Virtual races are the best—you don’t have to worry about parking, there are no crowds, no lines for Porta Potties, and there’s no official starting line. During COVID-19 they’ve become a way for runners to enjoy the perks of running a race, without actually participating in a scheduled race. With virtual races, you get the freedom to choose where the starting line is, the course you want to run, and when you want to run. You can complete them on treadmills, trails, or tracks and you get to time yourself.
All you have to do is sign up for a virtual race online, pay a registration fee, and choose your starting location. When you finish your run, you upload your finishing time and after a few days, you’ll be mailed a medal. Some organizations even offer race packets and electronic bibs to runners.
Virtual races aren’t actually a new thing—they started when high school runners mailed in their times to a national postal competition and then a champion was selected and announced. But during the pandemic, virtual races have really taken off.
Some benefits in addition to not having to deal with parking or traffic include being able to reschedule your run if the weather is poor or if you have injuries. Virtual races are also a great way to feel like you’re part of a bigger community even though races aren’t happening at the moment.
