Run Wild Races
Next Event:
May 2, 2026
Metro Richmond Zoo, VA
Who’s faster – You or the tortoise?
The 12th Bi-Annual Run Wild Race
May 2, 2026 hosted at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Below are the race options for the upcoming event.
Run Wild:
Mini
5k
Ninja
Something For Everyone!
Run Wild Races has partnered with the Metro Richmond Zoo to bring fun and animal awareness to those who participate in our events while helping to raise animal conservation funds.
Come run, walk, or ninja your way around the zoo on Saturday, May 2nd! Don’t forget to round up your herd; there is FUN for everyone. Choose from our 3 events: 1 Mile, 5k, and Wild Ninja! Be sure to spot rhinos, zebras, cheetahs and other zoo animals along the race path! After you cross the finish line, each participant can visit the Zoo for FREE! Any spectators that come with you will receive a 10% discount off their zoo admission tickets for race day.
Race day countdown
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Events
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Mini 1-Mile
Everyone’s invited to join this 1-mile fun run through the Zoo — a perfect adventure for families, friends, and runners of all ages! While anyone can participate, kids 2-17 will compete for the Mini 1-Mile awards and bragging rights.
The course winds through the Zoo’s scenic pathways with a mix of 90% pavement, 5% gravel, and 5% dirt—ideal for young runners, families, and all-terrain strollers. (Children 1 and under do not need a ticket.)
Participant Info:
- All Mini participants ages 2 and older need a ticket (including chaperones).
- Children ages 2–7 must have a participating parent or designated chaperone. (Parents may assign a responsible older sibling or friend.)
- Awards are given only to participants 17 and under.
- For animal safety, some exhibits will be closed during the run, but you can visit all of them after the Zoo opens for the day!
5k
Experience a one-of-a-kind all-terrain 5K that begins inside the Zoo and winds around its perimeter—including exclusive access through the Cheetah Conservation Center and areas between the Zoo’s double security fences.
After nearly a mile of paved pathways, the course transitions into a mix of dirt, mulch, grass, and gravel trails featuring winding turns, rolling hills, scenic bridges, and up-close views of exotic wildlife. Expect stunning sights, a few steep climbs, and an unforgettable run through nature.
Participant Info:
- All 5K participants ages 5 and up require a ticket (including chaperones).
- Children ages 5–10 must be accompanied by a participating parent or designated chaperone. (Parents may assign a responsible older sibling or friend.)
Wild Ninja
An epic 2-mile adventure packed with up to 42 obstacles inspired by American Ninja Warrior and real-life animal survival challenges. Each obstacle tests your balance, strength, stamina, and grip — as you compete to “escape extinction”!
Earn points for every obstacle conquered and see where you rank on the IUCN Red List of Survival — from Extinct to Least Concern. Those who conquer them all will earn the title “Unlikely to Become Extinct in the Near Future” and receive free entry into their next Wild Ninja!
Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just ready to try something wild, this course is for anyone 8 and older.
(Ages 8–14 must compete with a participating adult or have a Full Access Spectator ticket to walk the full course with them.)
Challenge yourself. Represent your “species.” Prove you won’t go extinct.
Run Wild and support a Wild cause
100% of our net proceeds from this event will benefit:
Endangered Galapagos Tortoises & Sulcata Tortoises
At the current rate of habitat loss and poaching, African lions could be completely extinct by 2050.
Lions are one of the most loved animals in the world and one of the biggest drawcards for travelers to Africa.
Major threats:
Habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable trophy hunting, illegal trade in bushmeat, and conflict with local people due to real or perceived threat that lions pose to livestock, are some of the major threats that remaining lion populations face.
Some Facts About Lions in the Wild
The lion population in Africa has decreased by 90% in the last century
There are currently only about 23,000 lions left in the wild
Lions are extinct in 26 of the 54 countries across Africa
Are Lions Endangered?
Lions are currently listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. In some parts of Africa, lions are classified as “critically endangered” because lion populations are still plummeting at an unprecedented rate.
Our Charity Partner: Lion Guardians
Lion Guardians is a conservation organization dedicated to finding and enacting long-term solutions for people and lions to coexist. Founded in 2006, Lion Guardians began with five Guardians in one small area within the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem. Currently, there are Lion Guardians-based projects successfully running in several countries and in our core area of Amboseli, our operations span over close to a million acres. We are committed to workable solutions that are scientifically-driven and transferable across areas.
What We Do
Lion Guardians’ conservation model is adaptable to various cultures and wildlife species. Our approach involves recruiting young, traditional Maasai and other pastoralist warriors to learn the skills needed to effectively mitigate conflicts between people and wildlife, monitor lion populations, and help their own communities live with lions. By actively engaging in our solutions-based conservation model, people who were once lion killers are transformed into lion protectors.
Lions – Metro Richmond Zoo
Lion Guardians –
Why Run Wild Races?
Run Wild Races was started in the summer of 2020 by Justin Andelin, the Zoo Ninja.
“Fitness and competition have always been an important part of my upbringing. My competitive nature is what inspired me to apply and get onto the 10th season of American Ninja Warrior.
I had never previously been to a ninja gym to train on ninja obstacles for the required body control and awareness needed for success. Nevertheless, I was going to prove to myself that I could complete the obstacles. That was exactly my intention when I stepped onto the tv set in 2018. Needless to say, I was humbled by the forth obstacle! Had I previously trained on ninja obstacles, I would have made it much further.
After being on the show, I realized that like myself, there are a lot of people that just want to try ANW style obstacles. Because there are not any ninja gyms in Richmond, I wanted to bring ANW styled obstacles for my community to try. I also wanted to improve on the slow format (1 person at a time) of ANW. My solution: Wild Ninja. I hope you enjoy it.”
Why the Mini, and 5k?
“I love sprinting, and finding ways to improve my endurance for ninja warrior. I also wanted people to be able to race through the zoo around the animals!”
