How I Learned to Like Virtual Races

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Giant Race – Sacramento (virtual) as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all staying safe and finding ways to stay sane during these strange and difficult times. Most years, we runners would be a few races in by now and probably thinking about what we’d run in the fall. This year, not so much. Many of us trained hard to get ready for Spring races, only to have them canceled. I know that disappointment. Virtual options starting popping up and at first I wasn’t all that excited about the thought. Running a run on my regular routes and calling it a race seems funny to me. There are plenty of good reasons though…

• Virtual races give us something to keep pushing toward.
• If you PR, it still counts as a PR.
• You have the camaraderie of runners around the globe.
• You support races that will continue to be around in the future.
• You can support good causes.

The Shamrock Dolphin Challenge was my first official virtual race. I somehow managed to be motivated enough to cash in on my training and PR my half marathon time.

After that, I ran the a virtual race held by the Pujols Family Foundation. It combined my loves of running and baseball (Albert is my favorite player of all time, tied with Ozzie Smith) plus it went to a good cause. The awesome t-shirt didn’t hurt either! This one didn’t go well on a tough, windy afternoon. I went out fast and couldn’t hang on. Such is life.

See, the shirt IS awesome. I washed it immediately.

Coming up next, the Giant Race (Sacramento) 10k. Full disclosure: I do not like the SF Giants. However, their minor league affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats I do like!

River Cats game a few years back. 🙂

This one is cool cause since I was born in Sacramento, it’s kinda sorta a hometown race. Of course, it’s baseball related too.

Of course I wish I could run this one in person, but there’s something cool about running in solidarity with other runners around the world. Sometimes I race them hard and compete against myself, other times I treat them more like a fun run. Whatever floats your boat. 🙂

If you decide you want to give a Giant Race a try, use code GIANTS2020 for $10 off all events! I’m mostly looking at you, Sacramento friends..