About the Event
A warm welcome to the 3rd edition of RUN RICHMOND 16.19, the cultural running and walking event the Djimon Hounsou Foundation will host in Richmond, Virginia, on September 20-21, 2024, in collaboration with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, Sports Backers, and over 35 community/nonprofit partners.
All together, we commemorate the sacrifices & achievements the African American community has made to our nation and celebrate Unity in Diversity in an intentional effort to bring people together to connect, heal and reconcile. Our chairman, the 2-times Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou, who famously starred in Steven Spielberg’s movie Amistad, will attend this year’s event in person again.
This community-powered event consists of 3 unique experiences as described below:
One Weekend, three meaningful events.
Time To Heal
Friday, September 20, 2024 | 5:30–08:00 PM
We hold a guided meditation practice & libation ceremony at “Ground Zero” – formerly the location of America’s 2nd biggest slave market – that reflects on the intergenerational trauma of the African American community and imagines a path towards collective healing. This is a free community event. More details will be announced soon.
Run Richmond 16.19
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 7:00–11:15 AM
Our cultural run-or-walk event offers two courses that allow you to run through more than 400 years of Black history: A 16.19K Run and a 6.19K Run/Walk.
You’ll have the opportunity to download a free audio app that converts your phone into an outdoor museum guide. The race also includes a libation ceremony held by the Elegba Folklore Society.
Africa Reconnect
Saturday 21, 2024 | 10:00–2:00 PM
Our free finish festival celebrates the beauty of African and African American culture through a live performance by Might Joshua (reggae band), a drum circle, electric slide dancing, great food, and a vendor village.
Djimon Hounsou Foundation presents
16.19K Run
16.19 kilometers | 10.06 miles
This symbolic course of 16.19 kilometers lets you experience +400 years of Black History on a unique running course through Richmond. It features the highlights of the short route as well as Rocket’s Landing and Ancarrow’s Landing, the places where Africans first set foot on American soil after been shipped upstream to Richmond.
- Event Date: Sat, Sep 21, 2024
- Start/Finish: Kanawha Plaza, Richmond, VA
- Start Time: 8:00 AM
- Minimum Pace: 18 min/mile (3.3 mi/h | 5.4 km/h)
- Time last runner/walker needs to reach finish: 11:15 am
Djimon Hounsou Foundation presents
6.19K Run/Walk
6.19 kilometers | 3.85 miles
Our short distance of 6.19K allows you to experience Shockoe Bottom, Church Hill, Capitol District, Jackson Ward and Gambles Hill by foot. It’s the ideal distance to run or walk with your entire family.
- Event Date: Sat, Sep 21
- Start/Finish: Kanawha Plaza, Richmond, VA
- Start Time: 8:45 AM
- Minimum Pace: 36 min/mile (1.7 mi/h | 2.7 km/h)
- Time last runner/walker needs to reach finish: 11:15 am
Note: Our cut-off-times are very walker-friendly. Unless you’re on crutches, you’ll make it!
Our vision for RUN RICHMOND 16.19 is to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements our African American brothers & sisters have made to our nation and celebrate Unity in Diversity through symbolic courses of 16.19K and 6.19K.