Virtual races – yay or nay?
Geesh, the power of advertising seems to be strong on me this week*.
Also, as an update to yesterday’s post, I did my 5×5:00 intervals this morning, and started and ended with friends. Winning!
What do you guys think of virtual races (where you pay and sign up online and get a bib and medal – but run the “race” on your own)? Have you done one?
A lot of people in my running club where in to virtual half marathons earlier this year. And I saw a Facebook advertisement for a virtual races series last night that I thought had some cool medals.
I want a plane medal! Ha ha.
To go off on a bit of a tangent, it seems like runners have many different feelings about race medals. Some don’t care, and don’t keep their medals. Some only want to do races with medals. Some really care about the design and quality. Some only want a medal if it’s an age group placement. Some think a medal is nice but are not upset if a race doesn’t have one (that’s me).
I am very anti-junk** and collecting crap,*** but… I keep my medals. And bibs. For me, they’re a token of a memory. And the neat thing about medals, is that while we are all getting the same one, everyone’s collection is unique to them. I know I look at mine and can remember each race, and that’s fun (for me, anyway, ha ha)!
My most recent medal, which will be the first one to go on my new rack… when I put it up.
So back to the point. I don’t think I have done a virtual race****! But the fact that you get a bib and a medal sounds neat to me, and if that is motivating for someone to go out there and push themselves, or more convenient (and cheaper) than a race with other people, why not do it?
I do know though, that if I did a virtual race and ran my fastest time for that distance, I would not count it as an official PR.
*But I still can’t remember which company has the commercial with the kids sitting at the table talking about best, and faster, and whatever, Kovas. Ha ha.
**Which you might not guess, visiting my house…
***This ad for a “class” is pretty much my worst nightmare.
****Although I did do one of our running club’s unofficial races, which had a bib and medal.
Themocracy
I’m not sure what I think of virtual races. I’ve never done one. I like the feeling of going to a race and running beside like minded people like myself. Most of the races I do benefit some sort of charity I’m interested in.
I do like to get medals though!! The only medals I’ve ever received have been for half and full marathons. I think the tri I’m doing next month has one, as well as the bike ride I’m doing in October, but that is not a factor whether I do the race or not.
That class sounds like the perfect hobby for you and Steven! 😉
I hate junk too, but I do keep all my medals. I don’t keep the bibs though. Also, I don’t really care if a race has medals (or even tees) or not, I just like running the races!
I’ve done a couple virtual races, but never ones you had to pay for. If I’m paying for a race I want to show up and run with others. I run by myself enough!
Well I started hosting virtual races 3 yrs ago. I do two a year… however, mine were free to participate. The purpose was fun and to motivate people to get out there and run (for those who need that push). They gather up friends to make a fun event out of it, report back their finish and get entered to win a prize. Simple. Unfortunately, now others have turned ‘virtual races” into a business… many hosting virtual races nonstop thru the year. Some for charity, some not. I have rather mixed feelings on it now. Many are asking $20-30 for a virtual race – that’s a lot in my opinion. I personally won’t pay $25 for a medal when I can run a real race for that… but I also don’t need the “push” to get my run done. So whatever works for others. If it helps them get out there, then great. Unfortunately so many have copied my “Cupcake Classic” that I probably won’t even do it this year.
(typo in your second sentence….trying to beat your dad!)
I am not a virtual race fan, UNLESS it’s sole purpose is to support a charity I believe in. I don’t need a medal that’s NOT for an organized race. The medal represents an experience for me, and if I’m just out running by myself (or even with a few friends) that isn’t the same thing, to me.
These commercials? http://youtu.be/sw5o9SADbUQ
I HEART all of these commercials!!
I am not a virtual race fan. For me, the main point of a race is to run a different route and run with people. I would have a much harder time pushing myself like I do in a real race if I was out there by myself. The only “virtual” type race I’ve done is the Peace Marathon, which I did because I liked the message and the cause. It wasn’t really a race- you had an entire month to run 26.2 miles. It was more a bunch of people coming together to do something good for the world.
You did do a virtual 5k once… http://www.ilaxstudio.com/blog/2011/01/08/freeze-your-thorns-off-virtual-5k-race-report/
I only remember b/c I either participated in that one also or maybe the one after that. I can’t say I’d ever do another one but it at least got me out of the house that day and had me running a bit faster than usual.
I’m not really drawn to medals or race bibs (although I do have a lot of my race bibs displayed in my cubicle) so I’m not sure that would be an allure for me. Would you actually wear the race bib while you are doing your virtual race?
I’ve done one virtual race but didn’t get a medal or anything. It was a cause I felt fine supporting and had friends doing it. I doubt I’d sign up for any more though, there are plenty of local races that I’d rather support, with or without a medal. Our area is becoming so saturated with races that numbers are down all across the board which is a bit sad. I still say keeping it local and getting involved with your local running community is a better use and time, energy and money. I keep my medals as well but it is not any sort of motivator for me to sign up for any race, doesn’t matter to me if they have them or not.
I do them, because right now they help keep me motivated to keep moving and keep active. I’m totally a medal whore and earning new medals is what keeps me motivated – I don’t count them as PRs, but I totally do push on them and have done a couple of halfs that way. Right now I can’t justify spending on regular races – the virtuals are often half price or less and come with a medal, so help me stay motivated.
Oh, this is a bit of a “hot” topic for me. In fact, I’ve written and deleted a response 3x now cuz I don’t want to come off like a total ass. Okay, maybe I don’t care about that but certainly don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
I support very few virtual races. I do support Jess’ (above) for the very reasons which she sites. She offers them FOR FREE and uses them to 1) motivate herself, 2) motivate others and 3) bring ladies in the community together for the sake of fitness. She also works her tail off to collect TONS of prizes to randomly be given out to the virtual racers. Plus, did I mention that you can participate for FREE?
I’m the person who runs to run. I do it both for fitness and to be social. The majority of my races are social. I don’t need (or really want) a medal to have to drag back to my car. In fact, I find them irksome. I also frequently go back to cheer for other runners who are still on course so I don’t want a heavy medal around my neck weighing me down as I run the course backwards looking for friends. I almost always stuff them in a pocket or into my flip belt to get them out of the way. I don’t care about the shirt either. I almost never wear them. In fact, I just had a humongous quilt made from race “tees” which hadn’t already been donated or given away to new runners who need technical clothing. Since these things are unimportant to me, I’m very unlikely to pay for a virtual race “medal” or shirt unless I REALLY like the design and feel as if it’s something that I would actually wear.
On (rare) occasion, I will pay for a virtual race which has a special charity component. This is very rare and after the last one, which was locally sponsored, I probably won’t do another one. Let’s just say I paid for two “virtual race packages” and never received the contents. Did I really want the contents this time? Actually, I did. It’s always special to me when Aby and I do the same “race” and have matching shirts. Dorky, I know! So I was super disappointed that I never received the shirts for that virtual event that supported a cause very close to both Aby and I’s hearts. So this officially spoiled me on further virtual races and if I want to help a cause, I’ll be donating directly to the charity itself.
All of this being said, I’m glad that people have options. Whatever gets people moving is wonderful. If these virtual races somehow motivate someone who is possibly too intimidated to go to a real race, then I support them wholeheartedly. I just personally don’t like to spend my $$ elsewhere.
I did a virtual 5k fun run earlier this year to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis foundation. I signed up just because it’s a cause that’s really important to me, and Bob and I ran it in Hawaii, so that’s probably the best virtual run ever.
In general, I think if it’s a virtual race for a cause I support, I may be more likely to just make a donation to the cause rather than virtually “race.” You don’t get the same experience as an actual race, so I probably wouldn’t bother. But I guess if adding the virtual race component (and including swag) will motivate more people to support a charity, then whatever works, right? 🙂
Nah. Not into hoarding more crap. I’ll donate money to causes I believe in, but I won’t “race” and post a time for it. I like running for the sake of running and races to post a better time or feel the electricity of race day atmosphere or run with friends. To do a virtual race and collect another medal/shirt/ trinket doesn’t get me excited. I run by myself most of the time anyways and on one occasion held a solitary “virtual” race of 10k distance to just mark a 10k time. And then forgot to do the “race” the following year. Derp 🙂
My name is Gina, and I like medals. There, I admit it. I am in the same camp as you. I like receiving and displaying medals but I don’t just run a race because there is a medal at the end. I would do a virtual race for the experience whether it be for fun or for charity. It’s kinda nice to be able to set the time to run a race at the most convenient time for you with your own rules (strollers allowed!). You can make the race anything you want it to be. I wouldn’t do all my races virtually, but I wouldn’t shy away from putting a few on my race calendar. Hey, whatever gets people moving, right?
I don’t care about medals, I’ve only ever received one when I actually placed in my age group and my husband didn’t know what it was (it was hanging off the rearview mirror of the car) so he threw it out. I’m still not happy about that. I’m not a fan of finisher’s medals or for that matter the crappy cotton t-shirts either. I understand paying for races but I don’t want to pay for something I don’t want or need. I keep all my bibs with the date marked on the back & my time. They are shoved in a dresser drawer. I’ve never done a virtual race & probably won’t, I like the atmosphere of the race day crowd. I seldom have anyone to run with so a virtual race would just feel like any other workout.
I know that if I tried to do one, I would not run in the same way I do at a ‘real’ race. I don’t know how I do it, but I thrive on the crowds and adrenaline of race day (it also makes me super nervous!). Even when I try to go out and run as hard as I can, I can’t run the same way I do in a race!
I’ve done a few and I kind of like the idea of having a virtual race in conjunction with an in-person race so you can still feel like you’re part of the action. However, I personally wouldn’t pay money for a virtual race (disclosure: the ones I did that had a pay component I actually won entries to) but if someone else wants the swag of a race but doesn’t feel comfortable doing an in-person one or isn’t able to make the dates/times of races near them who am I to say they shouldn’t pay their $25 to get the swag?
Racing is one of the few times I actually run around other people. I like the actual racing aspect of it. I’m not sure I’d be into the virtual race idea. I like that you get a bib and medal because I also keep mine. I don’t think that’s enough for me though. It is an interesting idea.
Up until this year, all my “races” were just against whatever I posted the previous week on my running log. Virtual races though..How do I post about that on facebook? will I still get likes?? Picture of me at the finish line…
Maybe if it was done with something like this:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acgourley/bitgym
I’ve done a few, all were free.
They really aren’t my thing and I definitely won’t pay for one. I’d rather run along with people, otherwise its just another training run.
I think I’ve entered two virtual races, but I usually do it if there is a great cause behind it. OR – if the race is in the dead of winter because I hate the cold!
I personally would not enter a virtual race. I just cannot duplicate the “feel” of being in a race w/ other people unless I’m REALLY with other people!
The only virtual race I ever did was the Run for Boston 5K, and that was because I wanted to support the cause but couldn’t make it to the actual race. Otherwise, I don’t see a lot of value in a virtual race – it’s really just a training run. Who is to say that the folks that submit their virtual run times that the times are even legit, right?
I wasn’t big into race medals until recently. The first few races where I got them, I didn’t really care because I was more concerned about my race time. But as my race medals collection has grown, I’ve started to enjoy adding to the collection! It gives me something more to look forward to for each race. =)
I have done a virtual race, not so sure I would do it again. I love the race that give medals, I won’t ever place in my age group, so it is nice for me.
I have done a few and am OK with it – I would ONLY pay money to do a virtual race IF the money was for a charity!
I have done a few virtual races and they are fun, but I usually don’t get as motivated or work as hard as a regular race. SO now I participate largely to support friends.
I think if people want to do a virtual race, then that’s great, but it wouldn’t be something that I would call a “race”. I definitely do races for fun, but even then, I want the race “experience”, which includes having to get up early, park, pick up packet and bib and look at the swag and the expo area… For me, that is all a part of the experience.
There is a really great trail race that isn’t happening this year (because of fires in the spring that really damaged the area). A friend suggested doing our own Lasse Viren trail race/run, and I’m down with that, probably because it’s something so personal?
Finally, MEDALS – one of my favorite topics that I have mentioned but not discussed! I have a bit of an a-hole attitude about medals – I don’t think that 5k and 10k races should give people a medal. BUT, I also realize that for some people, finishing a race of that length is a huge deal and a major endeavor and they probably do deserve a medal.
Nope, not a big fan of the virtual race at all. I like the whole atmosphere and ambiance of a race – the people, the gun/horn/other device going off, stopping at the aid stations and thanking the volunteers, the feeling of crossing the finish line and the post race goodies. I’d only do a virtual race if it was an option for an actual race benefiting a cause I care about that I couldn’t attend.
I tend to think that medals should be only handed out for 10 Mile races and beyond, but I wouldn’t complain if I received one for finishing a shorter race.
Gah, I still need to donate my medals. They’re in a box somewhere in my storage unit taking up space, and I’m going to lug them halfway across the country whenever we move…into a smaller apartment. USELESS.
But then again, when I was “super into” running, I lurfed my medals (but still kept them in a box). I like having pictures from every race I did–not even of me running. Just one of me and whoever else ran it with me somewhere in running clothes, maybe looking sweaty.
Collecting makes me STABBY. Unless it’s collecting Data kisses.