Marathon on pace to break event entry record
The 2009 SunTrust Richmond Marathon is expected to set a new record for the most entries in the event’s 32-year history by race day. As of Monday, October 19, almost 4,700 runners had registered for the marathon, quickly approaching the record total of 5,109 that signed up for 2007’s 30th Anniversary race. With three and a half weeks left to register, a total marathon field of 5,300 is expected by race day on Saturday, November 14.
The McDonald’s Half Marathon, in just its second year, is also on pace to shatter last year’s entry record. Almost 4,500 participants are currently registered for the race, meaning the 2008 race total of 4,619 should be broken in the next week. A total of 5,500 Half Marathoners are expected to register by race day.
Combined, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon, HCA Virginia 8k and Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run are expected to have a total field of almost 16,000 participants, well ahead of last year’s record number of 14,801.
The SunTrust Richmond Marathon will be held on Saturday, November 14 beginning at 8 a.m. at 7th and Broad Streets in downtown Richmond. It is preceded by the HCA Virginia 8k at 7 a.m. and the McDonald’s Half Marathon at 7:30 a.m. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run takes place on Friday evening, November 13 at 7 p.m. in the area surrounding The Diamond/Ashe Center/Sports Backers Stadium.
Online entries for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon, HCA Virginia 8k and Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run will be accepted at www.richmondmarathon.org up until Wednesday night, Nov. 11. After that, people can sign up in person at the Race Expo at Arthur Ashe Center on Thursday, November 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday, November 13 from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. There is no Race Day registration.
<b>Course changes for 2009</b>
Both the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and McDonald’s Half Marathon feature course changes this year.
The SunTrust Richmond Marathon course now takes runners from Grove Ave. to Cary St. via Maple Ave., rather than Granite Ave. The change comes at the request of the Libbie & Grove Shopping Association in order to show their support for the race and promote their retail district.
The McDonald’s Half Marathon course features more significant changes designed to enhance the race experience for participants. The course now take runners out and back on a portion of Brookland Park Boulevard and on a loop through Bryant Park. As a result, the loop through The Diamond/Sports Backers Stadium complex and the twists and turns through the neighborhood surrounding Confederate Avenue have been eliminated. Course maps for all the races can be found at www.richmondmarathon.org/course_info.htm.
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