Partnership puts Rapid Hydration on course for the 49th running of America’s Friendliest Marathon
RICHMOND, VA – Sports Backers today announced a new partnership with Tailwind Nutrition, naming the Durango, Colorado-based endurance fuel company as the official electrolyte partner of the Allianz Richmond Marathon. Beginning with this year’s event on Saturday, November 14, Tailwind will be the electrolyte drink served at aid stations along the course, supporting participants in the marathon, CarMax Richmond Half Marathon, and the Capital One Richmond 8k.
For a race known nationally as “America’s Friendliest Marathon,” the choice of an on-course drink comes down to more than logistics. Tailwind was built around a simple idea: fuel that runners can take mile after mile without second-guessing it. That focus on being easy on the stomach made the partnership a natural fit for an event whose reputation rests on taking care of its participants.
“We’ve spent nearly 50 years building a race that treats people well, and that reputation is built out of a thousand small details—the volunteer who knows your name, the neighborhood that turns out to cheer, the cup that’s waiting for you at mile 18,” said Meghan Keogh, Sports Backers Event Director. “We’re excited to bring on a product that’s friendly on the stomach to match a race that’s friendly on everything else. Runners spend months dialing in their fueling, and they deserve something on course they can trust on race day.”
Tailwind’s Rapid Hydration contains electrolytes, vitamin C, and a touch of real cane sugar. Why real cane sugar? It helps your body rehydrate faster by using active transport mechanisms to speed up absorption. It tastes better than artificial or dietary sweeteners and provides a clean, light flavor. Each serving of Rapid Hydration delivers 320 mg of sodium, 90 mg of potassium, 12 g of carbohydrate, and added vitamin C at just 45 calories.
“Richmond has one of the most welcoming running communities in the country, and it’s on full display at this race every November,” said Peter Archer, Senior Events Manager at Tailwind Nutrition. “We make products for real athletes with real stomachs, and there’s no better proving ground than 26.2 miles. We’re proud to be on course in Richmond and to be part of the training season that leads up to it.”
The partnership extends well beyond race day. Tailwind will fuel Sports Backers’ Marathon Training Team and Half Marathon Training Team throughout the season, giving thousands of local runners a chance to practice with the same product they’ll find on course in November. Tailwind will also hold prominent space at the Health & Fitness Expo and the CoStar Group Post Race Party, where participants and spectators can sample flavors, talk fueling strategy, and pick up product, and will partner with Richmond-area Fleet Feet stores on marathon-season promotions.
Demand for Richmond’s signature race weekend has never been higher. The Allianz Richmond Marathon, celebrating its 49th running on November 14, sold out for a third consecutive year in the fastest sellout in event history, and will send 7,200 runners from the start line—1,000 more than last year, after organizers shifted entries from the half marathon to the meet growing demand for the 26.2-mile distance. The CarMax Richmond Half Marathon also sold out for a third straight year with all 9,000 entries claimed, while registration remains open for the Capital One Richmond 8k. A deeper marathon field means more runners on course reaching for a cup at the aid stations than ever before, and it sets the stage for the 50th running of the Richmond Marathon in 2027.
Registration is open at www.richmondmarathon.org
About Tailwind Nutrition
Founded in Durango, Colorado, Tailwind Nutrition makes endurance fuel and hydration products built to be easy on the stomach and simple to use — all the calories, electrolytes, and hydration an athlete needs, with no artificial sweeteners or dietary sweeteners. Tailwind is used by runners, cyclists, hikers, and triathletes worldwide and is the official fuel or electrolyte partner of endurance events across the country. Learn more at tailwindnutrition.com.
About Sports Backers
With a key message of Let’s Go, RVA, the mission of Sports Backers is to inspire people to live actively. A nonprofit organization, Sports Backers is dedicated to producing nationally recognized quality sporting events and programs that motivate residents and visitors alike to be more active, supporting youth running and fitness programs, and advocating for safe and connected networks of bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Learn more at sportsbackers.org