ALL ABOARD!!

Summer's hottest half includes a 5k!

If you’ve never been to Ashland, Virginia look no further than the Ashland Half Marathon & 5k to find yourself soaking in every ounce of the colorful town! Dubbed "The Center of the Universe", this quaint community has historic homes, a bustling downtown, and delicious restaurants and breweries. Each course promises an escape to small-town Virginia and the chance to run alongside a passing train. All aboard because this is one race you can’t miss! 

Ashland Half Marathon & 5k is an event of Sports Backers and Richmond Road Runners Club

Schedule

FRIDAY AUGUST 23

PACKET PICK UP

4:00 - 6:00 PM

Location: TBD

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

PACKET PICK UP

5:45 - 6:30 AM

Near the Start/Finish area (the corner of North Center Street and Henry Clay Road)

HALF STARTS

6:30 AM

5K STARTS

7:05 am

COURSES CLOSE

10:00 AM

Photo ID or Registration QR Code is required for packet pick-up. You may pick up a packet for another participant with a copy of their photo ID or QR Code.

RACE DAY

PARKING

Parking in Ashland is at a premium, participants are strongly encouraged to carpool to the race.

3.5 HOUR HALF COURSE TIME LIMIT

(16 minute/mile page)

HALF COURSE CHECK POINTS

• Mile 6.3 Mile Mark by 8:11 AM
• MIle 10(ish) Mile Mark by 9:10 AM

If you missed these checkpoints you will be asked to board the shuttle to the finish. The course closes at 10:00 AM & will no longer have traffic protection, medical aid, or water stops.

5k COURSE CHECK POINTS

The roads on the 5k course will reopen as the last participants pass each check point.

REFILL STATIONS

• Water & Nuun will be near miles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, & 12. ALL refill stations will be CUP LESS. Your MUST carry your own hydration vessel.
• Energy Gels

Sports Backers offers the Kids On The Move program to make active living fun and accessible to kids throughout our region. Kids On The Move provides free training opportunities for youth of all ages, abilities and backgrounds and teaches kids that physical activity can be fun and rewarding. For schools in low income communities, Kids On The Move can cover the cost of shoes, team t-shirts, transportation, and event entries so that ALL kids can participate. Donations are critical to the program’s success. Each time a child laces up his or her shoes, your donation will be giving them the most important gift of all - a path to good health and fitness!

Let’s Go, RVA! Sports Backers mission is to inspire people to live actively. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to producing quality participatory events that motivate residents & visitors to be more active, hosting group exercise programs for both youth & adults, & advocating for safe bike & pedestrian infrastructure. 

Although we have had to morph and change our normal programming and events over the past two years, we have not stopped pursing our mission. And we are excited to be back to hosting in-person events/programs and have been met with an equal amount of excitement from the community and participants. 

Cancellation Policy

Entry fees are non-refundable, even in the case of a race cancellation, postponement, event format changes, and/or if you are unable to participate. Race numbers and entries cannot be transferred to another 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 and/or Richmond Road Runners Club events.

Deferrals: You may defer your registration from the 2024 Ashland Half & 5k to the 2025 event for $20 for the Half & $10 for the 5k. The deferral deadline is August 11, 2024; no deferrals will be accepted after this date. The deferral may be used only for the 2025 event. You may only defer an entry once.