You may have seen my announcement on Instagram last week about participating in the Pittsburgh Marathon Virtual Relay! I am running this as a part of the Brooks’ Run Happy Team and am so excited for this opportunity! I know many of us are over virtual races, so I wanted to shared 5 reasons why a virtual relay may be a fun alternative!
5 Reasons to Run the Pittsburgh Marathon Virtual Relay
Choose your race distance
Split up the marathon distance with 4 other runners and choose which distance you will each run:
- 1st Leg – 5.3 Miles
- 2nd Leg – 3.8 Miles
- 3rd Leg – 6.4 Miles
- 4th Leg – 6.5 Miles
- 5th Leg – 4.2 Miles
Have fun with friends
Even though it’s not the same as an in-person relay or race, you can still have fun with your teammates! Plan fun outfits, come up with a theme, or make some videos for Instagram.
Support a good cause
Our team decided to use this race to promote food desert awareness. Food deserts are defined as census designated areas that meet the following criteria:
1. Low income,
2. Low access to fresh and nutritious food, and
3. No access to personal vehicles to travel to areas with increased access to fresh and nutritious food.
You can even commit to raising money for a charity and may be eligible for free race registration.
Choose your location, race date, and time
This is my favorite part about virtual races! I love that I don’t have to drive anywhere, and if the weather on race day is bad I can usually do it another day. I can also do it at a time that is most convenient to me. Even if its 5:00 am!
Get some swag!
By signing up for the relay, you will get a race shirt, medal, bib, and be eligible to enter some fun giveaways!
Learn more and sign up here!
Need some guidance preparing for your virtual race? Check out my Virtual Race Resource Guide!
Would you ever run a virtual relay?
Do you have any virtual or live races coming up this spring?
I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday!
A relay definitely sounds like a much more doable approach to a virtual marathon! I think it’s great that your relay team chose to bring awareness to food deserts – such an important issue!
It’s definitely more doable! I wasn’t planning to sign up for any virtual races thing spring so this seems like a good option.
All good reasons, Lisa! I hope you enjoy your relay.
I have zero races or virtuals right now, but who knows? It could change. Although my husband has a lot of things on Saturdays, so I have to run around that — or not, as maybe we start getting Bandit acclimated to both of us not being here 24/7. 🙂
I wasn’t planning to do anything this spring until this popped up. I still like the flexibility that virtual races provide- being able to run whenever its convenient!
That sounds like a fun twist on a virtual race! My Balega team did something similar to benefit the Back On My Feet Organization. It was fun!
That’s awesome! Yes, this should be alot of fun!
What a fun idea. And as Michelle said much more doable than a virtual marathon or even a half.
Have fun.
Thanks! I wasn’t planning to do any races this spring, but when this came up it sounded like a fun option.
Like everyone else I am over virtual races but I like the relay team idea for the points you mentioned. Maybe one day I will sign up for one.
It wasn’t something I had really thought about until this came up!
When our relay was canceled last year (in May), I tried to rally the team to meet up at a lake and take turns running our “legs” (it’s a 1-mile loop around the lake). We wound up just running our legs on our own and it worked out. Still a fun way to run & support a great cause 🙂
Oh that would have been fun! But glad you were still able to do your legs on your own!
I am really excited about this one. It’s lots of fun to do as our own groups and also as the Brooks Run Happy ambassadors. You may have stolen my idea for next week 🙂
Oops! I’m sure you will still have other fun stuff to share about it! Should be a fun event.
Pittsburgh Marathon has been on my list for quite some time but I heard there are some killer hills. It’d be nice to not have to run them if you do it virtually….ha! I am just not motivated enough to do anything virtual. Love the idea of doing it with others though.
I went to Pittsburg once and it was so hilly! So one of the perks is definitely that you can avoid some of those hills!
Well, you are making it sound fun! I don’t have anything against virtual races, but with one thing and another lately (stupid foot) I haven’t done any. I may need to get out of my rut.
Virtual race do help to just change things up. I think a relay will be fun in a different way!
Oh this sounds so much fun! I love doing virtual race but have never done a relay. I think I am going to have to now.
I had never thought about it before, but it does seem like a fun way to get in some miles without doing an in-person race!
I’m excited for you! This sounds like a lot of fun. Sure, it’s not the same as an in-person race, but you are going to have a blast with your team!
It does seem like a fun alternative when you can’t run together in person!