Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K Training Plans

Richmond’s mellow fall weather complement the flat, fast course that’s run entirely on paved surfaces. Only a few rolling hills punctuate the landscape, and race organizers say that the Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon are both considered to be an excellent event for first-time marathoners or half-marathoners. You can get a jump on the competition with a customized training plan that’s made just for you and the race you’re training for.

The 8K starts off the festivities with an out-and-back route that starts in downtown Richmond. The race heads toward the Fan District on Broad Street and then heads back to the finish at Brown Island on a flat, fast, and straight route. It’s a great race for newer racers or those looking to transition between a 5K and a 10K. A CTP Richmond 8K training plan prepares you for the race you’re about to run – no more guesstimating how much distance to add or subtract from a generic training plan.

The Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon commence at the intersection of 6th Street and Broad Street. Both the marathon and half marathon wind through the VCU campus before the half marathon takes a shortcut to the final portion of the full marathon course. The marathoners will proceed through the historic Fan District before crossing the James River. The race then takes runners down to Riverside Drive, parallel to the waterfront. Continuing on up through Forest Hill, the race then weaves back through VCU and heads northward. Runners will visit Joseph Bryan Park, a 262-acre public park on the northern side of the city before tackling the final stretch toward Brown Island and the finish line.

At Custom Training Plans, our Richmond Marathon training plans take your fitness level, previous running experience, and the route of the race itself into account – something that generic training plans just don’t do. Customized plans provide runners with an accurate, professionally developed path toward the start line, helping all types of athletes to build the fitness they’ll need to succeed. Whether your goal is to go from couch to marathon with the extra conditioning provided in our 24-week Richmond Marathon training plan, increase your distance with a Richmond Half Marathon training plan, or start out strong with a Richmond 8K training plan, trust CTP.