The air is crisp as you bounce around checking the porta potty lines, checking your watch, checking your watch, anxiety building…it’s that start line feeling. And while you can’t recreate it with a Virtual Race, you CAN get some killer benefits from including them in your training.
You sign up online and complete challenges on your own schedule, but you still get many of the benefits of a real-life competition, including:
- accolades,
- community support
- virtual competitors
- the BLING
Garfield Goes Running
That’s right, even the donut loving Garfield is joining in on the virtual racing fun!!! Garfield creator Jim Davis has decided that he wants to help get more people moving so he’s doing it himself while encouraging our famous four legged pal.
“Garfield stayed in bed while I took a 5K stroll through the Indiana countryside this morning. What a glorious day! My time was one hour two minutes which isn’t bad for the Geezer Division. Now for that donut!” — Jim Davis
Maybe you’ve looked in to a Disney Virtual Race because you so love the themes…I gotta tell you this is better.
It’s half the cost and the swag is 10x’s better.
Garfield’s Donut Run
- Registration Closes on June 19th (Garfield’s birthday!!!)
- Code RTTF15 gets you 15% off registration
- Click here to register!
- Choose YOUR race distance, what’s best to push your training right now
- The swag is beyond anything I’ve seen from other races: this certified Garfield merchandise! HIGH QUALITY
- Unlike many virtual races this one still has a charity component: Professor Garfield Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) and a nationally recognized leader in teacher training and digital education.
Swag doesn’t us usually get my attention, but this is a whole different ballgame, especially for those of you who love RunDisney or of course Garfield!!!
Exclusive limited edition Garfield / Jim Davis lithographs are a free gift* for the Everything but the Kitchen Sink virtual race packages! The medal is out of site, the shirts are so cute, plus hello your littlest supporters might even make signs for your run with one of the plushies coming their way!
Best virtual race with medal!
11 Reasons to Sign up For a Virtual Race
Here are the top 11 reasons I’m recommending more virtual racing to my athletes! And why I’m going to be using the Garfield’s Donut Run to add in some speedwork as I work towards my A races! 
1) Flexible Timing
You’ve got more races that you’d like to do than time and you find races rarely fit in your calendar with work, kids, travel, but you still need a goal to stay motivated.
2) Stress Free
Bad weather? Hit the treadmill. Feeling lethargic? Just enjoy the miles. Kids got sick so you didn’t sleep? Reschedule.
3) Gear Testing
Not sure about your new Flipbelt or hydration pack? Test it out in a scenario where you’re pushing hard and just slightly outside your comfort zone.
4) Food Testing
Your normal oatmeal pre-long run, might turn out to be too much to digest when you turn up the pace. Try out some different ideas for pre-run snacks
5) Intensity Motivator
You might find that you surprise yourself with a distance PR simply because you’ve been able to get in the racing mindset and you’ll be sharing your results
6) Readiness
Wondering if you can tackle a longer distance? While a big race might add some motivation, it often scares many away from even trying…this is a chance to test the waters.
7) Marathon Training Motivation
18-24 weeks of training for a single race often leaves people feeling burned out. If you sprinkle in some fun virtual 5k’s, 10k’s or even half marathons along the way it allows you to work on speed and have additional goals.
8) Community
One of the reasons I encourage the annual Resolution Run is because it’s a chance to run with those near and dear to you. Sometimes having a goal beyond just a run will excite them and with some of the swag that virtual races now provide it’s a major bonus (see below).
9) Embarrassment Free
One of my favorite, ok I love them all equally, athletes was terrified to sign up for a race. She didn’t consider herself a runner though she’s faster than many people I know! A virtual race allows you to start treating yourself like the runner you are without worrying about all the logistics or others looking at you.
10) Summertime Activities
Kids going crazy in your house? How about organizing a neighborhood run with a virtual race like Never Give Up where they get shirts, medals, stickers and obviously some bragging rights after they put on that race bib and go!
11) BLING, BLING, BLING
Virtual races have come a long way and now they always include some hardware and great shirts! Virtual races with medals aren’t always the case, but I think it’s super fun when they do because so many folks LOVE their bling!
“If you’re a competitive person, it can be as motivating and fulfilling as a ‘real’ race,” says Matt Dubberley, a former professional cyclist. “The community sees what you do and can be engaged in your activities, even thought they aren’t with you while you’re doing them.” – Outside online
How to do a Virtual Race
Let’s not over complicate this, that’s part of what makes Virtual Racing such a great thing!
- Select a Race like the Garfield Virtual Race!!
- Mark your calendar for the date you’ll do the race:
- It could be part of your training plan, per a coach
- It could be on a specific day like New Year’s or Thanksgiving
- It could ask you to run a certain number of miles over a given time period
- Run your race
- Share on your social media using #runwithcharacter to get support from others
- Post your results and then enjoy your hard earned medal for Instagram Medal Monday!
- Proudly display that medal on your medal hanger!
Have you ever done a Virtual Race?
What would get you excited to do one?
Other ways to connect with Amanda
Twitter: @runtothefinish
Instagram: RunToTheFinish
Facebook: RunToTheFinish
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Character run, Garfield imagery ©PAWS. All Rights Reserved.
Amanda- This is a great post and exactly what I needed to read today 🙂 Last week, I spontaneously did a 5k as part of training and ran my fastest miles in quite some time. After this, I have been trying to think of ways to fit in more shorter distance races into my schedule to force me to do a little "speed work", which I have trouble doing on my own. Virtual Races will be perfect!! Thank you for sharing this post at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up!
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Amanda – Thanks for highlighting the many benefits of virtual races. If anyone is looking for a few cool (and charitable) races, check out reason2runvirtual.com. There are 2 virtual races offered in July: Race 2 Eradicate Melanoma, benefiting the Melanoma Research Foundation and Hero’s Hustle, benefiting Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). $5 from every registration goes directly to the sponsored charity. Happy running!
Last summer I did a bunch of virtual races as an ambassador for Gone For A Run. The virtual races fit in nicely with my marathon training plan and gave me incentive to push my pace and earn that medal. Still, I don't know that I really need extra bling… but overall, it was a fun thing to do!
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I love the idea of a virtual race! And I love all of the reasons why you recommend them, #4 is my favorite!
This is such and interesting concept. I've never heard of it. Thanks so much for sharing.
This is a great idea and so much less pressure! I like it!
I've only done a couple of virtual races and I never thought of all these great benefits! It is a great way to compete, especially when it's tied to raising money for a charity, and I love that it brings people from all over together.
This is such a cool idea! I've never heard of virtual races and wonder about applications in other areas of motivation.
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Virtual races are such a great idea! Those medals are so cute too!!
Ok I had no clue virtual races even existed!! But how cool – and totally more convenient 😉
How much fun! I've kind of shied away from them because I wasn't sure how I thought of it… but you convinced me! I mean… look at that bling!
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What an awesome idea! You made so many great points, #9 really stood out to me. And I'm totally loving all that bling 🙂
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Awesome post! This is such a great idea, especially since it can take a lot of embarrassment out of training for new runs. I often get a little discouraged when I begin training for 10K's due to the difficulty. I have never considered virtual races as a training tool but will definitely begin working them into my exercise routines. Thanks for sharing!
I would like to begin a walking program and I wonder if I do a virtual walk to motivate me, would be that be OK. Or is this not something I should start since I’ve never done this before?
Absolutely, that’s a fantastic way to get started with a little extra motivation.
I LOVE Garfield and this virtual has gotten my attention. I love how it’s perfect to do with summer traniing for that extra motivation and fun.
seriously all the swag in this is sooooo cute, especially if you love Garfield!
Love virtual races. Just haven’t done one in quite a while!
well girl friend, I think now is the time 😉 pretty sure you’ve got to grandbabies that will play with the animals ha!
The only virtual race I have ever done is the solo race that the Fitbit offers. These seem like much better options though. I only recently, within the last 6 months, started really pushing myself on my runs, and would love to run a half marathon in October. These virtual runs seem like a really good starting place to test out how much I can push myself before doing the longer run. Definitely will be checking these out!