Virtual Half Marathons – 8 FUN Reasons to Run Remotely in 2021

Virtual races may be our savior in 2021. So virtual half marathons should be on your radar!

Why?

Because clearly COVID has cancelled many of our favorite half marathons. It’s been A YEAR.

Runners are going stir crazy, wondering when their next race will be.

You sign up, think it’ll happen…then get the deflating email notification that it’s been postponed (again).

Who likes pushing off their goals because of a pandemic? No one, that’s who. Certainly not you!

So if you’ve been dreaming of crossing the finish line of a half marathon this year, look no further – your dream CAN come true!

Here’s how: run a virtual half marathon!

But First, What Exactly Is a Virtual Half Marathon?

A virtual half marathon is a race that happens wherever you want to run, instead of on a specific course.

For many virtual races, everyone starts at the same time, on the same day, so you know there are hundreds (if not thousands!) of other runners running “with” you.

Virtual races have soared in popularity in 2020 and 2021 because many in-person races have been cancelled due to COVID.

In fact, some of your favorite half marathons converted to virtual half marathons to keep the fun going until it’s safe to resume in-person races (hopefully soon…fingers crossed!).

So if you had your heart set on a specific race, check out it’s website before looking for another one…it may have gone virtual!

How Do I Find A Virtual Half Marathon?

One of my favorite lists of virtual half marathons is on halfmarathons.net but runningintheusa.com has a good list too.

Alternately, like I mentioned earlier, if you have a favorite in-person race, look it up to see if it’s virtual (instead of cancelled) this year.

One big benefit of picking a ‘local’ race that converted to a virtual race is that if you live near the course (and like the course), you could run the real course on race day!

8 Fun Reasons to Run a Virtual Half Marathon in 2021

Now onto the reasons to run a virtual half this year!

1.) No Travel Required

Have you ever had to slog all the way to a race early in the morning just to find parking and get to the start on time?

I know I have. And it’s not that fun.

You’re tired.

You have to wake up early.

You have to sit stationary in a car (instead of moving around to limber up).

Now, imagine leisurely rolling out of bed and walking to your kitchen to grab your pre-race fuel? And maybe a bit of coffee too?

In fact, you could even go back to bed for a quick snooze if you wanted!

Or read a book.

Or watch tv.

Your whole pre-race routine can be relaxing and stress-free with a virtual half marathon!

2.) No Race Day Logistics Shenanigans

“Where do we park?”

“Why is there a huge line of cars backed up to get into the parking lot?”

“How far away is the starting line?”

“Where are the porta potties?”

“Do I even have time to warm up??”

Been there? I know I have!

But not with a virtual half marathon!

You get to pick your route, which means you already know all the logistics (if there are any).

And, if you choose to run directly from your house…there are NO logistics to get to the start line! Woohoo!

3.) No Standing in Long Porta Potty Lines

Speaking of porta potties…have you seen those pre-race lines???

They’re INSANE!

At my last half marathon, I stood in line for 45 minutes! I almost didn’t get to warm up!

But if you pick your own route, you can plan it around bathroom availability.

Especially if you start at your own house! No lines! (unless you only have 1 bathroom like I did growing up…then there may be a small line…but nothing like standing with thousands of people at an in-person race). 🙂

Also, as you run the race, you can plan to run by a couple places with bathroom availability.

Think public restrooms, park porta potties, friends houses, etc.

So much easier!!

4.) No “Unknown” Routes

Unlike traditional half marathons, you get to run from the comfort of your favorite route with a virtual race!

As much as we love the energy at in-person races, there can be stress associated with a totally new route. Especially if it’s different terrain than the one you trained on.

Hills, wind, bad roads, etc, there’s a lot that can derail you on an unfamiliar route.

So whether you prefer a local scenic route, a super flat route, or a route that loops from your house and back….you’re in the drivers seat on this one!

Flat route…here I come!

5.) Snag a PR

Going with the theme of flat routes…why not snag a personal record (PR) while you’re at it?

Pick a flat route that you know gives you the best possible chances of getting you a PR!

Heck, if you can, why not pick a route with a negative altitude gain (ie: more downhill than flat or uphill) and REALLY go for it?

Imagine the elation you’d feel finishing your virtual half marathon with a personal record after how hard the last year has been!

6.) Fun Themes

A lot of virtual half marathons are stepping it up a notch by adding a race day theme to the mix.

I’ve seen costumed runners go by me many times!

There’s nothing like sporting a themed costume for 13.1 miles to get you truly amped up and excited.

And of course, part of the fun is sharing your pictures on Instagram after the race – it’s so fun to see other runners’ creative costumes and smiles!

Plus, the finisher’s medal often goes with the theme too. Which will make for a special trip down memory lane years later:

Remember the year we couldn’t run in-person races, but we still made it super fun by dressing in costumes and running virtual races? We were warriors!

7.) Your Own Personal Cheering Squad

Have you ever imagined the whole crowd cheering for you?

Well, now it can be true!

Invite friends and family to scatter throughout your race route to cheer you on along the way.

Maybe they’ll even bring signs 🙂

Alternately, if you get intimidated by the crowds at races (I definitely used to get intimidated, especially when I was newer to running), then this is the PERFECT scenario for you to race worry-free!

You don’t have to invite anyone if you don’t want to – do whatever motivates you the most.

It’s YOUR race…run it how you want!

8.) Achieve Your Goal NOW (Don’t Delay It)

There’s been A LOT of waiting this past year.

We’ve waited to see friends and family.

We’ve waited to gather for celebrations.

We’ve waited to run races.

We’ve even waited to go to restaurants.

So why would you want to wait any longer to achieve your running goals?

If you absolutely want to run your first half marathon, or grab a PR, or simply participate and complete a race…don’t let COVID get in your way!

Virtual half marathons are a sure fire way to achieve your goal.

They won’t get canceled like in-person races have been.

And you get to enjoy ALL the benefits listed above too!

Ok, I’m Sold on a Virtual Half Marathon. How Do I Get Started?

Step 1: Pick a virtual half marathon and sign up for it!

Make sure you give yourself enough time to train for it (anywhere from 8-20 weeks, depending on your fitness level and

Step 2: Pick a Training Plan

Decide on how many weeks you want to train, and find a well-balanced plan that will help you achieve your goal.

If you’re a beginner who can run 3 miles easily now, then grab your free copy of my 12 Week Half Marathon Training Plan here:

Step 3: Prepare to Train

Do you need running gear for the weather during training season?

Maybe 1 or 2 pairs of new running sneakers (always a good idea)?

Need to make a new playlist or two for long runs?

Prepare everything you need before training starts so you set yourself up for success.

Step 4: Start Training!

Follow your training schedule as well as you can.

Keep up your motivation by sharing your progress with friends and/or family.

I personally love posting pictures to Instagram – I’ve made some cool running friends on there, and everyone is in the same boat, and so supportive!

Get Ready to Crush Your Virtual Half Marathon This Year!

You can do it!

Did you already sign up for a virtual race? Or already run one?

Tell me about it in the comments! I want to hear about your experience!