The Richmond Marathon
We’re back with another episode of Neil running a marathon. This time, we’re in Richmond, Virginia. Home of the World’s Friendliest Marathon. This trip was my first trip to RVA and I thought what better way to see the city than to run its marathon? Having no idea what to expect from the city and more excited to experience its topography and sights, I set a low expectation for my effort. I say that with an asterisk. Marathons are hard and I feel lucky to run them regularly. Anyone who runs one knows they test you mentally and physically, and anyone who believes they are having fun doing them isn’t being totally honest with themselves. Let’s talk about each chunk of the race and what was going inside of Neil’s head.
Before the start, every runner appears to be in a good mood. Of course there’s plenty of nervousness radiating off runners, but every runner I came in close contact with appeared to be in good spirits, excited (or faking it) about the task in front of them. A couple trips to the porta-potty and we were racing. A couple of miles up Broad street turned us into the Fan District. I don’t know the history of this area and no, I don’t mean cheering fans on the sideline. Red brick homes with plaque address signs lined a picturesque neighborhood. This was a classy crowd. Excited to cheer on racers, but not offering shots of Fireball and donut holes to easily impressionable marathon rookies. As we approached the 10k mark of the race, the median price of homes continued to climb. River Road dropped 180 feet in elevation before giving runners their first break from fans crossing the James River on Huguenot. I want to emphasize how cool a city is with a water feature. This river spreads wide with rocks and waterfalls appearing at random. We dropped even farther down to the river by way of Riverside Drive.
This marathon is friendly not just because of its fan turnout, but the volunteers to make sure each and every runner has a memorable experience while they suffer. Every aid station was full of diverse crowds of people excited to hand you a cup or a banana or whatever Noogs are. One of my guiding principles in marathons is avoiding trying things for the first time on course. This morning would be no different. I passed dozens of trash trucks filled with smiling public servants, as well as police men and women clapping or blasting music from their vehicles. It's cool to see a whole city embrace the logistical nightmare that a marathon is.
Picking back up at Riverside Drive and this was my first point of reflection in the race. A quiet, wooded street filled with estates, not houses. Jaw-dropping landscapes overlooking hills, quarries, and the James River just 50 yards beyond them. The quiet allowed me to gauge how I felt, and maybe start to piece together what kind of day I was fixing to have. Leaving Riverside put me right about at the halfway mark of the race. Every good runner knows that though this is halfway, it is not halfway. This is not a time to push, but a time to stay relaxed and allow the race to unfold before you. Just past 13.1, my family was there to greet me on the sidelines. Grier was probably sick of the endless parade of super shoes and met me with a shy grin and a side hug. A kiss for Maddie and Andie girl and I was off again to meet them at the finish. Miles 15 through 20 slogged on rather uneventfully. Slight inclines met slight declines, and the Robert E. Lee Bridge (yikes) led us back into the city.
Richmond reminds me much of Charlotte. Industrial neighborhoods border trendier districts, but you’re never too far from the posh. Crossing the 20 mile mark sends you into the Bellevue neighborhood. Think old money that decided to gift their home to their adult children. Not my business, more just what I thought when I crossed under the stone archway announcing the neighborhood. Weaving through these neighborhood streets gave a pleasant backdrop to what can be utterly miserable miles. Tired legs are starting to turn on you while you try to push the last ounces of effort. This is where the devil appears in every marathon. He’s dressed as a cheering family handing out Coors Light and gummy bears. If you enjoy drinking beers while running marathons, please take every opportunity to do it. I really admire you if you can handle a carbonated drink this late into a marathon. I politely smiled and said ‘give me 45 minutes’. Mile 22 turned into mile 24 and before long, the ‘one mile to go’ sign was a sight I needed. Going back to my goal for the race, I really enjoyed not starting with a time goal in mind. I have a standard for what I’d like to accomplish, but I was willing to adapt to how I felt running a marathon just four weeks before. This provided a mental relief that I truly believe was the reason the day was so fun. No pressure, no expectation, but no quit. The last mile netted downhill and really served as a celebration for your hard work. Peering around the corner of 5th street gives you a glance at finish line and the river. Droves of fans showed up to cheer on finishing runners making a mad dash for the line. I finished at 3:37:49, my second fastest marathon ever.
I also want to give a special shoutout to Austin Spence. He worked his butt off all summer and ran a Boston qualifying time. I’m proud of what he accomplished and I’m proud to call him a friend.
That’s all for racing in 2025. I enjoyed every moment that it brought me and I’m so excited to continue my journey as a marathon runner. I have a feeling you might be able to call me Mr. Worldwide next year…
