Amy Lu's View

I never thought I would run a “virtual” race, but there are some definite advantages. Mainly, it’s a luxury to be able to run the race whenever I want (within a given date range) and to pick a day whenever the weather cooperates and a time that doesn’t involve getting up between 4:30-5:30 a.m.

But we do need a better word than “virtual” to describe how we’re doing things now to avoid being in physical contact with other people.

That’s not really a groundbreaking observation, but it really seems relevant to me in the context of “virtual” races I’ve been running this fall.

Of course we all know that “virtual” is primarily used to connote that something is going to happen via the internet in some way and that people aren’t going to be actually getting together in the same physical space.

No matter what the activity, “virtual” can make is sound like it isn’t somehow real. But I find this more irritating when it comes to a race–I want to be clear that I have actually run the specified distance. I didn’t just have an avatar do it for me or only visualize doing it. The virtual aspect really only comes into play with recording results. (Obviously, I still would have taken all the selfies and posted all the social media updates for an IRL race).

So I’m not missing out on the social media experience with a virtual race, but I do, of course, miss the inspiration and motivation of running with others and getting cheered on by spectators–even, or maybe especially, strangers. I miss the pre-race excitement but I also don’t miss standing around in the cold waiting for the race to start. I’m not sure if I miss or don’t miss trying to dodge other runners–that’s both irritiating and challenging.

Obviously I miss the post-race partying–even if it does end up being more post-race milling about and shivering. The “now-what?” post-race feeling is amplified after a virtual race and I don’t have anywhere to wear my medals.

I should also be clear that a virtual run has worked well for me for up to 10 miles–I even got a “PR” (Personal Record) on my Women Run the Cities 10 Mile. Actually, I’m not sure if I should consider that a bona fide PR or not–in some ways I feel like I was “cheating” because I did get to make sure I was rested and I got to choose my route, but on the other hand, I missed out on the inspiration and structure of an organized group run.

And I’m not sure how a Half Marathon would go and I can’t, at this point at least, even comprehend doing a full marathon without all the support and fanfare of a shared and organized event.

But just 5 years ago I couldn’t have imagined completing a marathon under any circumstances, so who knows? Running has definitely taught–and continues to teach–me that I can do things that can seem impossible and that I’m stronger, tougher and more flexible and resilient than I ever realized.