At Sports Backers, our mission is to inspire people to live actively. Engaging underserved populations is one of our core values and one way we act on this value is by offering Income Based Rates for our events. These special rates are offered to those who qualify and would otherwise not be able to participate.

Those who qualify are eligible for a special registration rate for all Sports Backers events and training teams. The rate is event/training team specific. To learn more and apply please visit the Income Based Rate page.

Questions? Need more information, please email [email protected].

Entry fees are non-refundable, even in the case of a race postponement, format changes, cancellation and/or if you are unable to participate; race numbers and entries cannot be transferred to person. No exceptions. This means once we have received your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate, and you may not give or sell your number or timing chip to anyone else. Anyone found participating with another person’s number will be disqualified and both people will be barred from future Sports Backers events, including the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k and Allianz Richmond Marathon.

You may defer your registration from the 2025 Allianz Richmond Marathon, CarMax Richmond Half Marathon or VCU Health Richmond 8k to the 2026 event. You may only defer to and from the same event: 2025 8k to 2026 8k, 2025 Half to 2026 Half or 2025 Full to 2026 Full. Deferred registrations may not be transferred to another person. Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances. The fee to defer a registration is $10 for the 8k and $25 for the half or full marathons through September 15 and then $20 for the 8k and $35 for the half or full marathons from Sept 1 – October 30. All deferrals must be done by October 30 and may be used only for the 2025 event. You may only defer an entry once (i.e., if you defer your 2025 entry to 2026, you will not be able to defer it again to 2027). 

Please note: Training team registrations have different deferral rules and deadlines. Check each Training Team page for details.

TO BEGIN THE DEFERRAL PROCESS, CLICK HERE AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS.

Still have questions? Please e-mail [email protected].

There will be no refunds and no transfer of entries from person-to-person. You may switch between the three events (8k, half, and full) for a $10 distance switch fee if going down in distance. If going up in distance, it’s $10 plus the difference in entry fee at the time of the switch. If you are already signed up for one race and want to switch to the other, you may do so online through November 5 or in person at the Race Expo, provided the race you are switching to has not reached its capacity. You will not receive a refund of any entry fees.

To transfer to a training team you will only pay the difference in entry fee at the time of the switch. Each training team has different transfer deadline, make sure to visit the specific training team page for more details.

PLEASE NOTE: If you deferred your race entry from 2024 to 2025 and would now like switch distances or to a training team, you must email [email protected] in order to process the switch.

1. SWITCHING TO A LOWER DISTANCE EVENT:

EXAMPLE: If you registered for the half marathon and now want to do the 8k, you would pay the $10 distance switch fee.

TO BEGIN THE SWITCHING PROCESS, CLICK HERE AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS. Make sure to select “TRANSFER EVENT” to complete your distance switch.

2. SWITCHING TO A HIGHER DISTANCE EVENT:

EXAMPLE:  If you registered for the half marathon for $90 and would like to switch to the marathon in July when the marathon’s entry fee is $125, you will owe $45 ($35 difference in entry fee + $10 distance switch fee).

PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] FOR MORE DETAILS TO SWITCH TO A HIGHER DISTANCE EVENT.

3. SWITCHING TO A TRAINING TEAM:

EXAMPLE:  You are already registered for the half marathon for $90 and would like to switch to Half Marathon Training Team in June when the entry fee is $155, you will owe $65 (only the difference).

TO BEGIN THE SWITCHING PROCESS, CLICK HERE AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS.

Still have questions? Please e-mail [email protected].

You may switch between the in-person to the Virtual event of the same distance (ie. in-person marathon for virtual marathon) for no fee. To begin the switch process, click here and follow the prompts. If you have any issues transfer please email [email protected] with your shipping address (packet mailing is included with your virtual registration).

You may switch between the virtual to the in-person event of the same distance (ie. virtual 8k for in-person 8k) by paying the difference in entry fee at the time of the switch. If wish to transfer to the in-person event, please email [email protected], for more details.

If you need to make a change to your registration, you may do so online.  You have the ability to change the following online through October 30 unless otherwise noted:

• Predicted time
• Gender
• Shirt size (until September 30)
• Address
• Birthdate
• E-mail address

To edit any of your registration information, click here for instructions.

If you need to change information other than is listed above, please e-mail [email protected].

Yes! The Allianz Richmond Marathon is a great event for first-timers as well as anyone trying to qualify for Boston. In fact, we are one of the top 25 races most frequently used to qualify for the Boston Marathon, based on the number of accepted entrants into the event.

Packet pick-up will take place at the Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, November 13 from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Friday, November 14 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A photo ID or QR Code is required to pick up your race packet.  You may pick up a race packet for another pre-registered runner, provided you have a copy of their photo ID or QR Code.

Have your bib number and shirt mailed to you!

Can’t make it to the expo to pick up your packet? We offer the option of paying to have your bib number and shirt mailed to you! The cost is $35 per person through September 15 and from September 16-October 30, the fee is $45. You can add packet mailing during the registration process or if you are already registered please follow these steps.  No packet mailing will be offered after October 30.

Race Day Packet Pickup

Can’t make it to the expo, and rather pick up your bib race morning? We now offer the option to pay for a limited Race Day packet-pick-up for $45, which will include receiving your bib on race morning and your shirt once you have finished. You MUST purchase this in advance during registration. If you have already registered and want to add race day packet pick-up to your registration, please follow these steps. This option will close Friday, November 14^th at 9pm. If you purchase this option, you will receive an email closer to race day with location and time details.

Race Day registration will be offered from 6 to 7:20 a.m. on November 15 at Hilton Richmond Downtown (enter on Broad Street near 5th Street). This is ONLY for those that have not already registered for one of the races.

We encourage the seasoned and first time marathoners (including walkers) alike to take part. Our course, however, is only open for 7 hours. This requires a 16:02 per mile pace. You must pass these points by the following times in order to continue with course support:

Mile 7 – 9:05 a.m.
Mile 11 – 10:10 a.m.
Mile 16 – 11:30 p.m.
Mile 20 – 12:30 p.m.

The half marathon course is open for 4 hours.

You can click HERE to see if you are registered.

Nuun Endurance is the official replenisher of the Allianz Richmond Marathon and is served at every water stop. GU is the official energy gel. Assorted flavors (Vanilla Orange, Strawberry Kiwi, Lemonade, Sea Salt Chocolate) are offered at Miles 14 and 21 on the marathon course and Mile 8 on the half marathon course.

Yes, both hydration packs and race vests are permitted on the marathon, half, and 8k courses.

Estes will offer bag check on race morning starting at 6am near the start of each race. You MUST use a clear plastic bag for your belongings. Clear bags will be provided at the expo at the Estes booth and on race day at the trucks. Volunteers will be on hand to help you attach the tear-off tag on your race bib to your bag. Once you have finished your race, you can pick up your bag in the parking lot of the Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar, adjacent to the CoStar Group Post Race Party.

Start Line Bag Check Locations:

• Allianz Richmond Marathon – Southside of 3rd Street at Broad Street
• CarMax Richmond Half Marathon – 9th Street at the Northside of Broad Street
• VCU Health Richmond 8k – Southside of Broad Street at 9th Street

Sports Backers invests in the future of active living in our region through our youth programs such as Kids On The Move and the ALL Stars Program. From the youngest kids getting an opportunity to be a part of a run club, reaping the socio-emotional benefits while moving more, to those on their way to adulthood and applying to college, Sports Backers is passionate about supporting Richmond region youth. We do this by providing the resources they need to be successful, whether that be a pair of running shoes for a child in need, covering the cost of bus transportation for a run club to attend one of our signature events, or providing a scholarship to a promising student-athlete. Your donation makes it possible for us to support the most important part of our community – our kids. They are the future and we know that by investing in them and instilling healthy habits now, it benefits us all.

$100 – Scholarship contribution

$50 – Running shoes for 1 child

$35 – Team t-shirts for 5 kids

$15 – Race entry for 1 child

We always need volunteers for the Allianz Richmond Marathon! There are many different and fun opportunities for you to be a part of Richmond’s best running race. And, when you volunteer, you receive a cool marathon volunteer t-shirt.

Visit our volunteer website to sign up! »

Richmond-Area Marathon Championship

The Allianz Richmond Marathon is awarding the top local finishers with cash prizes! Any current resident of the Richmond-Petersburg MSA is eligible to win prize money for being the first Richmond resident to cross the finish line at the Allianz Richmond Marathon. Prize money will be awarded to the top three males and females as follows:

Place Amount
1…………………………..$500
2…………………………..$300
3…………………………..$100

Please note: Plaques will be awarded to the top three local male and female finishers in the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon and VCU Health 8k. Richmond-Area Marathon Championship prize money and plaques will be mailed after the event.

Requirements to be considered for free entry*

If you have run under the following times, you may be considered for a free entry. Complete the Elite Athlete Entry Request form to receive more information. Email [email protected] with any questions. There is a limited capacity of complimentary entries and applications will close at the end of the day, Sunday, October 5 or whenever we reach capacity; whichever comes first.

*All times must have been run in the last 18 months
*Comparable times from other distances are considered