RVA Sprint

Lace up your running shoes and prepare for a multi-sport challenge at the RVA Sprint, Richmond's only pool sprint triathlon, taking place on August 23, 2026, in scenic Rockville, VA. This USA Triathlon-sanctioned event, hosted at the Rockville Center, offers a dynamic day of competition designed to appeal to both seasoned athletes and first-time triathletes. Participants will enjoy a short pool swim, a picturesque rolling rural bike course, and a fun out-and-back run.

The RVA Sprint provides a variety of distances and formats, ensuring there's a race for everyone. The classic Sprint Triathlon features a 300-yard pool swim, a 20k (approximately 12.4 miles) bike, and a 5k (about 3.1 miles) run. For those who prefer to skip the swim, the Duathlon offers a 0.75-mile run, followed by the 20k bike and a 5k run. There's also an Aquabike option for a swim-bike challenge, a shorter Beginner-Only Triathlon (150-yard swim, 6-mile bike, 1.5-mile run), and a Kid's Splash & Dash (100-yard swim, 1-mile run) for younger athletes. Beyond the physical challenge, this race is unique for its "seeded" start, where the top 12 seeded women begin approximately seven minutes ahead of the top 12 seeded men, setting the stage for an exciting battle to the finish line and a free entry to another Live Red Foundation race for the overall winner.

Beyond the thrill of competition, the RVA Sprint stands out for its philanthropic mission; all event proceeds benefit the Live Red Foundation's free fitness programs, which teach life skills to children in low-opportunity communities. Typical race day conditions in late August see highs around 85F and lows around 66F, with a 12% chance of precipitation, making for warm but manageable weather. Every finisher receives a medal, and awards are presented to the top three male and female overall in the triathlon, duathlon, and aquabike categories, as well as age group winners.