COME JOIN SPORTS BACKERS & RICHMOND ROAD RUNNERS CLUB IN THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
2025 Ashland Half Marathon
2025 Ashland 5k
Sorry! This event is full.
The Waiting List has closed. Click here to view your status. Registration ends August 23, 2025 at 7:30am EDT
2025 Virtual Ashland Half Marathon
2025 Virtual Ashland 5k
Sorry! This event is full. Registration ends August 23, 2025 at 7:30am EDT
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 22
PACKET PICK UP
3:00 - 6:00 PM at Richmond Road Runners Club Office, 2219 Tomlynn St, Richmond, VA 23230
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
PACKET PICK UP
6:00 - 7:25 AM near the Start/Finish area (the corner of North Center Street and Henry Clay Road)
HALF STARTS
7:00 AM
5K STARTS
7:35 AM
HALF COURSES CLOSE
10:30 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
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Mile 6.3 Mile Mark by 8:41 AM
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MIle 10(ish) Mile Mark by 9:40 AM
If you missed these checkpoints you will be asked to board the shuttle to the finish. The course closes at 10:30 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
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Water & Nuun will be near miles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, & 12. Some water stops maybe refill stations without cups. We recommend carrying your own hydration vessel.
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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!
Richmond Road Runners Club is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, whose mission is to support running and healthy lifestyles in the Richmond Region. We do this by hosting races, sponsoring races in our area, helping other organizations put on races, coaching training teams, supporting kids' running programs, supporting a variety of group runs and awarding academic scholarships to college-bound runner athletes. Club members are runners/walkers of all paces, ages, & shapes. With approximately 2,000 members, RRRC is one of the largest running clubs in the U.S.
Richmond Road Runners Club member receive a discount on their Ashland Half and/or 5k registration. You must be signed into your membership RunSignup account to discount. Not a member you can join during registration or here.
Sports Backers’ mission is to inspire people to live actively. Since 1991, Sports Backers has fostered a culture of active living in Central Virginia through its participatory sporting events and community-based programs that have inspired hundreds of thousands of people in the region to set fitness goals and pursue an active lifestyle. In everything that we do, we strive to promote health equity and create accessible opportunities for active living throughout our region.
We fulfill our mission by: (1) advocating for bike and pedestrian infrastructure; (2) energizing the community through events; and (3) building a network of community-led group fitness programs in schools and neighborhoods. With your support, we can make this region a more vibrant place to live where safe opportunities to walk, run, bike, or workout abound and where access to these activities are available to all. Thank you for considering an investment in our region’s future!
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 events.
Deferrals
You may defer your registration from the 2025 Ashland Half Marathon and 5k to the 2026 event until August 10. Deferred registrations may not be transferred to another person. Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances. The fees to defer a registration are: Through August 10: $20 fee for Half / $10 fee for 5k
No deferrals will be allowed after August 10, 2025. The deferral may be used only for the 2026 event. You may only defer an entry once (i.e., if you deferred your 2024 entry to 2025, you will not be able to defer it again in 2025 to 2026).
For instructions on how to defer your entry, click here or email us.
Race Switch Policy
You may switch races up until the event begins or until the event reaches capacity, whichever happens first.
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Switching from the Half Marathon to the 5K: There is a $10 transfer fee.
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Switching from the 5K to the Half Marathon: There is a $10 transfer fee plus the difference in event price at the time of transfer.
How to Switch:
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From Half Marathon to 5K: Follow the provided steps to complete your transfer.
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From 5K to Half Marathon: Request the switch at Packet Pickup or email info@sportsbackers.org.
Virtual Switches
You may switch to or from the virtual event to the in-person event at no cost. If you would like to switch events, please follow these steps: Sign into RunSignUp > Profile > Upcoming Events > Manage Registration > Transfer Event > Choose New Event. If you have any issues you can email info@sportsbackers.org. Switches will be allowed up until race morning unless your intended distance has reached capacity.
Rules
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This race is conducted under the rules of USATF and the Road Runners Club of America.
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In consideration of the safety of all participants, IN-LINE SKATES, SKATEBOARDS, BICYCLES, HANDCYCLES, OR ANIMALS will not be allowed on the course.
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Strollers, Baby Joggers, Baby Carriers are NOT allowed on the course.
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Once received, entries are non-refundable. Entries may not be transferred or given to another person. See above for additional policies.
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The Half Marathon has a minimum age of 12; The 5k has a minimum age of 6 on or before race day.
Questions? Feedback?
Questions or Feedback please reach out below
