The Charlottesville Ten Miler turns 50 this year. As the city’s oldest footrace, it draws runners of all levels to a 10-mile course through Charlottesville each spring. This year’s run is set for March 28.
If you need some running route inspiration ahead of the big day, Mark Lorenzoni has you covered.
Lorenzoni is the co-founder of , the iconic footwear and gear store on Elliewood Avenue that has anchored the Corner since 1982. The store, which he started with his wife Cynthia, has employed more than 1,000 University of Virginia students and helped direct more than 900 foot races. In its second generation of ownership, the co-founders’ oldest children, Alec and Audrey, both UVA alumni, now run the shop.
As head coach of the Charlottesville Ten Miler Program, Mark Lorenzoni had guided more than 9,000 runners of all abilities toward the finish line. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
Lorenzoni has a long history with the Ten Miler. In 1984, Lorenzoni and his close friend, Dave Murphy, took over as race directors with one condition: They wanted to redesign the course. The race had previously been mapped through the countryside. They brought it into the city and served as race directors for 12 years.
Since 1987, Lorenzoni has served as head coach of the Charlottesville Ten Miler Training Program, a five-month series that meets every Saturday morning at the UVA track to guide runners of all abilities from their first steps to race day. More than 9,000 people have come through the program in its 38 years of operation. Lorenzoni coaches on a volunteer basis.
Whether you’re registered, training or just looking for an excuse to explore the city on foot, Lorenzoni has some routes for you to try out. Think of the Rotunda as the hub of a wheel, he says, with the routes radiating outward like spokes in every direction. Below are five of his picks, each starting at the Rotunda and varying in length and terrain.
Around Grounds
Distance: 3.5 miles
Starting at the Rotunda, this route heads north on Rugby Road before taking you through the streets of Winston and Fendall, tree-lined blocks that Lorenzoni says many students go their four years without ever exploring.
From there, the route takes you back toward Rugby Road, then onto University Way, then cuts across the Emmet Street Footbridge. This pedestrian crossing bypasses a tricky intersection for runners.
Runners will pass by the Darden School of Business and the School of Law. The route ends with a half-mile loop around The Park, an area Lorenzoni calls a “hidden outdoor recreational gem.”
At roughly 3.5 miles, it’s the shortest route on this list and a solid foundation for anyone building toward the Ten Miler or other long-distance runs.
Charlottesville High School neighborhood
Distance: 4.5 miles
“This one is an up-close tour of the beautiful neighborhoods leading to Charlottesville High School, the Botanical Gardens and the popular John Warner Parkway path,” Lorenzoni said.
Starting at the Rotunda, this route quickly leaves Grounds behind, heading north on Rugby Road toward Rugby Avenue. Runners cross the YMCA footbridge to the Charlottesville High School track, then take a left onto Grove Road. A right on Melbourne Road takes runners past McIntire Park and the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont.
The return leg follows the John Warner Parkway multi-use path east – a dedicated greenway that offers a flat finish back toward Downtown Charlottesville. At roughly 4.5 miles, this route is a natural step up from the “Around Grounds” loop for runners who seek to add distance as race day approaches.
Westhaven/Downtown Mall
Distance: 5 miles
Of all the routes in this list, this one covers the most varied terrain. Heading north from the Rotunda, taking a right on Gordon Avenue and following it to 10th Street, runners pass through Westhaven, one of Charlottesville’s historic African American neighborhoods, before continuing down Main Street to the Downtown Mall – a landmark that serves as the midpoint of the run.
“This classic route takes you on a historic journey through African American neighborhoods, the city’s iconic Downtown Mall, its surrounding neighborhoods and Main Street,” Lorenzoni said, “with a bonus option to the popular two-mile path along the Rivanna River at Riverview Park.”
The optional river path extension, a flat and scenic two-mile stretch along the Rivanna, pushes the total to roughly eight miles, making this a versatile route, adaptable to wherever a runner is in their training.
Lewis Mountain/Fry’s Spring
Distance: 6 miles, option to add 2 miles along the Rivanna River
This route heads from the Rotunda onto McCormick Road, taking runners toward the Lewis Mountain neighborhood, a quiet residential grid near Alumni Hall. After weaving through the streets of Lewis Mountain, the route takes runners onto Alderman Road, where they pass the Aquatic & Fitness Center and Scott Stadium, then head toward the intersection of Jefferson Park Avenue.
There are two options for the remainder of this run. The first is to continue down Alderman Road as it turns into Maury Avenue until runners reach Jefferson Park Circle, which serves as the turnaround point to loop back to the Rotunda.
The second option is for runners looking to extend the route. Taking a right onto Fontaine Avenue leads runners to the Foxhaven Trails (5 miles of public trails) and the Ragged Mountain Reservoir trail system (6 miles of public trails). This is the most expandable route in this list and a great choice for runners building toward longer distances. There are 6 miles of public trails available for trail running and extending the route.
Historic neighborhood tour
Distance: 8 miles
The longest route in the collection, this route heads east from the Rotunda toward Downtown, then south and west. It winds through three of Charlottesville’s oldest neighborhoods in a single run: first to Fifeville, then to Belmont and finally to Fry’s Spring, before returning north along Jefferson Park Avenue back to the Rotunda.
“Do not miss Gildersleeve Wood and Oakhurst Circle off JPA on your way back,” Lorenzoni said. They are two distinctive residential enclaves off Jefferson Park Avenue and might be easy to overlook without knowing they’re there.
At roughly 8 miles, this route is for runners who want to see the most of Charlottesville and are ready for distance.
