Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon Makes Community Impact

The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon is more than a race, it’s a community effort.

When we started the marathon we knew it would benefit the community, and we’re pleased with not only how the race has grown but also how it’s been able to contribute to the region as a whole.

The Roanoke Outside Foundation would like to thank everyone who participated in the event – from runners to volunteers to spectators – for making it a success in 2018.

This year $15,000 in proceeds from the marathon went to 18 nonprofits that supported runners before, during, and after the race. Add it all up and the Roanoke Outside Foundation has donated $185,000 to dozens of local organizations.

  • Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Downtown Rotary
  • Rotary New Generations
  • Impact
  • Roanoke Valley SPCA
  • Junior League of the Roanoke Valley
  • Temple Emanuel
  • American Advertising Federation, Roanoke Chapter
  • Star City Cycling
  • Ghent Grace
  • Patrick Henry High School Band
  • Cave Spring High School Band
  • SARA
  • FCA Endurance
  • Girls on the Run
  • Hope Worldwide
  • Slam Duncan’s Children’s Charities
  • Roanoke Disc Golf

The marathon on April 21 also set a participation record with runners from all over the United States, and a handful of course records were broken as well.

Here’s the race by the numbers:

  • 2,755: Registered runners
  • 617: Volunteers (thank you!)
  • 4: New course records – double marathon (male), marathon (male, Tim Gruber, pictured above), Star 10K (male and female)

Make sure to save the date for next year: April 13, 2019