cart

Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

Hello!

As we navigate our ever-changing world, our mission to inspire you to live an active lifestyle remains. Now, more than ever, the Sports Backers team wants to keep you moving!

Our team is busy brainstorming ways to help make physical activity a bright spot in your day. Although we won’t be sharing any high fives at a Kids Run Club or passing out medals at a finish line anytime soon, our team is ready to cheer you on! Stay connected with the community by participating in one of our workout challenges, break up your day with an online workout, or have fun completing a virtual event.

We have compiled a list of new events and opportunities, current event and program updates, online Fitness Warrior classes, and more. You can help by sending us links to great workout videos, fastest known times in RVA, or just funny anecdotes about active living in the era of social distancing. Just as things keep evolving, there is no limit to fun, so be sure to check back often!

Wash your hands, don’t exercise in large groups, and together we’ll celebrate at a finish line soon! #LetsGoRVA

– Your friends at Sports Backers

Online Workouts

Fitness Warriors

Free fitness classes on Zoom, led by the Warriors you know and love! Check out the schedule and email us to get the link to the class (or classes!) of your choice! Can’t make it to a Zoom class?  Check out our free online video workouts created by trained fitness professionals.

Kids Run RVA

Free online video workouts designed especially for kids!

Sports Backers Facebook

Simple and easy-to-follow exercise plans are shared daily on our Facebook page.

Virtual Events

Great American 5000 – June 14 through September 14

The Great American 5000 is a virtual team run from San Francisco to New York – and everywhere in between! Assemble your crew of up to 12 or up to 24 people, run a cumulative 24 hours a day, and start to chip away at the 5,000k (3,107-mile) journey. An online map will track each group’s virtual progress across the country and a leaderboard will display the standings each day, with groups in open, female, and co-ed categories!

Great American Ride – July 11 through September 11

The Great American Ride is a 3,700-mile virtual team bike ride along the route of the Great American Rail-Trail™, a developing trail that is more than 50% complete and will one day connect over thousands of miles and 12 states between Washington State and the District of Columbia. We’re combining the camaraderie of team cycling with the fun and sightseeing of a long-distance solo ride. The Great American Ride is a journey that you can experience from whatever corner of the world you call home.

Virtual Virginia Credit Union Moonlight Ride – August 15 through 31

While we can’t ride through Northside together at night, we’re taking the Virginia Credit Union Moonlight Ride virtual! Sign up to do either 3, 8, or 28-miles and we’ll mail you a sweet event shirt, and a bike light to keep you safe! Choose when you ride and don’t forget to include the kiddos as this is a child-friendly event. Let’s celebrate the summer together and ride Richmond!

Great European 2500 – October 3 through December 3

The overwhelming success of the Great American 5000 has spawned the Great European 2500, the sightseeing journey of a lifetime! Assemble your crew of up to 6, 12, or 24 people and enjoy the virtual 1553-mile journey through England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary. The event will kick off right in front of Buckingham Palace and will take you under the Eiffel Tower, over the Swiss Alps, right past the Hofbräuhaus and former Olympic sites…basically, we’ll make sure you don’t miss any of the attractions! An online map will track each group’s virtual progress across Europe and a leaderboard and map will display real time standings, with groups in open, female, and co-ed categories.

Virtual 10k – Now through October 18

Don’t let anything stand in the way of you being a part of one of the nation’s most popular events. If you can’t make it to the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k on September 26 you can still be a part of the fun by participating in the Virtual 10k. Run or walk 6.2 miles on your own, send us proof, and we’ll send you an event t-shirt, bag, and the official finisher medal! We’ll even include a Virtual Badge to share on social media.

7 Marathons 7 Continents – November 7 through January 31

We all have bucket list items! This winter it’s time to kick it up a notch and virtually travel around the globe in the pursuit of seven marathons on seven continents. From the Grand Canyon, to Ross Island in Antarctica– escape your normal routes and feel like you’re halfway across the world! Log your miles, whether it is a walk around the block or your long run for the week, every mile counts as you race across the world. Not sure you’re in for 183.4-miles? That’s okay, go for seven half marathons and make it 91.7!

So Long 2020 presented by Capital One – December 31

It’s FINALLY time to ring in the New Year and to say we’re all ready is an understatement. Let’s flip the script and make the final hours of this infamous year a little brighter and say So Long 2020! Let’s tell 2020 to get lost with a final virtual 3.1 miles on December 31!

Workout Challenges

RVA Fit Crew – Ongoing

Celebrate Spring and challenge yourself to move a little (or a lot) every day. This Facebook group is where we will share training tips, routes, exercise ideas, encouragement, fun stuff, and more. Get active and let’s inspire one another! More than ever it’s time to stay healthy and stay motivated!

Building Healthy Habits Workout Tracker

Download our customizable 12-week workout tracker and make a plan to be active every day. Set your own goals and have fun checking the days off as you complete your daily activity. To make it easy, we will share a daily workout plan on our facebook page.

Event Updates (info updated thru 8/21)

We are closely monitoring the ever-changing updates on Coronavirus/COVID-19. We are regularly communicating with local and state health officials in order to make responsible decisions regarding our upcoming events and programs. The safety of our participants and our community is of the utmost importance to us, and all updates pertaining to our programs and events will be updated on this page.

Postponements / Cancellations / Adjustments

  • Richmond Marathon, Richmond Half Marathon, & Allianz Partners 8k – Nov. 7 – 22
    New dates and location! Take off from the start line in Dorey Park and conquer 26.2 miles along the Virginia Capital Trail any time between November 7-22. Click here for more info.
  • Patrick Henry Half Marathon – August 29, 2020
    Join us for an in-person event! The race capacity is limited to the first 500 registrants. Runners will start and end their socially-distanced journey in Poor Farm Park. Click here for more info.
  • Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k – Rescheduled for September 25-27, 2020
    If you are currently registered for the event, there are several options available to you. We can’t wait to see you in September!
  • Uncorked Half & 5k – On-site event canceled; Virtual option offered
    If you are currently registered for the event, there are several options available to you.
  • Dominion Energy Riverrock – Event canceled; Virtual experience offered
    If you are currently registered for the event, there are several options available to you. We’ve also come up with a virtual option that includes solo trail running and MTB options, plus a Virtual Experience on May 16. Click here for details!
  • Sports Backers Marathon Training Team – Underway
    We’re excited to announce that our Sports Backers Marathon Training Team is still on…we’re just changing things up a bit! MTT will be happening virtually until we’re given the all clear to run on the same pavement together. Click here for more info.
  • Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner – Virtual Event
    The dinner was canceled but scholarships were still awarded.
  • Fitness Warrior Classes – Outdoor and Online Classes
    Get your workout on by joining our Fitness Warriors for an outdoor class or on Zoom.
  • Kids Run RVA Run Clubs – Canceled, Available Online
    We still want you to move, so check out some ways to join Kids Run RVA at home.
  • RVA Bike Month – Will continue with modifications
    Features virtual and social distancing rides and experiences. Check out the details!
  • Anthem Corporate Run – Rescheduled for October 1-15 and Now Virtual
    Bring the team together for a spirit-boosting virtual 5k, fitness challenges, and more. Click here for details.
  • Sports Backers Run Bike Relay – Rescheduled for July 17-18
    Format changed to a 2-person or solo racer format, with a shortened course. Click here for details.
  • Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival – Canceled
  • Walmart Biz Bowl – Rescheduled for April 22, 2021
  • Marathon Jr. – Canceled
  • CarMax Tacky Light Run – December 11-13
    Format changed to a virtual race on courses across the region. Click here for details.

Currently Scheduled Without Changes

  • Trails & Ales – October 17, 2020