Run Wild Races
Next Event:
September 28, 2024
Metro Richmond Zoo, VA
Racing to save the endangered Lemurs
The 9th Bi-Annual Run Wild Race
September 28th, 2024 hosted at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Below are the race options for the upcoming event.
Run Wild:
1Mi
5k
10k
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, September 28th! Don’t forget to round up your herd; there is FUN for everyone. Choose from our 4 events: 1 Mile, 5k,10k, 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
Compare Events
Wild Mile
Wild Mile sprint is for all ages, but awards are only given out for children ages 4-11.
The majority of this course goes through the pathways of the zoo and includes a few all-terrain sections (gravel 5%, grass 20%, dirt 5%, pavement 70%). Parents can run with their children, but will also require a ticket. Children 3 and under do not need a ticket. Strollers are permitted but must be able to handle all-terrain.
Wild 5k
This all-terrain 5k starts through the inside of the zoo then spans the perimeter of the Zoo.
The course passes many off-site facilities such as the Cheetah Conservation Center. The all-terrain course consists of mostly dirt, mulch, and grass trails with some gravel and asphalt pathways. The trail has winding turns, some rolling hills, bridges over many creeks, beautiful views, a few steep hills, and sights of exotic wildlife.
Wild 10k
This all-terrain 10k starts through the inside of the zoo then spans the perimeter of the Zoo and around a horse farm.
The course passes many off-site facilities such as the Cheetah Conservation Center. The all-terrain course consists of mostly dirt, mulch, and grass trails with some gravel and asphalt pathways. The trail has winding turns, some rolling hills, bridges over many creeks, beautiful views, a few steep hills, and sights of exotic wildlife.
Wild Ninja
Wild Ninja is an obstacle course that is not timed, but scored on obstacle completion.
This approx. 2 mile obstacle course is not for the faint of heart. Participants face up to 42 challenging obstacles dispersed throughout the all-terrain trail. Some ninja obstacles are similar to those seen on the hit television series American Ninja Warrior. The obstacles represent real life challenges that animals encounter in the wild for the survival of their species.
Run Wild and support a Wild cause
100% of our net proceeds from this event will benefit:
The Endangered Lemurs
Located 250 miles off the east coast of Africa is the island of Madagascar, the 4th largest island in the world, and the only habitat for the 112 species of wild lemurs in the world.
Lemurs are the world’s most endangered group of mammals. In fact, 98% of lemur species are at risk of extinction and 31% are critically endangered. This is mostly due to the loss of their habitat from traditional slash-and-burn farming techniques used by rural communities, as well as hunting, climate change, and growing human populations in Madagascar. But together with communities in Madagascar and lemur fans around the world, we can help.
The Lemur Conservation Network (LCN) unites over 60 conservation organizations and connects them with people around the world. We support this network through communications, education, and the empowerment of Malagasy organizations and individuals. Members of our network all work closely with local communities in Madagascar. We are all in this together!
Lemurs – Metro Richmond Zoo
Lemur Conservation Network (LCN) – Madagascar.
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 third 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, 5K, and the 10k?
“Simple. I like 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!”
