Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K Training Plans

customized for you and the race.

get started | $19.99
  • Smarter Training Plans Smarter Plans
  • Safe Training Plans Fewer Injuries
  • Successful Training Plans Better Results

Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K Training Plans

Custom Training Plans are designed around you and the Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K course. We take into account variables that no other training plans can match because we know how important it is to achieve your specific Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K goals.

  • Expert Training Plans

    expert plans

    Developed by certified coaches with time-tested results.

  • Runner Specific Training Plans

    Runner Specific

    We know you’re unique. Your training plan should match.

  • Race Specific Training Plans

    race Specific

    Race profile, time of year, and altitude all factor into our plans.

  • Affordable Training Plans

    affordable

    Custom plans shouldn’t cost more than the race itself.

ABOUT RICHMOND MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, AND 8K TRAINING PLANS

The Richmond Marathon was founded in 1978. Since then, runners have come from all over the country and the world to take part. Today, almost 20,000 people participate in the marathon, half marathon, and 8K race. The Richmond Marathon takes place in November each year, and it's known as one of "America's Friendliest Races" due to its top-notch on-course support and southern hospitality. Custom Training Plans can help you prepare for your 8K, half marathon, or full marathon with a training program that takes the racecourse and your current level of fitness into account. Our Richmond Marathon training plans, Richmond Half Marathon training plans, and Richmond 8K training plans are adjusted to the right intensity (not too hard, and not too easy!) to help you avoid burnout and injuries.

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.

Here’s what you’ll receive in your plan package:

  • Daily Plans

    DETAILED DAILY PLAN

  • Pace Chart

    Pace chart

  • Lift Workouts

    Lift workouts

  • Coaching Letter

    Letter from your coach

  • Mobility Workouts

    Mobility workouts

  • RPE Chart

    RPE chart

  • Running Podcast

    Podcast

  • Motivational Emails

    Weekly motivation email

How Training Plans Work

How it works

  1. Complete our proprietary runner questionnaire so we can get to know you better.
  2. Your custom Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K plan is built based on advanced analytics with expert coaching oversight.
  3. Receive your custom Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K , lifting + mobility guide, a letter from our coaches, and more within 24 hours.
  4. Finish the Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K with confidence.

Our method

  1. Certified Coaches

    With the expertise of USATF certified coaches and physical therapists, we built an advanced model to weigh the effects of runner-specific variables on training outcomes.

  2. Custom Race Profile

    We analyzed unique characteristics of hundreds of races across the country to build a “race profile” into our model that accounts for elevation gain, altitude, time of year, and more.

  3. Training Plan Model

    Our model generates a unique training plan for you and your race, and all plans are reviewed by a coach and hand-tweaked before they make their way to you.