Richmond takes a different approach to entry than many of the marathons it gets compared to: there's no lottery, no random draw, and no waiting to find out if your name got picked. Registration is first-come, first-served, which makes the entry process simple to understand even if it comes with its own kind of pressure. Here's how it actually works.

No lottery, first-come instead

Unlike majors that use a lottery or a time-qualifying-only entry system, Richmond opens registration to anyone who wants to sign up, on a straightforward first-come, first-served basis. There's no application window to track, no odds to calculate, and no notification email to wait on before you know whether you're in. The tradeoff is that popularity does the gatekeeping instead of chance: Richmond's marathon field has sold out earlier each of the past several years, so first-come increasingly means sooner rather than later.

Pricing rises as the race gets closer

Richmond uses tiered pricing that increases in steps as race day approaches, a common structure for first-come races designed to reward early registration rather than early application. Exactly where those price steps land changes from year to year, so check the current registration page for this cycle's specific tiers and dates rather than relying on a number from a past year — but the general pattern holds: registering earlier in the cycle costs less than registering later, assuming the race hasn't already sold out by then.

What happens once it sells out

When the marathon reaches capacity, registration doesn't reopen until spots free up through cancellations, deferrals, or distance changes. At that point the race shifts to a waitlist system rather than closing entirely — worth knowing if you're eyeing Richmond after general registration has already closed. A charity-entry path also typically exists once the field is full, for runners willing to fundraise for the race's designated charity partner in exchange for a guaranteed spot.

Registering for the half marathon or 8k instead

Richmond's race weekend also includes a half marathon and an 8k, run as companion events to the marathon on the same morning. These shorter distances have historically stayed open longer than the full marathon, so they're worth considering if the marathon has already sold out and you'd still like to be part of race weekend, whether as a goal race of their own or as a tune-up ahead of a future Richmond marathon attempt.

Getting ready to register

Because Richmond doesn't use a lottery, there's no strategic timing trick beyond registering as early in the cycle as you're confident about running the race — waiting for a better price later is a real gamble against both rising tiers and the field simply selling out. If you're weighing Richmond against other fall marathons before you commit, RaceRove's marathon listings are a good place to compare options side by side.