A celebration of Richmond’s urban trail system and popular craft brewery culture, Trails and Ales presented by Capital Ale House is set for Saturday, September 16th and will take place in Manchester (W. 10th Street and Semmes Avenue) adjacent to the SunTrust Mortgage offices, at 4:30 p.m.

Registration is now open for the trail run and craft beer festival, which will feature a new partnership with Capital Ale House and new course highlights, including the popular T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge.

Runners navigate the North Bank Trail during a previous Trails and Ales event. Credit: Sports Backers

“Capital Ale House is proud to partner with Sports Backers for the third annual Trails and Ales trail run and beer festival,” said Amy DuFour, Director of Marketing for Capital Ale House. “Sports Backers provides a valuable service to the Richmond area by promoting an active lifestyle, and we believe in their mission. We are excited for the opportunity to connect directly with our community by supporting Trails and Ales.”

The first block of 250 spots is open now at a special rate of $30 for the Pint Glass course (5k distance) and $40 for the Tall Boy course (8-mile distance). Once the first 250 spots have been claimed, registration will re-open at a later date with a higher fee for both distances. Overall registration will be capped at 1,000 participants.

In conjunction with the trail run will be a craft beer festival, highlighting the exciting culture of craft brewing that continues to rise in the Richmond region. Beers and ciders from local and regional breweries, including Buskey Hard Cider, South Street Brewery, Stone Brewing, and Wild Wolf Brewing Company, will be available at the festival, and race participants will receive a stainless steel finisher cup and one drink ticket to be redeemed at the festival. There will also be food trucks, beverages available for purchase, and music. Friends, family, and spectators are invited to take part in the festival.

Both the Tall Boy and Pint Glass courses will be on the scenic Buttermilk and North Bank trails in the James River Park System. The Tall Boy course pairs medium to high climbs with smooth paths along the river and across the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, while the Pint Glass course has lower mileage, but shares the same earthy aromas, scenic views, and exciting finish.

Participants will have the opportunity to donate to support the RVA MORE Trail Maintenance Fund as part of Trails and Ales. All event donations will help with the cost of bridge materials and equipment for volunteer trail work in the City of Richmond to be used in the ongoing efforts to protect RVA’s urban trail system. Click here for more information and to register for Trails and Ales.