Virtual Races During Covid-19

Posted On April 8, 2020

So I think we can agree that the coronavirus is a bit of a problem. I’m not happy that it came in and destroyed my race schedule for the Spring. I had plans dammit! But safety is important I guess, so we’ve just got to make the best of it.

A lot of races are either cancelling or postponing until the fall. But not all. Some races are instead going virtual. (For information about virtual races see my post About: Virtual Races.) This allows runners who were going to participate in races to participate in them still, just without the cool courses or after parties (or maybe not–I don’t know what it’s like at your house after a run). But it’s one way to keep busy and to continue to accomplish goals during this period of quarantine. It also provides people who couldn’t make it to those races in person to participate.

I’ve managed to compile a variety of races that have decided to make the jump to virtual. This was A LOT of work. But I did it so that you don’t have to!

My advice? Find one that you’re interested in and make an event out of it. Some of the race organizers are even trying to help with virtual concerts/get togethers that runners can participate in. And maybe you’ll find a cool destination race to do next year.

Featured Races:

My featured races are races that I’m interested in participating in during this time frame.

–Vacation Races: Vacation Races is known for setting up marathons and half marathons throughout the country’s national parks, allowing runners to experience the wonders of nature. They’ve come out with a special race just for this time when everyone can’t go out. Instead of featuring a National Park, this race features Home. Additionally, they created a website just for this race called “Staycation Races”. https://www.staycationraces.com/

–Run and Ride King’s Dominion: So I’m a huge fan of the Run and Ride Race series. I mean, who wouldn’t want to do a Snoopy-themed run through an amusement park? I’ve previously done both ValleyFair and Cedar Point and this year I was planning on doing King’s Dominion. Well, that got cancelled, but I still very much want to run these for the medals: Peanuts Characters in roller coaster cars. What’s more, the medals connect to form a coaster chain. I may sign up for one more race in order to complete my train too….. https://www.runandriderace.com/kdeventinfo

-Historic Half: The Marine Corps Historic Half has been on my running wish list for several years now. I like getting to run through pretty historic areas. While I still want to do this in person someday, I’m really excited about this virtual because it gives me the chance to complete the Devil Dog Double. Unfortunately, at my current running speed, I’m not fast enough to finish the Semper 5ive in order to start the Historic Half in time. Additionally, they’re including some sort of Historic Half audio guide, which should be interesting. And it’s an incredibly good price (each race is $28 and the Devil Dog Double is $35). https://www.marinemarathon.com/events/historic-half/registration#new-virtual-run

-Flying Pirate Half Marathon: It’s pirate themed, need I say more? Well, I will anyways. Because the race normally takes place in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the 5k race the day before the half marathon is themed around the first flight of the Wright Brothers. Add in a challenge medal and I am SOLD. https://obxse.com/flying-pirate

-Mud Hen Brewing Co Race Series: This is actually a race weekend I’ve wanted to do since I was back at Cornell (It’s in New Jersey). Unfortunately, I discovered it the last semester I was there so I didn’t get to run it. Plus they give you a coupon for their beer. He’s hoping I get a chance to redeem it before it expires. https://www.delmosports.com/events/mudhen-race-series

-San Francisco Marathon Races: Thankfully the San Francisco Marathon has not been cancelled yet (it’s not until the end of the July). But in order to motivate people to get out and keep running they’ve created several virtual races.I like that well-known races are creating limited-time runs like this to help runners get through the lack of in-person races. https://www.irun365.org/?_ga=2.195193388.1449021689.1586300153-413789887.1586300153

Closing Soon:

This category is kind of self-explanatory I think. The registration for these races is closing imminently. (One that I wanted to do actually closed on me without me realizing it…oops)

-Bridge Street Town Centre Half Marathon: https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Huntsville/BridgeStreetHalfMarathon

-Tell City Half Marathon: https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/TellCity/TellCityHalfMarathonand5kFunRun

-April Showers Half Marathon: https://www.deborahmontgomeryracing.com/

-Prairie Dog Half: https://www.prairiedoghalf.com/index.html

Well-Known Races:

These races are ones that I think have pretty well-known in-person races. I may be completely off on this, though, and I may be the only one who knows these races.

-Hot Chocolate: https://www.hotchocolate15k.com/virtual

-Atlantic City Race Series: https://www.acraceseries.com/volunteer?gclid=Cj0KCQjwybD0BRDyARIsACyS8msb3scQ8EcAspqqRP-6b10dNqJZdvghCzfEYid9j6QEodnMdHZ1j8YaAjHzEALw_wcB

-Garmin Marathon: https://ozrun.org/

-OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon: https://www.indymini.com/

-Carmel Marathon: https://www.carmelmarathon.com/

Small Town Races:

These races were ones I didn’t really know and were in places I’d never heard of. Or I just knew that town they were in was small *cough* Utica *cough*

-Skyline Half Marathon: https://www.runproject.org/events/skyline-half-race

-Colorado Marathon: http://comarathon.com/

-EZ Run Events: https://www.ezrunevents.com/shop

-Coastal Race Productions: https://coastalraceproductions.com/

-Blue Ridge Half Marathon: https://www.blueridgemarathon.com/

-Bend Marathon: https://www.bend-marathon.com/

-American River Parkway Half Marathon: https://www.parkwayhalf.com/

-Highlander Half Marathon: https://runsignup.com/highlanderhalf_5k

-Run on the River Half Marathon: https://www.astoriaparks.com/Run%20on%20the%20River

-Run for the Lakes Marathon: http://runforthelakes.com/

-Badass Texas Half Marathon: https://www.runproject.org/events/badass-texas-race

-Erie Canal Half Marathon: http://www.eriecanalhalf.com/

-Running with the Cows Half Marathon: http://cow.run/

-Maine Coast Marathon: https://mainecoast262.com/

-Festival Foods Grandad Half Marathon: https://www.grandadhalfmarathon.com/

-Run Crandic Marathon: http://runcrandic.com/

-Oshkosh Marathon: https://www.dutrirun.com/oshkoshhalf

-La Jolla Half Marathon: https://inmotionevents.com/event/la-jolla-half-marathon-2/

Big City Races

These races are the ones in the larger cities that I didn’t think were as well-known. Again, I could be completely off.

-San Diego Beach and Bay Half Marathon: https://sandiegobeachandbayhalfmarathon.com/

-Maryland Half Marathon: https://www.ummsfoundation.org/site/TR?fr_id=1210&pg=entry

-Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon: https://www.clevelandmarathon.com/

-Cellcom Green Bay Marathon: http://www.cellcomgreenbaymarathon.com/2020/03/31/cellcom-green-bay-marathon-moves-to-virtual-event-for-2020/

-Pittsburgh Marathon: http://www.pittsburghmarathon.com/

-Newport Rhode Races: https://runri.us/newport-race-info/

-Dayton Spring Half Marathon: https://ohioruns.com/daytonspringhalfmarathon

-Spring Classic Half Marathon: https://springclassic.raceroster.com/

-Vintage Park Half Marathon: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Houston/VintageParkHalfMarathon

-TopCity Half Marathon: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Topeka/TopCityHalfMarathon

-Charlotte RaceFest Half Marathon: http://www.charlotteracefest.com/

Races For Those Who Enjoy Alcohol:

….and I might be one of those people. I’m looking hard at all of these.

-Fun Races Wine 5k: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/YourTown/TheWineRunVirtual

-Peach Blossom Wine and Hard Cider Challenge: https://bishopsevents.com/event/2020-peach-blossom-wine-hard-cider-challenge-5k-10k-half/

Uncorked Half Marathon: https://www.sportsbackers.org/events/uncorked-half/

Races to Benefit Others:

These races are all set up so that the money you spend on the races benefit different organizations. So if you feel the need to do good, this is the place to look.

-Care Packages at Carderock Half: https://bishopsevents.com/event/2020-care-packages-at-carderock-5k-10k-half/

-Mountain Man Memorial March: http://mountainmanmemorialmarch.com/

-RussVegas Half Marathon: https://www.russvegashalf.com/

-Gold Star Mission Run for the Fallen: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Rockford/GoldStarMissionRunfortheFallen

-Racing Around the Lake Half: https://bishopsevents.com/event/2020-racin-around-the-lake-5k-10k-half/

-Nellie Johnstone Half: https://runsignup.com/Race/OK/Bartlesville/FLOWCoHalfMarathon2018

Formerly Known as Trail Runs:

These races started life as trail runs. But if they’re run virtually they may not stay that way.

-Florida Run at Colt Creek State Park: http://thefloridarun.com/colt-creek-state-park

-SPASM Lake Chabot Marathon: https://www.coastaltrailruns.com/slc_spasm_lake_chabot.html

-Wildflower Trail Runs: https://www.trailracingovertexas.com/wildflower-half/

-Westminster Trail Half Marathon: https://www.enduranceraceseries.com/westminster