Richmond Marathon is the PERFECT First Race!

By Will Melton · August 6, 2026

Category: Health & Wellness

Show: Americas Healthiest City

Richmond's Sports Backers marathon run draws about 60% of its runners from outside Virginia, and Will Dixon has a theory for why: he calls it the Goldilocks effect. The race is big enough that you nev

Richmond's Sports Backers marathon run draws about 60% of its runners from outside Virginia, and Will Dixon has a theory for why: he calls it the Goldilocks effect.

The race is big enough that you never feel like you're running alone, but not so big that it swallows you. Add a drive-market location, affordable hotels, and a team that's spent years dialing in the logistics, and you get one of the best first-marathon experiences in the country.

Will Dixon, Executive Director of Sports Backers, has been building events like this for almost 20 years. In this clip he breaks down what actually makes a race work.

Full episode is out now on America's Healthiest City and ChannelRVA.com.