Ultra Marathon Event on the Virginia Capital Trail
Williamsburg to Richmond, VA • December 5, 2026
Run the River Ultra is Richmond’s first point-to-point Ultra Marathon. The route travels west on the Virginia Capital Trail, finishing in Richmond, VA at mile marker 51.7. Runners have the option to choose from 3 distances.
Save the Date
December 5, 2026
About the Event
Participants can choose from 3 distances:
Half Marathon, 50K or 51.7 Miler
Spots are very limited, registration will be capped at around 25 participants.
Your registration cost includes custom Run the River Ultra merchandise and aid stations along the way with hydration and nutrition.
All runners will travel west on the Virginia Capital Trail – beginning at one of three starting points – and finishing together in Richmond.
Half Marathon start
3978 New Market Rd, Richmond, VA 23231 (Henricopolis Soil & Water District building)
50K start
10740 Courthouse Rd, Charles City, VA 23030
(VA Capital Trail Parking Lot)
51.7 Miler start
Virginia Capital Trail Start, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (Jamestown Beach Parking Lot)
About the Virginia Capital Trail
The Virginia Capital Trail is a 51.7-mile, fully paved multi-use path connecting Virginia's past and present capitals of Jamestown and Richmond. Completed in 2015, this dedicated trail is completely separated from vehicle traffic. It offers a flat, safe, and scenic route through the countryside for cyclists, runners, and walkers.
This event is organized in partnership with the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation.
Learn more at virginiacapitaltrail.org
Choose Your Challenge.
With Run the River 51.7, you can choose from 3 distances.
Whether you are setting a new Half Marathon PR, or pushing yourself to run further than you have ran before, choose what fits your goals.
Half Marathon
For the runner who wants to experiece the event but is not quite ready to take on an ultra.
50K
For the runner who wants to attempt an ultra, but doesn’t want to go all the way just yet.
51.7 Miler
Join the exclusive club by running the entirety of the Virginia Capital Trail in one go.
Ready to sign up?
See you December 5!
Meet the founder, Matthew.
About Matthew
After years of running races throughout Virginia and beyond, the one place I consistently came back to for training runs was the Virginia Capital Trail. It’s a safe, well maintained trail with several gas station pit stops that makes it perfect for long training runs. I've now logged more than 500 miles on the Virginia Capital Trail. As I've worked to bring Run the River Ultra to life, I've started running farther down the trail to experience more of each section firsthand. Each new mile has given me an even greater appreciation for just how special the Virginia Capital Trail is.
The Mission
I am a firm believer in public use trails in cities. They connect people to the outdoors, and it gives people a safe way to exercise or to just enjoy being outdoors.
Run the River Ultra was created to bring more awareness to the Virginia Capital Trail, as well as showcase how trails like this benefit the communities. I hope to introduce more people to the VCT with this event. I hope people leave with a new found love for this trail and they come back to use and appreciate it for years to come.
Donate
Donations help cover things like building and maintaining the website, designing the branding material, providing aid and supplies along the trail, and making sure we can give runners a great experience from start to finish. I'm trying to keep this event small, unique and affordable. Every donation helps make that possible.