The Sandy Bottom 8-Hour: It’s Just A Training Run is at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, VA. This is your chance to dust off the winter cobwebs and make some new running buddies while on a training run on a flat, fast, 3.75 mile loop.
There is a strong emphasis on “It’s Just A Training Run” – it’s like you’re running with 149 of your best-running friends.
It’s an old school, low-key event. We’ll have lap counters (you yell out your bib number, we write it down). We’ll have some aid for you, but you’re encouraged to bring your own, too. There is a competitive element, though! So we’ll have awards for top runners. Last year’s winner, Samantha Bradley, hit a super impressive 42.5 miles on the course and the event record is 43.25. If you set a new overall course record (43.25) or women’s record (42.5) or men’s record (43.25) you’ll win your race entry fee back.
We are limited to strictly 150 people.
Race starts: 8 am
Race ends: 4 pm
You can run as much or as little as you want (because It’s Just A Training Run).
Temperature
It’s Hampton Roads, so it could be 30 degrees or 75 – you never know). Year 1 of the event it was quite pleasant (even with a little rain at the start), Year 2 it was super cold. Who knows what 2022 will be like.
Bring your own hydration device – this is a cupless event. We will have water available and some nutritional items available – pre-packaged only due to health code policies. You are encouraged to bring your own nutritional items, too. We’ll provide a list of aid station items as the race event nears. Runners are welcomed/encouraged to make an aid station donation – pre-packaged items, please.
The run is 3.75 miles and covers a very easy, navigable loop. The course will be well marked. This is the same course as the 24-Hour Virginia Run for Cancer.
Awards
Keeping with the It’s Just A Training Run tradition all runners will earn a sweet homemade medal. We’ll also have top 3 awards for women and men.
Facilities & Cost
There’s a restroom in the Sandy Bottom Nature Center and it is heated. The large shelter at the park will be rented and used for the run, although you are also asked to bring your own portable chairs (you’ll be notified if we can have tents this year). Race registration fees go towards helping cover the cost of the shelter rental, medals, aid station items, and a portion of the registration fee is donated to the Friends of Sandy Bottom.
Sweet Shirts
This year we’ll have a shirt option and you can snag a sweet short-sleeve shirt for just a few bucks. Please add this at checkout – we’ll need at least 20 to keep the pricing at the cost we have it for, so consider supporting a small business and order a cool shirt to represent your It’s Just A Training Run adventure.
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