Enter your goal time. Get hill-adjusted, mile-by-mile splits built from actual GPX course data — including the 140-foot river descent at mile 7, the Church Hill climb at mile 17, and the famous downhill finish into Brown's Island.
The Allianz Richmond Marathon is "America's Friendliest Marathon" — and it earns that tagline through both its community and course design. Starting at 1st and Broad Street in Downtown Richmond, the course rolls through historic neighborhoods, along Monument Avenue's tree-lined boulevard, down to the James River, across two bridge crossings, through Church Hill and Libby Hill, before finishing with one of the most talked-about downhill finishes in marathon running — the long descent into Brown's Island and the Canal Walk. With a 10.7% BQ rate in 2024 and a PR Score of 99.08, Richmond is one of the best fall qualifying races on the East Coast. But the rolling first half and the sustained mid-race bridges require smart pacing.
Most runners hear "rolling" and assume "manageable." Richmond is manageable — if you respect the sequence. The 140-foot river descent at mile 7 can tempt you into overextending. The bridge crossings and Church Hill climb at miles 14-17 arrive exactly when you need composure, not ambition. This calculator accounts for every foot of rise and drop from Broad Street to Brown's Island, giving you a mile-by-mile plan that closes exactly to your goal time. Enter your target, set your effort level, and run Richmond the smart way.
Enter your goal time and effort level. Your personalized mile-by-mile splits appear instantly.
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| Mile | Elev | Effort | vs Goal Pace | Target Pace (min/mi) |
Pace Bank | Elapsed |
|---|
Elevation data from official Richmond Marathon GPX course file, 15-point smoothed. Uphill penalty applied above +0.4% grade; downhill benefit applied below −0.75% grade. Math closes exactly to goal time.
Broad Street to Brown's Island — where the river descent tempts you, where Church Hill tests you, and why the famous downhill finish rewards runners who saved something for the end.
The race begins on Broad Street in Downtown Richmond, heading west through the VCU campus corridor before reaching Monument Avenue — one of the most iconic boulevards in American running. The wide, tree-lined avenue with its historic homes gives the race its visual signature. Through the Fan District, the course gains a gentle 27 feet at mile 6 before the biggest single-mile drop on the entire course: a 140-foot descent at mile 7 as you plunge down toward the James River. This descent is exhilarating but dangerous — let gravity do the work without hammering your quads.
After settling into the river corridor, the course begins its mid-race climbing sequence. Miles 10-12 gain a combined 91 feet along the river bluffs — not dramatic but relentless when your legs are already loaded from the first-half rollers. The bridge crossing at mile 13 is the halfway marker, offering panoramic James River views and potential wind exposure. Miles 14-15 give back 85 feet of descent — a genuine gift if you don't chase the speed. Mile 16 kicks back up with 38 feet of climbing as you approach Church Hill. This is where Richmond starts sorting patient runners from impatient ones.
This is where Richmond earns its reputation. Mile 17 is the hardest mile on the course — a 47-foot climb through Church Hill, one of Richmond's most historic neighborhoods. Mile 18 adds another 20 feet through Libby Hill, where the city's panoramic views of the James River were supposedly what inspired William Byrd II to name the city after Richmond-upon-Thames. After the sustained climbing, the course drops into Shockoe Bottom at mile 19 and transitions through the canal corridor. If you managed the bridges and Church Hill without overcooking your effort, this section sets you up perfectly for the finish.
This is Richmond's signature finish — and it's everything runners say it is. After a gentle downward approach through downtown, the course opens up with a dramatic 61-foot drop at mile 26 before the final 0.2 miles plunge another 49 feet into Brown's Island and the Canal Walk on Richmond's riverfront. The combined 110-foot descent over the final 1.2 miles is one of the best finishing stretches in American marathon running. The river is there, the crowd is there, and the finish line appears below you rather than above you. If you ran the first 22 miles with patience, this is where Richmond gives it all back.
Mid-November in Richmond means cool mornings and mild afternoons. Here's what runners have faced in recent years.
| Year | Start Temp | Finish Temp | Humidity | Wind | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39°F / 4°C | 55°F / 13°C | 72% | 6 mph SW | Cool |
| 2024 | 42°F / 6°C | 58°F / 14°C | 78% | 5 mph N | Ideal |
| 2023 | 45°F / 7°C | 52°F / 11°C | 80% | 8 mph NE | Ideal |
| 2022 | 61°F / 16°C | 72°F / 22°C | 65% | 10 mph S | Warm |
| 2021 | 38°F / 3°C | 54°F / 12°C | 74% | 4 mph NW | Cool |
Temperatures at start (7:00 AM) and finish (~12:00–1:00 PM for back-of-pack). Richmond's mid-November mornings are typically cool and comfortable — plan for a 15–20°F rise over your race.
Richmond's net-downhill profile, mid-November weather, and above-average BQ rate make it one of the best qualifying options on the East Coast.
Richmond is one of the most frequently used Boston-qualifying races in the country. The BQ rate was 10.7% in 2024 and 12.7% in 2023 — significantly above the national average. The PR Score of 99.08 ranks it among the fastest East Coast marathons. Mid-November weather in Virginia typically delivers cool, dry conditions ideal for marathon performance. The rolling-but-net-downhill profile, the famous Brown's Island descent, and the race's operational excellence all contribute to a course that rewards goal-oriented runners.
The key to BQ-ing at Richmond is managing the mid-race climbing sequence through the bridges and Church Hill. Miles 12-18 gain a combined 145 feet — not extreme, but arriving at the worst possible time. The 140-foot river descent at mile 7 can tempt runners into overextending early. And the Church Hill climb at mile 17 (+47 feet) is the single hardest mile on the course. But if you arrive at mile 23 with your legs intact, the final 4.2 miles drop 133 feet — including the dramatic 110-foot descent into Brown's Island over the final 1.2 miles.
The smart play is to use the calculator with your buffer-adjusted BQ target, run conservative through the Monument Avenue opening, control the river descent at mile 7, hold steady through the bridge crossings, survive Church Hill by effort, and let the Brown's Island finish do the rest. Richmond rewards patience and punishes early ambition.
| Year | BQ Rate |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 6.2% |
| 2021 | 11.4% |
| Age Group | Men | Women | Non-binary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 | 3:55:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:35:00 | 4:05:00 | 4:05:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
Boston Qualifying standards are minimum requirements, not guarantees of entry. Because more runners qualify than there are spots, the BAA cuts at a time buffer — historically between 30 seconds and 6 minutes below the standard. In recent years, the buffer has been around 2–3 minutes. If you're targeting 3:00:00 for men 18–34, you likely need to run 2:57–2:58 to actually get in. Use the calculator with your actual buffer-adjusted target time, not just the BQ standard.
Everything you need to know about race weekend in Richmond — from packet pickup to the Brown's Island finish.
Expo at Richmond Raceway (Friday–Saturday). Marathon start 7:00 AM Saturday at 1st & Broad Street. Half marathon starts at 7th & Broad, 8K at 8th & Broad — all same morning. Pick up your bib and packet at the expo before race morning.
1st & Broad Street, downtown Richmond. Bag check at 3rd & Broad (clear bags, provided at packet pickup). Arrive 60 minutes before gun time. Port-o-johns at start and finish areas.
Water + Nuun every 2 miles through mile 20, then every mile. GU + Noogs at miles 14 and 21. Junk food at miles 16 and 22. Pickle juice at mile 23. Medical support along entire course.
Brown's Island & Canal Walk, 5th & Tredegar Street. CoStar Group Post Race Party on the island. Post-race shuttle from Brown's Island back to start area. The famous downhill finish into the riverfront makes for one of the most memorable finish-line experiences in marathon running.
Richmond International Airport is ~15–20 minutes from downtown. Start (1st & Broad) and finish (Brown's Island) are ~0.75 miles apart. Downtown hotels are walkable to both the start and finish areas. Richmond is a compact, easy-to-navigate race city.
Official pace teams are available. Groups typically cover major BQ targets and popular finish times. Pace team leaders carry signs and run even-split strategies. If you're targeting a BQ, running with the pace group for your buffer-adjusted goal can help maintain discipline through the bridges and Church Hill.
