How would you like to go for 64 mile a jog in Hawaii? Or a
145 mile stroll through Middle Earth? Then, you can swim the English Channel, all
21 miles. With virtual races, you can challenge yourself to move around the
world, all from the comfort of your own neighborhood.
Virtual races require zero travel and usually can be
completed on your own personal timeline (you don’t have to walk 124 miles of
the Ring of Kerry in one day). Instead of traveling to a location, fighting
traffic for parking and navigating a crowd of runners, you pick the time, your
favorite location and even what type of challenge you want to compete. A
Disney Princess-themed run or Hobbits? The Great Wall of China or Route 66? There's lots of options available from famous routes all over the world to fantasy locations and even outer space.
After registering online, you keep track of your miles via GPS or fitness tracker. Some
challenges even allow you to walk, run, bike, or swim – it’s up to you to figure
out how to complete the miles as long as you get it done. You are basically
racing against yourself so the personal challenge can be very motivating.
Another motivating factor is the bling, a colorful medal you
receive in the mail upon completing a virtual race. Some are totally elaborate,
glowing in the dark or with removable coins and moveable pieces. Most are unique to the
location or the theme of the virtual race, but it’s a tangible representation
of what you’ve accomplished: You can hold the miles in your hand. Some races
even supply t-shirts and race bibs for the full race experience.
Virtual races have been around for a while, but with the
pandemic, they've simply exploded in popularity. The lack of crowds was perfect
during the days of social distancing, but the benefits are so great that people
have been flocking to virtual races still.
One thing lots of virtual races can offer that in-person races
can’t is the community access. While you don’t have a real crowd cheering you
on from the sidelines, many races offer Facebook groups or message boards to
help racers motivate each other – vent, celebrate and compare notes. The virtual cheers can be the perfect thing to pick you up when you fall down or say "Yeah!" when you reach your goals.
If you think a virtual race will be a push to get moving, you
should definitely give it a try because not only is it fun, but there’s
something about a shiny object in the mail that gets you going. Proudly wear
that medal around town and show everyone the journey you’ve been on, even if
you’ve never left home.
Find out more at: