It's "virtually" been a minute since I ran a race in person. Actually, it's been spring, summer and fall.
2020 has been rough on everyone, and a running blog is not the place to hash out the gory details. I am thankful that we are all healthy, and I’ve been teaching remotely. We have literally been on lock-down, and have not stepped foot into Publix since March (thank you Instacart). We have ventured out when necessary, but for the most part, we are doing our part to put an end to this pandemic.
Gratefully, it has not restricted my running, as there are not really any marathons or half marathons taking place from March to September. With many upcoming races being cancelled, the virtual race has really taken off...a new trend in the running community. Runners who sign up for a virtual race register online and simply choose their own starting line, whether it's a treadmill or a neighborhood street. They run the race distance, upload their finishing time and a few days later are mailed a medal (and race shirt). It may seem strange to traditional runners, but race organizers say the virtual race is a great option for those who want convenience. I have participated in virtual races in the past (specifically during the summer months), but now they are really popping up all over the place. My students even produced a news report about this latest craze.
In addition, most of the scheduled “in person” races have been forced to offer the virtual alternative. One of these events was the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, originally scheduled for November 5-8. Lindsey and I signed up for the Two-Course Challenge (10K & Half Marathon), and were given the following options:
· Full refund
· Roll over entry until next year
· Run virtually (at a discounted price)
We settled on the virtual option and received
our race shirts and medals last week. I
also ran the Stay At Home and the
Bridges of London Half Marathons,
which were both virtual-only races.
Up to this point, the Disney Wine and Dine was the only in-person race I had signed up for had been switched to virtual. As the pandemic dragged on, and the “finish line” nowhere in sight, it was just a matter of time until they were all switched. Sure enough, the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon went virtual. Gasparilla was still hanging on but had to postpone from late February until Mother’s Day weekend in May.
The one race that had not gone virtual was the Mount Dora Half Marathon. If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that it’s not only one of my favorite races, but I’m also a Race Ambassador this year as well. With usually less than 1,000 participants, they were in a position to pull this off with all the safety precautions in place. I was both excited and nervous, since I have not really ventured out much. My fellow Race Ambassadors really put me at ease, so I booked our usual cottage at the Mount Dora Historic Inn. The only difference would be that we would drive up on Saturday, instead of Friday. Glenda has been even more fanatical than me in terms of staying safe; I was pleased that she was on-board with our plan. Our fearless leader Kelly really kept us on point, and the promotion for this race was comparable to races much larger and more prestigious.
We arrived in Mount Dora around 1:30pm and made our way to the expo to pick up my race packet. Kelly was sitting outside, and we talked about how badly the Gators were going to lose to Alabama (thankfully, that was not the case). The race shirts were really nice, and I loved the color (green). We walked around for a little bit but were disheartened to see that only half of the people were wearing masks. As this was freaking out Glenda, we went back to the cottage and watched college football for the rest of the day (we did take a quick trip out to look at the tree, once it got dark).
As I approached the starting line on Sunday morning, two things really put a smile on my face: First, it was around 53°…PERFECT RUNNING WEATHER! Second, at least 90% of the runners were “masked-up”. I stood in the back until the race started and tried to keep my distance as much as possible. 668 runners started in staggered waves; I waited until the very end to go. I kept my neck gaiter on until we made the first turn off Donelly Street, which was about three-tenths of a mile. Based on the race photos I’ve seen, many of the runners were mask-less before that. It’s not so much that’s it is hard to breathe with the mask/gaiter on, but my glasses were totally fogged up. That notwithstanding, it was very easy to social distance the entire race. The conditions could not be better, and I took my running sleeves off around the two-mile mark. This is one of the few races that I really concentrate on taking in the sights and sounds of the course. It’s really pretty, and I soaked up every mile. I felt really strong and was so happy to be “out-and-about.” I decided to do intervals around three miles into the race (3 x 1). There were a few water stations, but it was mostly “self-service.” I wore my Orange Mud HydraQuiver Double Barrel Hydration Pack, with two 24oz. bottles. I usually wear a running belt, but that limits me to 16oz. of fluid. There were a lot of folks sitting outside their homes cheering on the runners, which is always uplifting. As an extra added bonus, I only had to stop and pee three times!
With about one-tenth of a mile to go, I heard the voice I’m loved seemingly my entire life. Glenda was calling out to me to take a photo. She positioned herself in a place where she would not be around anyone and snapped a few good photos. This was our 39th wedding anniversary, and I’ve never known a person I love, admire, and look up to more than her. She was a good sport to come up for the weekend, although I would tease her for not being at the finish line to take a photo as I crossed. There were pre-prepared food bags for the runners, and even the medal was “masked-up.” This was certainly one of the most enjoyable races in recent memory.
I applied to be a Race Ambassador for next year, but I understand if they want to give someone else an opportunity. I’ve run this race every year since it started, and plan to do so next year as well.
Happy Anniversary Glenda. I love you!
