City: Richmond, VA

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (804) 285-9495

Description: Even with more than 37,000 people running (and walking) this race, named by USA Today one of the 10 best road races in the U.S., and the 26th biggest in the world, it’s still fairly easy to watch the action and be a part of it. Since the course is out and back, with just a little twist, it’s easy—with a little hoofing it—for spectators to see the early stages of the race on West Broad Street and head south towards Franklin Street, where it ends. If you stake out a spot near the starting line and start clapping, your hands will hurt long before the thousands of participants cruise by in the wave starts that stretch over 1½ hours. Runners need encouragement farther down the road, so think about setting up spectator shop ¼ to ½ mile west of the start and finish, where the crowds aren’t so tight. There are live bands every mile of tree-lined Monument Avenue, and in the past, four party stops have pumped up the enthusiasm along Monument Avenue by providing music, drinks, and even sign-making materials for unprepared spectators. Even if you’re not cheering on anyone in particular, there is plenty of good people-watching here. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Dress Up & Run Contest brings out the crazies—runners dressed in antebellum attire or bathrobes, Indiana Jones being chased by a giant boulder, a squirrel chasing a nut, and other quirky combinations—in an entertaining attempt to win cash prizes. It can be hard to remember amid all the silliness that there is an actual race with actual pros from around the world competing for serious cash prizes. Watching the top talent race the 6.2 miles in approximately 28 minutes is humbling and impressive. For added intrigue, Dash for the Cash gives one lucky racer a head start against the top contenders to see if the pressure of $2,500 on the line helps or hurts. When all is said and run, the postrace party in Monroe Park is a bit of a zoo. Don’t tell your friends to meet you on the steps of the cathedral after the race—36,999 other racers told their families the same thing. Sports Backers’ Web site has all the details on navigating street closings and where to find parking garages and lots if you don’t find on-street parking.