Richmond gaining foothold as trail mecca

I'll talk until I'm hoarse about Richmond's trails. For years, I've extolled their virtues to anyone who'd listen. The variety, the amount, the way they bring so many different kinds of users downtown while still maintaining a sense of wilderness.

I've always argued that this re source is truly special. But then I'm a Richmonder. I'm biased. Now, however, you don't just have to take my word for it.

In its October issue, Trail Runner magazine included Richmond in its "Dirty 7," the annual list it publishes of top trail towns nationwide.

The magazine (circulation 162,000) is published in Colorado and reaches a nationwide audience. It's the top resource for trail runners from Portland, Ore., to Portland, Maine.

Sure, their goal is to sell magazines. They have an interest in spreading their picks out regionally, but they didn't choose Washington, Baltimore or Philly; they didn't choose Raleigh/Durham, Charlotte or Asheville. They chose Richmond, and, as far as I'm concerned, that's a sign that our fair city is finally making it onto some national radar screens when it comes to trails and outdoor opportunities.

"That's a nationwide publication," said Nathan Burrell, trails manager for the city. "That's a huge deal."

It also builds on some momentum the larger Richmond running community has gained in recent months. Back in the spring, USA Today named the Monument Avenue 10K one of the top 10 road races in the country.

"I think in the trail-running world, XTERRA's reputation here probably helped us, and the size of the James River Scramble probably helped us," said Sports Backers Executive Director Jon Lugbill.

The XTERRA off-road triathlon series brings athletes from all over the country and the world here every June. The James River Scramble, now part of the Dominion RiverRock festival in May, fills its limit of 1,200 trail runners every year. And next Saturday, another Sports Backers-sponsored event, the U.S. Army X-Country Festival at Maymont, will feature a half-marathon using some of the trails in the James River Park System, including the floodwall.

"It's unique having so much trail in a downtown environment," Lugbill said.

For Burrell, who with the help of many dedicated volunteers has designed and built much of what we have to brag about, the accolades are a sign that people are starting to take notice of what's happening here. And if his plans are any indication, this is just the beginning.

"It's just a huge accomplishment to be nationally recognized as a trail town, as a trail mecca," he said. "But there's so much more room for improvement. As we look forward to these greenways connecting our parks, our community facilities, our pools, our neighborhoods, not only into what is the river corridor, but downtown and regionally, we truly have the ability to be a Portland of the east."

The Times-Dispatch's Michael Martz reported in July on one such greenway project:

"An abandoned and overgrown rail line in South Richmond may get new life as an urban trail. The rail spur extends nearly 2½ miles from Cofer Road to Westover Hills Boulevard, where boosters hope trail users eventually will be able to connect to a possible trail along Reedy Creek to Forest Hill Park and the James River Park System."

Michael Burton, a former professional trail builder in South Carolina who now works with Burrell for the city, praised what we have ("I've never seen [a trail system] that's closer to downtown like this is and gets the kind of use that this does.") but said he sees projects like the South Side greenway as the future of Richmond's trail development.

"Eventually you're going to run out of room to keep expanding the single track you have right along the river," he said. "So to me really the next logical step would be to try to enhance the connectiveness of this trail with other parks. If those could be connected with greenways, that would be awesome."

These things take time. Richmond won't gain the reputation of some trail-centric western cities overnight, but, as Burrell said, "We're well on our way."

In the meantime, it's nice to see others take note of what we do offer and tout it nationally. I'm glad to able to rest my voice for once.