The Sports Backers unveiled a new event yesterday for RVA’s hardcore trail runners — and lovers of Pocahontas State Park. The first annual Pocahontas Tent-to-Trail relay will be held on April 17-18, 2015, at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County.

The dam at Beaver Lake is one of the more scenic spots at Pocahontas State Park.

During the relay, teams of eight will have each team member run three selected trails in the park. Each team member will individually run approximately 17 miles while the entire team will run about 136 miles over 18-30 hours, depending on team speed. True trail warriors also have the option to sign up for a team of four with each member running each of the three trails twice. The selected trails and approximate mileage are Beaver Lake Trail (3.8 miles), Old Mill Bike Trail (5.2 miles), and Findley Station North Trail (7.9 miles).

(Click here to see the surface-level image tours of those trails at Terrain360.com.)

“We are extremely excited to add the Pocahontas Tent-to-Trail relay to our event line-up in 2015,” said Megan Schultz, Event Director for Sports Backers. “The camping element combined with running on the awesome trails at Pocahontas State Park will provide a unique overall event experience and help meet the demand for a team relay event in the Richmond region.”

“Pocahontas State Park is thrilled to partner with Sports Backers to host the inaugural Tent-to-Trail relay event,” said Bryce Wilk, Assistant Park Manager for Pocahontas State Park. “We’re excited to introduce people to the great trail system and beautiful scenery the park has to offer and this event will show a unique perspective of the trails at night. Our hope is after being a part of this great event and experiencing the trails first hand, a whole new audience of park users will be introduced to this wonderful asset.”

In addition to running the trails, participants may take part in a variety of activities while not competing. The park campground will serve as a home base for each team, and team members can enjoy yoga, food vendors, beer, a bonfire, and live music throughout the two days of the Pocahontas Tent-to-Trail relay. Participants can also take advantage of park amenities including camping, fishing, and canoeing.

Click here for the full schedule, event details, and team registration information.