What is a Virtual Race?

Sometimes when we tell people that we own a company that hosts "virtual running races", we get a funny look and the next thing out of their mouth is, "But - what IS a virtual race, anyhow"?

Well, a virtual race is just like a traditional, physical race, except that youcontrol many of the race aspects from start to finish:

• You can walk your race or run your distance. You can treadmill your race or roller blade your distance. You can hop, skip, or hike your race. We don't care how you choose to do it, we just want to motivate you to get up, get moving, and get healthy.
• You don't even have to do the entire race at one time (although that is the most popular way to do a virtual race). If you are just starting out and would like to complete your distance over a few days or weeks, that's your call. We even host virtual races that are long distance challenges of anywhere from 10 miles to 150 miles: these events are great for sustaining your motivation over a longer period of time.
• We provide a personalized race bib by email - you can print from your computer and wear during your race, if you choose. It adds a fun twist to your race and makes it feel more like a traditional competition, especially if you are doing your run or walk with a group of friends. That being said, you don't have to wear it unless you want to.
• A neat aspect that everyone loves to hear about when they wonder, "What is a virtual race?" is the fact that you don't have to get up early on race day! If you worked late last night, just roll over on race morning and go back to sleep. The course will still be there when you get up because you control the start time! Or, if the weather is nasty on the day you were going to complete your race, just reschedule for another day – it's up to you!
• Likewise, you don't have to drive miles and miles to the race venue or fight the traffic near the event, only to drive around endlessly when you get there, looking for parking. You don't even have to pay for parking    (unless you choose to do your race on a park trail or somewhere that would normally charge a parking fee)!
• And, you don't have to do it all in reverse when you're done – you don't have to hunt for your car or fight traffic to leave the venue, or drive home too far (unless you really want to!) because…
• You choose the course you'll be running or walking on for your race. Maybe you have a nearby greenway or walking path that you'd like to explore. Maybe you just want to beat the weather and run or walk on the treadmill in your gym or your basement. Maybe you'll be out hiking in the wilderness and want to use your mileage toward your race distance (we had one couple who hiked part of the Appalachian Trail for their race distance and another couple who walked in airports during their travels to rack up their mileage). The point is, you get to decide where you'll complete your virtual race.
• When you finish your chosen race distance, you'll get a super-cool finisher's medal to help celebrate your victory! These medals are often fancier and more "blingy" than the ones you get from a traditional race. And, since many organized group race events often don't provide a finisher's medal to people who complete shorter distances (for example, a 5k), our finisher's medal provides an reward or incentive: maybe you are using virtual running races as a goal on the way to a longer race distance or possibly you are just starting out on your running journey and proud of your accomplishments (we are, too!). These medals mark the achievement of your goal!

Learn More

We hope you're no longer wondering "what is a virtual race?", but if you need more information, our FAQs page should help. If you would like to try a virtual race for yourself, check out our list of current and upcoming virtual races.

Always remember, it's your race, your way, your Triumph - happy racing!