In 2000 when the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k was first held, about 2,500 people signed up for the race. Who would have thought that in 2008 in just the ninth running of the race, that number would have increased by more than 1,000 percent to have 31,000 people register?
"We were originally selling it to Ukrop's and other sponsors based that it would be a mass road-running event," said Jon Lugbill, executive director of the Richmond Sports Backers. "… I wasn't thinking 30,000. I was thinking 15,000 or 20,000. It's incredible."
In addition to the 10k growing in numbers, a children's run was added in 2003, the race is now a major fundraiser for the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and there's been a big impact on the community.
"What's amazing is all the other things, like the benefits to the community," Lugbill said. "It's way beyond what we ever planned."
Lugbill said the YMCA training teams having more than 3,000 people show that the community is excited about having a healthy lifestyle.
"The reach of the race is pretty far and wide," Lugbill said.
Andrea Butler, the communications director for the VCU Massey Cancer Center, said 10k participants have raised about $375,000 this year. By the time fundraising is over, she said, the center is expected to raise $500,000, which is twice as much as last year.
Butler said the 10k is the single-largest fundraising event the cancer center does. This fundraiser has been part of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k since 2006.
Race registration fees do not benefit Massey. Instead, Massey develops the fundraising program in conjunction with the race.
This year there are 109 teams and more than 1,700 individuals raising money for the cancer center.
"It's amazing what comes back when you tell it from the heart," Butler said of fundraising efforts.
For more information about the fundraiser, go to masseychallenge.kintera.org.
Here's a look at what's happening this Saturday:
The Races
The First Market Kids Mile begins at 8 a.m. This event for 5- to 12-year-olds starts on Cathedral Place near Laurel Street, which is a change from last year. Kids 10 to 12 years old will wear a red bib and will start at 8 a.m.; ages 8 to 9 will wear a yellow bib and start at 8:05 a.m.; and kids 5 to 7 will wear a green bib and start at 8:10 a.m. The run ends at Franklin and Laurel streets, the same place the 10k finishes.
The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k gets under way at 8:30 a.m. The race utilizes wave starts, which is depicted by the time runners predicted they'd finish. Based on the amount of people in this race, the "elite" runners will finish before some people even start. (Note: Street closures are located at the end of this story.)
The 10k Course
The race begins on Broad Street near Harrison Street and ends on Franklin Street near Monroe Park. For the runners, water will be positioned near miles 2, 3, 4 and 5 along the course and at the finish. Portable toilets will be stationed at the start, finish and each water stop.
Packet Pickup
Race packets can be picked up at U-Turn Sports Academy at 2101 Maywill St. from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 3 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 4. There is no packet pickup on race day. Participants are required to have a photo ID to pick up their race numbers. If you're picking up a packet for another participant, you must have a copy of their ID.
10k Records
The fastest women's Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k was set last year by Magdalene Makunzi, who ran a time of 32:24. Makunzi also won in 2006.
The fastest men's time was set in 2004 by Reuben Chebii, who notched a time of 28:07.
This year's event is host to the USA 10k Men's Championships, so it's possible that records will be broken this year.
"In an Olympic year, this is a chance for our top distance runners to race on the roads in a quality event, before their focus turns to track racing," Glenn Latimer of USA Track and Field said in a news release earlier this year.
Street Closures
w Broad Street will be closed between Belvidere Street and Lombardy Street from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. The recommended detour for westbound traffic is to turn right on Belvidere Street to northbound Interstate 95. The recommended detour for eastbound traffic is turning left on Allen Avenue, right on Leigh Street and right on Belvidere. Motorists are encouraged to use I-95 as an alternate.
w Laurel Street will be closed between Main and Grace streets from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
w Franklin Street will be closed between Lombardy and Belvidere streets from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
w Lombardy Street will be closed between Broad and Franklin streets (Stuart Circle) from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
w Grace Street will be closed between Belvidere Street and Allen Avenue from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
w Monument Avenue/Franklin Street will be closed between Staples Mill Road and Stuart Circle (Lombardy Street) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The recommended detour for eastbound traffic is left on Staples Mill Road, right on Broad Street, left on Allen Avenue, right on Leigh Street and right on Belvidere Street. The recommended detour for westbound traffic is right on Belvidere Street, left on Leigh Street, left on Allen Avenue and right on Broad Street.
w The Boulevard will be closed at Monument Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The recommended detour for northbound traffic is left on Park Avenue, then right on Thompson Street to I-195. The recommended detour for southbound traffic is right on Grace Street, right on Thompson Street, left on Broad Street, then left on Hamilton Street to 195.
w There will also be numerous street closings for all north and south streets intersecting Monument Avenue/Franklin Street between Staples Mill Road and Belvidere Street.
Here are the street closures for the First Market Kids Mile:
w Cathedral Place will close from Laurel to Shafer Court from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Park Avenue will close from Shafer Court to Lombardy Street/Stuart Circle from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
w Lombardy Street will close from Park Avenue to Broad Street from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Additional Travel Details
Motorists not attending the event are encourages to use I-95 and I-195 around the city.
GRTC buses in the vicinity of the race course will be sticking to their routes as closely as possible as they negotiate detours.
Monument Avenue 10k participants may consider the following bus options:
w Broad Street No. 6 runs every 20 minutes between Willow Lawn Shopping Center and Church Hill and stops at Harrison Street.
w Cary Street No. 13 runs every 30 minutes between River Road Shopping Center and Downtown (returns via Main Street).
The Sports Backers encourages participants to car pool to the race. Free parking is available on streets throughout the area. To lessen your chances of getting stuck in traffic, avoid the Belvidere exits off I-95 and I-195 and instead go further east and exit on Third, Broad or Franklin streets.
Paid parking ($5 per vehicle) is available in parking decks located at 801 W. Main St. (between Laurel and Cherry streets), at 1101 W. Cary St. (corner of Cary and Harrison streets), 609 Bowe St. (next to the Siegel Center) and 100 S. Jefferson St. (between Cary and Canal streets).
Broad Street (between Belvidere and Lombardy) and Franklin Street/Monument Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic on race morning. To access the parking decks in the area, use:
w Main Street deck: Take I-195 to the Idlewood exit. Make a left turn onto Cherry Street to deck entrance.
w Cary Street Deck: Traveling east on Cary Street, deck is on your right at the intersection of Harrison Street.
w Bowe Street deck: Exit I-95 at the Boulevard and head south (right). Make a left turn onto Leigh Street. Travel east to Bowe Street and make a right turn (one block east of Lombardy). Go south, deck on left.
w Jefferson Street deck: Traveling east on Cary Street, the deck is on your right at the intersection of Jefferson Street (two blocks east of Belvidere Street).
For more information on this weekend's events, visit www.sportsbackers.org.
10k Reading Room
w RBlog: Since January, Richmond.com has been discussing the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k.
w Running Lessons Learned: 20 people give 20 lessons they've learned while running.