New look, name and finish line for Richmond marathon | News

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - A new name and a new look for the Richmond Marathon. The event brings thousand of runners and their fan clubs to our area each year.

The biggest change this year will be right along the course.

Training starts in June for many runners with the goal to compete in the 2012 Richmond Marathon.

Judy Wood and Maggie Rice are coaches for the Sports Backers' marathon training team.  Both have run the race before, just not on this course.

Thousands of runners will run across the James River twice, the second time is at the Robert E. Lee bridge, but they will end at the new finish line.

 You won't find it near Shockoe Slip this year.  Instead, runners will finish near Brown's Island at 5th and Tredegar Streets.

 "It'll keep everybody out of the bars and it will be more of a family atmosphere down at the river following the marathon," says Wood.

The hope is to bring more attention to the riverfront and more support for the racers.

 "You see somebody or hear somebody who calls your name or cheering you on and it just gives that extra kick in your step and you know what you can do anything and that you will finish," says Rice.

But the first to cross the finish line on Thursday were kids from the marathon's new charity partner, Sports Backers youth running program, Kids Run RVA.  The program has one goal: to get young people more active.

5th and Tredegar Streets will be the finish line for the marathon, half marathon and 8k.  The race is scheduled for November 10^th.