Let’s Go Rva!
Sports Backers fosters community through events, advocacy, and fitness, promoting a healthier, active lifestyle for all.
Get Moving With Our
Upcoming Events!
Sports Backers Marathon Training Team
Let Richmond’s running community carry you to 26.2.
June 13, 2026-September 12, 2026
Great American 5000
Run or walk 5,000 kilometers from San Francisco to New York with a team of up to 12 or 24 people! Log your miles, track your progress, and compete in this fun, friendly, team-based challenge that keeps the active community connected. Ready to race? Gather your crew and start your journey!
August 29, 2026
Ashland Half Marathon & 5k
Escape to small-town Virginia at the Ashland Half & 5k!
August 1, 2026
Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival
Feel the adrenaline as teams of 20 synchronized paddlers, guided by a drummer and steersperson, race 500 meters in majestic 40-foot dragon boats!
Building a Healthier Community
Fitness Warriors
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live an active lifestyle. Regardless of your neighborhood, income, or cultural background—being active is important to your overall health & well-being.
Bike Walk RVA
Bike Walk RVA, a Sports Backers program, advocates for safe, connected spaces to bike and walk for all ages and abilities. From the transformative Fall Line trail to neighborhood traffic calming and protected bike lanes, we empower advocates to shape a built environment that makes active transportation accessible and desirable for everyone.
Kids on the Move
Fitness should be FUN, and that’s why we’ve created an action-packed program designed specifically for kids. From creative exercises to running across a finish line, Kids On The Move makes staying active an adventure! Through a variety of program initiatives, children across the region make friends, build confidence, and learn healthy habits that will follow them through life.
FALL LIne
The Fall Line will be a transformational 43-mile long, north-south trail spine for our region’s active transportation network. It will connect seven localities in Central Virginia: Ashland, Hanover, Henrico, Richmond, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg.
Active RVA
The Active RVA Certification and Awards program recognizes the Richmond region’s exceptional employers and schools that are implementing innovative programs to promote physical activity. Hundreds of organizations have earned Active RVA Certification for their embrace of active living.
Volunteer
There are 8,000 people annually who volunteer to make Sports Backers and its events and programs the successes they are.
Donate
With your support, we can make this region a more attractive and vibrant place to live where safe opportunities to walk, run, bike, swim, or workout abound and where access to these activities are available to all.
Latest News & Updates
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Richmond Running Fever Continues as CarMax Richmond Half Marathon Reaches Capacity
Richmond Running Fever Continues as CarMax Richmond Half Marathon Reaches Capacity Written by: Nan Callahan, PR & Communications Manager Richmond’s running momentum persists as all half marathon entries are claimed months before race day RICHMOND, VA – There may be months until race day, but the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon has already set a personal…
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Episode 131 – Timmy Talks Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team
Episode 131 – Timmy Talks Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team With the Allianz Richmond Marathon reaching capacity, focus has shifted to the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon. The Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team is the perfect way to get race day ready, and it starts in August. Nan talked with half marathon training team…
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Episode 130 – We’re a Little Excited About The Allianz Richmond Marathon
Episode 130 – We’re A Little Excited About The Allianz Richmond Marathon This week, the Allianz Richmond Marathon sold out for the third consecutive year and faster than ever before. We asked the Sports Backers staff what makes race day so special, and challenged them to guess the color of this year’s shirt. The swag…
It’s Here! Sports Backers New Office & Active Living Hub
Located on the Fall Line trail, Sports Backers’ new headquarters and Active Living Hub is a vibrant center for community engagement and active living.