Run Richmond 16.19

Celebrating Unity in Diversity.
For 16.19K & beyond.

About the Event

Run Richmond 16.19 is a cultural running event that the Djimon Hounsou Foundation is hosting every year in close collaboration with Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and running event specialist Sports Backers. This unique event takes you on a meaningful journey through +400 Years of Black History, a history you will be able to touch and feel – up close & personal.

Through our running/walking courses of 16.19K and 6.19K, our Time To Heal pre-event, and a community-powered finish festival we commemorate the sacrifices & achievements our African American brothers and sisters have made to our nation and celebrate Unity in Diversity in an intentional effort to bring people together to connect, heal and reconcile. It is powered by over 30 nonprofit partners.

For details about packet pickup and race start, please go here:

For details on our Run of Show, keep scrolling …

RUN RICHMOND 16.19 Routes 2023

Event Parking

Lot 23 – 8th & Cary Street Parking Deck
Lot 823 – 9th & Cary Street (Garage)
Lot 72 – 8th & Cary Street (surface lot)
Lot 101 – 6th & Canal Street (surface lot)
Lot 102 – 6th & Canal/Cary Street (surface lot)

Search Parking Lots on City Map

Paid parking only. Hourly Rates are provided on the website above.

RUN OF SHOW

AFRICA RECONNECT

Run Richmond 16.19 is part of the AFRICA RECONNECT Event Series that the Djimon Hounsou Foundation will be rolling out over the coming years. These events aim to symbolically reverse the direction of the slave trade, showcase how the past is connected to the present and future, and celebrate Unity in Diversity.

Our three event locations (1) Richmond, VA, (2) Liverpool, UK, and (3) Ouidah, West Africa were all important centers during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. They now form the Triangle of Hope.

North America

Richmond

United Kingdom

Liverpool

West Africa

Ouidah

Transatlantic Slave Trade Triangle

Why did we select these places in particular? Richmond, Liverpool, and Ouidah are the three host cities of a stunning memorial, the Reconciliation Statue. Created by Liverpool-based artist Stephen Broadbent, they represent a powerful apology for the unspeakable horrors and lasting consequences of slavery. When connected through straight lines, these sculptures form the Triangle of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a trade that the British Colonies in North America joined in the Year 1619. While slavery existed in the Americas before then, the year 1619 marks a foundational historic date in our shared history.

The inscription of the Reconciliation Statue beautifully summarizes our vision:

Acknowledge and forgive the past. Embrace the present. Shape a future of reconciliation and justice.

FAQ

How many race distances do you offer?

We offer 2 distances for this event: 16.19K and 6.19K.
When does the race start?

The 16.19K Run starts at 8:00 am at Kanawha Plaza and the 6.19K Run/Walk at 8:45 am. Our finish festival at Kanawha Plaza will feature a live performance by Mighty Joshua from 11:00am – 1:00pm. You're in for a treat!
How much do you charge?

Please review our individual race pages.
What is your cancellation / refund policy?

Our entry fees are non-refundable, no matter whether there is a race postponement, cancellation and/or if you are unable to participate; however you may buy a race insurance during checkout or transfer your entry to another person. We’ll only charge a $10 fee from the recipient for participant transfers and you’ll recover the race entry fees directly from your friend. Just visit the self-service portal of our registration partner Run Signup to do so.
Can I switch races after I registered?

Yes, you'll have access to your registration on Run Signup: https://runsignup.com/. This link can also be found if you click on our account icon in the header or on the sign up link. We charge a $5 processing fee for race transfers.

Our Event Goals

for RUN RICHMOND 16.19

Commemorate the sacrifices & achievements African Americans have made to our nation since the beginning of the Transatlantic Slave Trade by America’s British Colonies in 1619.

Celebrate the powerful impact of African / African American culture, promote Unity in Diversity, and take a stand for racial equality.

Create a cultural movement to preserve Pan-African identity and reconnect the countries of the diaspora with their motherland, roots & culture.

Closely collaborate with the City of Richmond, local grass-roots organizations, educational institutions, black-run businesses and individuals to empower the RVA community.

Help people discover their family roots and create awareness that we are one people.

Raise charitable funds for the Djimon Hounsou Foundation to reconnect the African Diaspora & combat modern day slavery and human trafficking.