This week, two of those things are sports events happening close to Oregon Hill on the James River:
3. James River Splash and Dash
Of all the races that I will never run, the James River Splash and Dash is the one I regret not running the most. First: you run. Then: you tube down the river. Then: you run your tube on land. It sounds as ridiculously fun to watch as it must be to participate. What could add more hilarity to this event? Oh, just a party afterwards with food and beer and music and stuff, NO BIG DEAL.
Sat. Jul. 14 • 4:00 PM
Belle Isle
$34 to race and participate in the no-big-deal party4. Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon
“Ho ho ho, a race involving TUBING,” says you, the famous tubing killjoy. “‘Tis not for I,” you said, (still talking, I see). “Instead, I plan to stay unsoiled and bone dry while simultaneously helping an excellent cause. Please drop me off at the Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon, where a team of friends and I will run parts of marathons together, benefitting Project Athena and all the dream-fulfillment it does for people who’ve been through physical hell. It’s like physical hell in order to help those in physical hell. Appropriate!”
Sat. Jul. 14 • 7:00 AM
Brown’s Island
$6 per race enthusiast
And then there is this last event, which usually brings at least a few crews of filmmakers to the neighborhood:
Fast filmmakers, heed the call of the 48 Hour Film Project, aka “49 Hours? No Dice.” You’ll lose a lot of sleep and have a crap-ton of fun, I bet, as the festival peeps give you a character and some background information (kickoff is this Friday at The Camel). Then you’re off, writing, filming, and editing a movie to be turned in at this very event. Watch the fresh-faced hopefuls greet each other amiably on Friday or giggle sympathetically as they stagger in, cowed by the very briskness of this idea on Sunday. Screenings begin in a few weeks.
Sun. Jul 15 • 5:00 PM
The Camel, 1621 W. Broad St.
Free!