STOP with VIRTUAL RACES

I'm a race director and am greatly opposed to virtual races. 1. The sense of entitlement of some needing/wanting to receive a medal for a glorified workout bother's me. 2. I can see it as a worst case scenario option for races that cancel, but see it as a money grab for events that don't cancel, yet have this option. 3. Virtual participants receiving the same finisher medal as runners who traveled to the race, ran the actual course, dealt with the elements, the challenge of the hills, wind in their face, etc. minimizes the accomplishment of those who were actually at the race, and devalues the medal in my opinion.

Hatevirtualraces wrote:

I'm a race director and am greatly opposed to virtual races. 1. The sense of entitlement of some needing/wanting to receive a medal for a glorified workout bother's me. 2. I can see it as a worst case scenario option for races that cancel, but see it as a money grab for events that don't cancel, yet have this option. 3. Virtual participants receiving the same finisher medal as runners who traveled to the race, ran the actual course, dealt with the elements, the challenge of the hills, wind in their face, etc. minimizes the accomplishment of those who were actually at the race, and devalues the medal in my opinion.

Some people gain joy from virtual events. Why is that a problem? Especially right now. Stop acting like any view other than your own is wrong. Just because its not for you, doesn't been its wrong for others.

My issue is there is no way to enforce normal road racing guidelines. If it is a free "event" and they don't post results, sure, why not. But if they are giving out awards and posting results, there is no way to do this fairly. There is no way to ensure that everyone runs a certified course of the same elevation.

A virtual race is not considered at any time to be a legitimate race. You have to have three people minimum start (I think) together, you have to have a course measured properly. And you have to have some on-site officialdom.

There are tactics and the same environmental impacts on people in the same event at the same place that can affect results/outcomes. Weather, camber, surface, drafting, hills, turns, etc etc.

However, there is absolutely no reason why someone cannot have fun going balls-out or ovaries -out trying to nail a time on their own, when there is no other way to do it - especially after getting fit leading up.

At this time, where I live, I am noticing a good increase in the number of people who appear to have never run, out with their kid going for a jog. This is a time that athletics might see a growth in interest because all team sports are off-limits.

I know that there were a few times - I remember each one - where I was out for a steady, semi-long effort and I felt so good that I couldn't seem to run fast enough, I had wished that I could have timed that for a race - I would have had a big personal best....virtual racing is a good opportunity to have one of those days....when you have a stretch of days or weeks to get in your virtual race even if your watch and data cant be certified.

I have no problem with people conducting/participating in a strictly "virtual race" for those who enjoy virtual races... seems like a medal/shirt mail order to me, but to each his/her own. Please refer to reason #3 listed in my original post to answer your question.... That's the biggest problem I have with virtual races being conducted in conjunction with an actual race.

You are right on! These stupid virtual things devalue the race.

Anyone who needs to complete a virtual race has in my opinion, completed nothing ! They are weaksucks.

fuluth puluth wrote:

You are right on! These stupid virtual things devalue the race.

Anyone who needs to complete a virtual race has in my opinion, completed nothing ! They are weaksucks.

How does a virtual race devalue the race, if the race itself now has zero value given that it's cancelled? If someone wants to use it as an opportunity or an incentive to time trial, I say go for it.

Plus, I'm pretty sure that nobody actually thinks they're still running the race itself if it's a virtual version. You're probably just mad that people have been breaking your strava segment CRs.

I'm shocked anyone would care if runners want to do virtual races

Noyankee wrote:

I'm shocked anyone would care if runners want to do virtual races

I'm not shocked that someone would be shocked anyone would care if runners want to do virtual races.

Everybody seems shocked about something these days.

Shock has lost it's integrity!!

Good point. Just seems an odd thing to get worked up over.

Can't speak for everyone who is questioning the purpose of virtual races, but in my case I wouldn't use the term "worked up." Simply don't see the point of having virtual races unless maybe as a last resort for a cancelled race... and then still may not see the point. That's all... certainly not losing sleep over it.

Same goes for silly Strava. 99% of real runners don’t bother with it.

Understood, all good. Certainly a standard event would be my preference as well and hopefully that returns soon enough-

Nonsensical!

please stop wrote:

There was a thread about this but it got completely off topic after post 1.

How is no one talking about how stupid virtual races are? Can we get a collective movement against them?

Race directors: I’d rather you cancel your race and NOT offer a refund than offer a virtual race. It’s completely ruining the integrity of the sport and it’s effing annoying seeing all the medals and posts about it.

To me its financial darwinism. If people are stupid enough to pay for them more power to race directors for collecting the money. I'd rather stupid people's money go to that then to lottery tickets.

I agree, people should just sit around their homes and complain about how people are living their lives on message boards!

I say we do a virtual race with the folks in this thread and settle it.

Cross country season cancelled here in Australia. Will have virtual races on state course over a variety of distances. Have to keep athletes motivated at track season won't be until October if things improve.

So have added a Team Race to the Athletics Illustrated Global One-hour Virtual Race with the same scoring system as cross-country.

For $5 and no, not a race that was on and then cancelled - this is a novel virtual race BECAUSE everything else is cancelled.

https://athleticsillustrated.com/team-competition-added-to-global-one-hour-virtual-race/