...and they're off.
Target - 250km
Achieved - 16.5km
Remaining - 233.5km
This morning marked the start of the virtual race. As of this morning, we have 25 days to do 250km in any way we see fit. The only rules are that we can only upload one activity a day, so no 2 x 5kms a day, and they must be uploaded promptly as the calendar locks in activities after two days. We can sprint, run, walk or crawl as long as every km is covered and, as it's a race, the person who covers the distance fastest wins a prize. For me, it's a chance to cover the distance as I am certain I will never run an ultra at an organised event. If you have half an hour, here's why:
Turns out it's not just bears who, you know, in the woods. URR is a chance to gain an ultra marathon medal from the comfort of my own home.
This morning I went for the 10 mile run that I put off from yesterday and it was a great way to start a misty, wet weekend. I barely slept last night wondering if I'd cover the distance, mostly because I knew I'd be on the clock rather than just covering the distance in training. I might be coming last yet I want to do it in style. My total now is actually 10.26 miles, which relates to 16.5km, giving me a nice lead over my target. I'm now aiming for 11km a day to give me a three day buffer at the end of the event, basically so if I forget to go out for a day it's not going to seriously hinder my chances of finishing.
While running, I thought about what it was I was doing in detail. Two things have been on the rise this century in the UK and they're obesity and virtual running, one of which is helpful to stopping the other. I've said before that established runners aren't always so keen on slow runners, and that goes double for virtual runs. I think it's because of the C word. It's possible to get yourself a running medal with a few strokes of a mouse and a screenshot without ever setting foot outside your house. However, cheating has been rife in sport for centuries. The competitor who came second in the 1896 Olympic marathon was disqualified for taking a taxi.
That said, the only reason I joined this race was because it was a chance to cover a large distance over a short period of time and get some recognition for it. During my wilderness years, between London 2013 and Amsterdam 2016, I used Virtual Runner UK to keep me going as it meant I didn't have to spend a lot travelling to events that I wasn't certain I'd be able to finish. I love a half marathon but there are a hundred reasons why it may not go to plan and events can be cancelled at very short notice - that's if you're definitely well enough to run. Virtual running gives you a chance to match your fitness and wellbeing with a date that suits you and, if you can cover 13.1 miles, that's a half marathon.
The best events I ever partook in through Virtual Runner UK were the 2017 Robin Hood half marathon and the 2020 Reading half, both of which were tied to the events themselves. The first was run on the same day, allowing me to run from home and get the medal in the post a few days later. The latter was hit by COVID and cancelled, meaning organisers had a load of medals to get rid of or they'd suffer financial losses. I've also done shorter runs with them, such as a 5km Run for Beer, which featured a medal with a bottle opener. Some of the entry fee is given to charity and so everyone is a winner as long as you don't mind waiting to get your reward.
Events being cancelled across the world mean that virtual running is practically the only way to keep going and I need a goal to stop me from stopping. I've seen so many posting questions in forums about whether to keep training for the London marathon as it's technically still on, yet seasoned runners would know to reduce mileage just to keep your legs going. Most of them are also not confident it can go ahead as a mass event following the cancellation of Berlin, New York, Chicago, Tokyo and many others.
When the world returns to mass events I'll be front and centre, right at the back, slightly off to the left, but as it stands virtual running is the only way to achieve my running goals and I'm averaging so many more miles a week because of it than I would have been sat on the sofa, waiting for normality. This event might break my spirit and my body but it'll give me some big numbers to look back on.
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