Richmond Is Built to Move: How Sports Backers Shaped RVA's Active Lifestyle #042

April 3, 2026 · 1:26:18 read

Category: Arts & Culture

Show: Unscripted RVA

The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger is RVA’s favorite spring tradition! Since 2000, people from around the Richmond region and beyond have gathered to share in the journey of crossing

The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger is RVA’s favorite spring tradition! Since 2000, people from around the Richmond region and beyond have gathered to share in the journey of crossing the 10k finish line, sign up now:

https://www.sportsbackers.org/event/ukrops-monument-avenue-10k

Learn more about Sports Backers:

https://www.sportsbackers.org

Follow on Social:

https://www.instagram.com/sportsbackers

Richmond is a city where being active isn’t something you have to think about — it’s just part of how we live.

Between the river, the trails, the parks, and the constant flow of events happening across RVA, movement feels built into the culture here. But a lot of that didn’t happen by accident.

In this episode, we sit down with the brand behind some of Richmond’s biggest and most recognizable events — Sports Backers.

We chat with Will Dixon, Executive Director who’s been with the organization for nearly 20 years and now leads the vision of the organization into 2026 and beyond…

And Nan Callahan, who leads PR and communications and helps bring all of these killer events and initiatives to life.

If you’ve ever experienced the Richmond Marathon, River City Half, Dominion Riverrock, or the Monument Avenue 10K, you’ve already seen their impact. But what most people don’t realize is how much goes on behind the scenes — and how deeply their work has shaped the way this city moves, connects, and shows up for one another.

We talk about why Richmond has become such an active city, how these events come together, and why they matter far beyond race day.

Got thoughts? Send us a text here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2513071/open_sms

Subscribe to the audio podcast:

https://verahouse.buzzsprout.com

Follow us:

https://instagram.com/verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

https://instagram.com/mykemetzger

https://instagram.com/planetperri

Learn more about our studio:

https://verahouse.co

This podcast is produced by ⁠Vera House⁠ — a creative club and media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion creative expression, elevate culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern brands in Richmond.

Cast: https://verahouse.buzzsprout.com