I was signed up for a half marathon in Milwaukee today, and it became a virtual race due to COVID-19. The race organization mailed everyone the tech tee, quarter-zip, finisher’s medal, and race bib.
I don’t mind that the race was made virtual, and I’m not upset I’m not getting a refund (that’s a risk I took when I registered). It’s awesome they are mailing everyone their race package (thank you!), and providing a way to enter their virtual race time, BUT I don’t plan on running it virtually and entering my time online. Why?
I wanted to run with a crowd of people.
Ha.
I needed that crowd of people to make me move faster. Without them, I shuffle on my long runs, which is fine, but I don’t need that pace recorded anywhere other than here and Garmin.
Also, this was not a goal race. I signed up for it on February 25th, after Gina and family booked their tickets to come out here. We were all going to run it for fun. I’m not in racing shape, and it’s the only other race I had signed up for this year. As you can probably tell, races are not important to me right now (I feel bad for the people who they are, and had a ton of them canceled, especially if it was a big goal race or a bucket list race – that just stinks).
So, I’ll pass on running it virtually and entering my time. I plan to run longer than 13.1 on my Sunday long run (if the rain isn’t horrible!) and may lap my watch at 13.1… but may not.
A lot of people seem to be doing virtual races now, either because they were going to do a race in person and it became virtual, or because they are doing some of the COVID-19 specific virtual ones. Are you in to them? They’re a great option right now (they’re our only option right now!), especially if you need a race to hold you accountable, or really miss the running community and want to connect.
I’m in to running whatever I want to when I feel like it. Heh. There was definitely a time in the past where I signed up for virtual races because I thought it had a cool medal, but it’s been years since I’ve done that.
I’m with you on needing the group of people to run with during a race…otherwise it just feels like another long (or short if it’s a 5K) run. That was some nice swag for the race, though – but it’s too bad you can’t have the fun of actually running the race.
Yeah, exactly!
It does look really nice! Pretty cool they gave two different tops. Maybe I can do the event next year 🙂
I hadn’t heard about the move to virtual races. That’s gotta be disappointing not to get to do the race for real, but I hope people are being understanding and participating virtually if they want (and opting out, like you are, if it’s not for them).
Harrison just told me about some guy on Strava who ran a marathon back and forth in his driveway!!!
So far people seem chill online and are posting all about their virtual races… I hope people are being chill and the race directors are not having to hide a bunch of nasty comments.
Oh my gosh! I have been hearing stories of lots of people doing things like that! Did he live somewhere where he had restrictions on running in the streets?
It’s very nice that they sent all the swag by mail, but I totally understand why you are passing on doing it virtually. Besides, you are getting a lot of great running in on your own! Some people need a virtual race to motivate them, but you certainly don’t.
Aww, thanks. Yeah, I don’t need that for motivation to run, just if I want to run a bit faster! Ha!
I haven’t done any virtual races for the same reason. The whole difference between training and racing for me is the other people motivating me to actually, you know, try. Ha. Even if I was doing a virtual race, I don’t think I’d be nearly as motivated to run hard as I would in an actual race setting, and I’d think the logistics of running a decent time would also be tough, with intersections and cars and all of that.
Yep, this. I need those people to make me want to try harder, and making try harder feel easier.
I was wondering about that too – like when you have to stop for a crossing, do your pause your watch or not? And I could get on a trail and run a point to point or out and back 13.1 but it would be on crushed limestone, which I am slower on!