The Charlottesville Ten Miler has been our community’s premier running event for the past 41 years. Started as a way to support the running community, it has evolved into an enterprise that supports our whole community in many ways.
Profits from the Ten Miler are donated to different non-profit beneficiaries each year. This year’s beneficiaries are 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, Foothills Child Advocacy Center, and Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle.
More than 2,000 runners are expected to take part in this year’s race, and it takes more than 400 volunteers to get things organized and make it all work on race day.
“Volunteers are absolutely essential for the runners’ safety,” said race director Nicole Brimer. “There are 115 intersections along the course. There are volunteers at each and every one to prevent vehicles from entering the race course and possibly injuring a runner.”
On race day (March 18), volunteers will also help set up the course, hand out water to the runners, hang no-parking signs along the course, hand out medals to finishers, and clean up after it’s over.
There are still some volunteers spots open, and you can sign-up to volunteer at the Ten Miler website.
The Ten Miler also promotes health and fitness in our community. The Charlottesville Track Club offers training programs for the Ten Miler and other local footraces, including the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler, which benefits the UVa Cancer Center. Track club members safely guide people of all abilities to achieve their running goals and make exercise a key component of a healthy lifestyle.
There’s a new charity running event on the calendar this year. On Saturday, June 24, the first United Way Relay takes place at Albemarle High School. Stay tuned for more details.