Richmond Earth Day 5K Race Without a Trace

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED OUR 2018 EARTH DAY 5K! Times and photos are posted here: https://www.viridiant.org/2018/04/26/6th-annual-richmond-earth-day-5k-race-without-trace/

The third and final day of our 3-Day Celebration of Sustainability includes our family friendly, community-focused Richmond Earth Day 5K Race Without a Trace, showing off the best the city has to offer. Run, walk or stroll down the newly completed Virginia Capital Trail and see the beauty of the James River and its downtown surroundings. Learn easy ways to help the environment along the course and finish just half a mile from one of the best events of the Spring. That’s right, this race takes place just across the river from the RVA Earth Day Festival, so when you cross that finish line, you’ll be steps away from the festival’s live music, vendors, food and drink, demos and plenty of educational information and activities. The race name says it all – our goal is to combine one of the city’s most environmentally friendly races with the most fun possible. Let us show you what the riverfront is all about!

While you’re at the race, you’ll have a chance to win a FREE Home Energy Audit* and a tent from REI! Anyone who registers for the 5k will automatically be entered to win. 

Families, children, strollers (no wider than 41 inches) and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome! 

Benefiting Viridiant, formerly EarthCraft Virginia.

Start/Finish Line

This race starts and finishes at the Turning Basin of the Canal Walk. Parking maps will be provided prior to the race.

Packet Pick-Up

There are two options for packet pick-up before the race.

1. Friday, April 20th, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM and Richmond Road Runner Store in Carytown
2. Saturday, April 21st, 9:00 – 10:30 AM at the starting line at the Turning Basin of the Canal Walk.

Partnered With

*Some exclusions apply: winner’s residence must be within the Richmond-metro area and audit services will be capped at 2 hours (which covers most homes within the 1,000-3,000 square foot size).

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Registration Levels

Parking

There is street parking surrounding the turning basin in downtown Richmond. There are also paid city parking lots – click here and find the race/start line for close parking locations and details. There is a lot at the end of Virginia Street that backs up to the flood wall that is very convenient to the race start/finish location; cost is $8.

If you plan to go to the RVA Earth Day Festival after the race, you may choose to park there and walk over to the start/finish (just over 0.5 mile walk, crossing 14th Street bridge). The RVA Earth Day Festival lists the following parking lots:

• 4th, 6th and Hull Streets
• 7th Street Between Hull Street and Bainbridge
• Mayo Island
• Handicap-accessible Parking is available beside Diversity Park near the Floodwall

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this race timed? 

This event is clock timed. We will have an overall clock and volunteers collecting times, but this is not a chipped run. Participants will receive an email with finish times after the event.

What is the course like? 

If you were any closer to the river, you’d be swimming. The Earth Day 5K Race Without a Trace shows off the urban Canal Walk and the beautiful, newly-built Virginia Capital Trail. After some twists and turns along the Canal Walk, you’ll join up with the Virginia Capital Trail. Built in preparation for the UCI Road World Championships in 2015, you will experience this new path that spans from the Canal Walk past Rockett’s Landing and along the beautiful James River. The course takes place entirely on the trail so there are no street crossings. There are gentle hills – nothing too strenuous. Learn easy ways to help the environment along the course with signage and facts along the course, and finish just half a mile from one of the best events of the Spring. That’s right, this race takes place just across the river from the RVA Earth Day Festival, so when you cross that finish line, you’ll be steps away from the festival’s live music, vendors, food and drink, demos and plenty of educational information and activities. Walkers, strollers (max width of 41 inches), and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome!

Will we run if it rains? 

Yes, we’ll be running rain or shine! Dress accordingly. We are primarily on paved/hard surfaces, but there could be some muddy spots.

What are the parking options? 

There is street parking surrounding the turning basin in downtown Richmond. There are also paid city parking lots. If you plan to go to the RVA Earth Day Festival after the race, you may choose to park there and walk over to the start/finish (just over 0.5 mile walk, crossing 14th Street bridge).

Are there awards for winners? What about raffle items? 

Prizes will be presented in a variety of categories to include:

• Leaders of the Pack: First Male and Female to Cross the Finish Line
• Best Dramatic Finish (examples: moonwalk across the finish, dance moves across the finish, etc)
• Sustainable Supporter (repeat one of the sustainability facts posted along the course to be entered to win)

Prizes and Raffle Items Include:

• Home Energy Audit from Viridiant ($375 value): Raffle, all race registrants eligible, winner pulled after race
• Road Runner Running Store Gift Cards
  • Free pair of shoes to first male and female across the finish line
  • Free recovery item to second male and female across the finish line
  • Free socks to third male and female across the finish line
• Riverside Outfitters – 2 Spots on Lower River Rafting Trip: Best Dramatic Finish Winner (examples: moonwalk, dance moves, cartwheel)
• REI Camping Tent ($220 value): Raffle, all race registrants eligible, winner pulled after race
• 3 sets of (2) drink tickets to the RVA Earth Day Festival: Raffle, Sustainable Supporters eligible (participants to cross the finish line and repeat one of the informational facts posted along the course)
• 10% off your meal at Southern Railway Taphouse on 4/21: Just show your bib!

How will I get to the RVA Earth Day Festival after the race? 

The start/finish line is just across the river from Manchester, the location of the RVA Earth Day Festival. Options to get to the festival include: walk ~0.6 miles across the 14th Street Bridge, hop on a bike right at the Turning Basin through the RVA Bike Share program, take advantage of 2-3 electric vehicle cars that will be shuttling runners to the festival between 11:30 and 12:30.

Where are the restrooms? 

There will be 2 port-a-johns at the Turning Basin near the start/finish line.

Will there be photos taken of all runners at this race? 

We will have a photographer at the event, but we will not have a photo service to get photos of all runners.

Can I bring my stroller? What about my pet? 

Strollers (no wider than 41 inches) and well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome.

Will there be a kid’s dash this year? 

Given the set-up of the start/finish line on the curving Canal Walk, we will not host a kid’s dash this year.

How is this race environmentally friendly? 

The Earth Day 5K Race Without a Trace has made every effort to be environmentally friendly with measures including minimal printing of flyers and promotional materials, reusable course signage, biodegradable bibs, organic t-shirts, recycling at the festival, clean-up of the course after the race, and very minimal power usage. Being partnered with local Earth Day Festival activities (RVA Earth Day and Enrichmond’s Earth Day activities) also helps to encourage runners and walkers to participate in the festival activities and support sustainability in RVA.

What are the hours of the RVA Earth Day Festival? 

12 – 7 PM, all festival details can be found at http://rvaearthdayfest.org.

Who is hosting the 5K? 

The host of the 5K Race Without a Trace is Viridiant, formerly known as EarthCraft Virginia. Viridiant is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting sustainable building processes through education, consultation and certification. Through these efforts, Viridiant helps to set a path for businesses and homeowners to create structures that are more affordable, more livable and more durable.

Who are the race sponsors and partners? 

[trx_button type=”square” style=”filled” size=”medium” bg_style=”custom” color=”#fff” link=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-Earth-Day-5K-Race-Without-a-Trace-FAQs.pdf” popup=”no”]DOWNLOAD 2018 FAQ[/trx_button][/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Course” tab_id=”1456099874646-3179ce1f-b357″][vc_column_text 0=””]Curious about the course? Check out what you will experience on race day!

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Thanks to our 2018 sponsors!

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”2017 Race” tab_id=”1518036598948-8de3abe7-14fc”][vc_column_text 0=””]Thanks to the folks who came out for our 5th Annual Earth Day 5K Race Without a Trace! We had a blast, and we hope you did, too.

[trx_button type=”square” style=”filled” size=”medium” bg_style=”custom” color=”#fff” link=”/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FINAL-TIMES.pdf” target=”blank” popup=”no”]Race Results[/trx_button]

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