How I Ran and Enjoyed My Virtual 5 Mile RaceThere's an electric mood at the starting line of every in-person road and trail race. Each runner has a head full of thoughts and anticipation. It's hard to capture that kind of excitement in a virtual race.
Disclaimer: I received a race entry 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! Talk About Your RaceBy the time May 2 arrived, my household knew I was going to run a virtual race. I talked about training. I posted on socials about the race and the cool SWAG. I made my race a public event with my family and my social media running friends. It made the race feel more like a real event instead of a training run. It helped me focus and stay excited. Make a PlanPlan your race route ahead of time. In these lockdown days, it's important to find a place where you can run AND maintain #SocialDistancing. Measure your route for distance. Plan or build in your water stops. I carried my water so I didn't have to think about it. Add Your Own TwistI chose my route a week before my race. The day before, I decided to add a scavenger hunt to my event. I planned on looking for things while running that counted off each of the 5 miles of my Cinco de Miler. Hunting for the right number of items made my race interesting. Hold Yourself AccountableI think running a race (real or virtual) is one of the best ways to hold yourself accountable. It gives you a chance to:
I love the feeling of completing a mission — any mission! It can be a training run, a step count, pace goal, calorie burn, mileage or the Cinco de Miler. Celebrate Your Accomplishment
#CINCOBR #BibChat #VirtualRace #Chicago #KeepYourDistance #WeRunSocial #RunFlorida #RunAnywhere #RunStPete #InstaRunner #BibRavePro #OptOutside #HoorayRunning #ThisOldRunner #SocialDistancing #SaferAtHome #StayHome #RunWhereYouAre #Virtual5Miler #BibRavePro #CHI #CincodeMayo @BibRave
Another Great Reason to Run This Virtual 5-MilerIt feels like Fiesta Friday here, how about you?! I'm now registered and ready to run Cinco de Miler as a virtual race. It's one of my favorite distances — 5 miles. Another reason I'm happy to run the Cinco de Miler on May 2 is that EVERY registration equals a $5 Donation to the Chicago Community COVID-19 Fund. This fund was set up to provide essential help for both individuals and families in the Chicago area during the COVID crisis. I don't live in Chicago, but I'll talk nonstop about any race that's part of its larger community the way Ram Races is. That's how I choose most of the races I run. Most race directors and orgs are community-minded, so it isn't hard to find good events like this one. Disclaimer: I received a race entry 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! Every Cinco de Miler Runner Gets a Shirt + MedalBesides a good cause, I'm a sucker for a great race shirt. I've been eyeing the Cinco de Miler for years because of the cool shirts and medals. I could never get myself to Chicago in early May, so I'm thrilled for the chance to run it virtually and score this SWAG! Use My Code for a Bonus Chicago Trucker HatYou know I've got a code for some BONUS SWAG, right? Here you go! Use code BRCINCO20 when you register, and you'll get an extra CHI trucker hat in your race packet. Ram Races/Cinco de Miler will mail your race packet the week of the race. More details here. #CINCOBR #BibChat #VirtualRace #Chicago #KeepYourDistance #WeRunSocial #RunFlorida #RunAnywhere #RunStPete #InstaRunner #BibRavePro #OptOutside #HoorayRunning #ThisOldRunner #SocialDistancing #SaferAtHome #StayHome #RunWhereYouAre #Virtual5Miler #BibRavePro #CHI #CincodeMayo @RamRacing @BibRave
When all the #socialdistancing lockdown began, I had 5 in-person races scheduled from mid-March through May. All those races were cancelled, postponed, deferred or switched to virtual. I wanted (NEEDED!) a way to keep training for when my in-person race events resume. Cue virtual events and step challenges! They're a great way to keep runners and race companies in motion. That's why I just registered for another one: the Ram Racing Cinco de Miler on May 2! Usually, it's a five-mile race and celebration in Chicago each May. I've never been able to run this race in person, so it's a silver lining for me that it's going virtual this year. Disclaimer: I received a race entry 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! What is the Cinco de Miler Virtual Run?It's a 5 mile race you can walk, stroll, jog or run. Go the distance whenever and wherever you want. Push a stroller or run with your pup. Run on a treadmill or around your neighborhood. Follow the rules of safe #socialdistancing, and have fun with your race! Everyone is encouraged to run on the original race day, May 2, but if that doesn't fit your schedule, run when you can. Results are on the honor system. The the most accurate tracking is with a watch or smartphone app that uses GPS tracking. Once you're done, you can log your time in your EnMotive account and download a finishers certificate. You can download your finisher's certificate beginning on May 2, 2020. Cinco de Miler SWAG Bag
Race SWAG packets will ship the week of 4/27/2020. The Cinco de Miler Virtual Run is only open to US addresses within the contiguous United States. At this time, Ram Racing can't ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally. FREE Trucker Hat with Promo Code: BRCINCO20Use promo code: "BRCINCO20" when you register and you'll get a BONUS Chicago trucker hat in your race packet. #CincoBR #CincodeMiler #CincodeMayo #RamRacing #BibChat #BibRavePro #VirtualRace #Virtual5Miler #VirtualRaces #CHIraces #HoorayRunning #ThisOldRunner #SRTT #OptOutside #SocialDistancing #SaferAtHome #COVIDraces
If you're like me, you had plenty of races scheduled for March. Running in Florida in March in the best! The bad news is most races are converting to virtual runs. The good news is it's Florida and WE CAN STILL RUN! I'm thankful to Veteran's Alternative Copperhead 5K and The Florida Run @Colt Creek for giving us the option to run virtually. It makes the most sense. We've trained and want to run. They've already spent money on medals and swag. Let's Do This! Now, the hard part is staying motivated, and running the races. There's no doubt lining up with hundreds of runners at a starting line improves motivation. The challenge now is to stay focused, run virtually, and plan races for later in the season. I'm thinking about opting in to a few new races that switched from IRL to virtual — races far from home that I couldn't run in person. If you're inclined, I'd encourage you to do the same. It's a nice way to show support for race directors. Simple reminder — be patient. While some races are offering virtual options, remember they're also in the middle of converting all the registered runners. Expect everything to take longer. In the meantime, practice #SocialDistancing and good hygiene. If we're diligent with both, we can avoid the worse outcome. But, everyone has to work at it. Here's a quick and concise explanation of why social distancing is a vital defense against the COVID-19 virus. This is way bigger than any one of us. Good luck, everyone! I hope to see you at the race starting lines in May! #SocialDistancing #COVID-19 #ValsparChampionship #VeteransAlternative #Copperhead5K #TheFloridaRun #FloridaRunColtCreek
I love to race in person, but sometimes a virtual race is a good fit. It gives you a sense of community and accountability, plus rewards your efforts. When some friends opted into the 465 Virtual Race Challenge, I decided to join them. The challenge was to complete a 53-mile virtual loop between January 1 and February 29. Except for a couple of hiccups in February, my challenge went well. My initial training plan included a 10K in January, and two half marathons in February. I figured I could run 5 or 6 Loops (318 miles) during the 60-day challenge. But, life happened. I ran my January 10K and lots of training miles, but didn't get to race either of my half marathons. However, I did manage over 5 loops despite being sick the last four days in February. Run, Bike, Swim or Walk Your MilesThe idea behind the challenge is to stay active long past the time most New Year's Resolutions last (2 weeks) to establish an active lifestyle habit. Every participant chose how to get the miles in. Run or walk, swim or ride a bike. I ran and walked my miles. Many people added biking and swimming workouts. Premium Challenge Participants Received:
Basic Challenge Participants Received:
Participants Earn #465Challenge SWAG465 Challenge Virtual Race Kept Me MotivatedSometimes, we need help staying motivated — this challenge did that for me. I tracked my daily miles on the tracker sheet, and interacted with other runners on social media using #465Challenge. It was fun to see how people stayed active, and how many loops my friends finished. I'd recommend opting into a virtual challenge for several reasons:
#465Challenge #VirtualRace #465BR #RunIndy #BibRavePro #BibChat #ThisOldRunner #RunStPete
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