewards steady effort more than steady pace.
Save a little for the finish
The last 20 blocks are mostly flat, then the 5th Street hill does the work for you. If you get to Broad Street with something left, you can finish fast.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Do long runs on rolling routes, with a sustained gentle climb in the second half.
- Practice short, quick strides on downhills so River Road and the 5th Street finish don’t hammer your quads.
- If you’re chasing a Boston qualifier, rehearse your goal pace on rolling terrain, not only on flat ground.
Race-day weather
Mid-November in Richmond is usually cool, with race mornings often in the 40s°F and finishing temperatures in the 50s. It can be cold and windy, or occasionally warm. Check the forecast in race week.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- The marathon starts on Broad Street just west of 4th Street. The half and 8K start nearby, so downtown is busy early.
- Hotels downtown are a short walk from the start, and the finish and post-race party are on the riverfront at Brown’s Island.
- Water stops are about every two miles until mile 20, then every mile.
Questions runners ask.
Is Richmond a good Boston qualifier?
Yes. The race says it’s one of the most frequently used Boston qualifiers. It’s rolling rather than flat, with about 480 feet of climbing, but the cool weather and downhill finish help.
What is the time limit?
Seven hours, which is 16:02 per mile. To keep course support you must pass mile 7 by 9:05 a.m., mile 11 by 10:10 a.m., mile 16 by 11:30 a.m., mile 20 by 12:30 p.m. and mile 23 by 1:20 p.m.
How hilly is the Richmond Marathon?
Rolling. The biggest features are the drop to the James around mile 7, the climb from the river to Westover Hills near mile 10, and the long climb back uptown after the Belvidere Street bridge from about mile 15 to 18. The finish is a steep downhill.
Where should friends and family watch?
Monument Avenue early, Forest Hill Avenue in the middle, Brook Road late in the race, and the finish on 5th Street. The course passes near downtown at the start and end, so spectators can see runners more than once.
Last checked October 21, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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