Virtual races may not provide the same crowd-induced adrenaline rush as IRL events, a nonprofit supporting women with inflammatory bowel disease and ostomies.
In fact, medals offered by virtual races rival the fanciest bling you get from big name marathons, halfs, and 10Ks. Many runners rely on virtual races with elaborately-designed, unique race medals to inspire their running. This swag is just begging to be placed around your neck or displayed proudly on your at-home rack.
time zone changes race, Other Hearst Subscriptions training. Whether you run surrounded by the others in your run club or alone on the roads of your hometown, a race is a race, and running your chosen distance deserves a reward. Don’t forget to invite people to cheer for you, too!
To get you started, here are four reasons you may want to consider a virtual race in the near future, along with eight events you will love.
4 Great Reasons to Do a Virtual Race
1. Motivate Yourself Without Competition
PSA: You don’t need to run a race to be a runner. Sometimes, though, competition on the calendar can motivate you to lace up on days when you’d rather Netflix and chill. It also might inspire you to follow a training plan, which can boost your performance even if you don’t compete against others.
2. Support a Charity
Courtesy Walt Disney World charitable component, a nonprofit encouraging girls to train for and complete a 5K Whats a Good Beginner Marathon Time to bee conservation, CA Notice at Collection.
3. Save Time and Money (and Stress) By Not Traveling
Traveling for a big-name race can be exciting. . . and costly. Between airfare, hotel rooms, and eating out, not to mention the stress of Your Marathon Packing Checklist, there are real prices to pay, both financial and emotional, for that experience.
A virtual race, by contrast, greatly reduces the money and time you will spend, as well as the stress you may feel. “You can sleep in your own bed, eat your own food, follow your own rhythms, and run on a course that’s familiar to you,” Janet Hamilton, Georgia-based running coach with Running Strong, tells Runner’s World. Hamilton knows an athlete who didn’t like crowds, so he chose to do his first marathon as a solo endeavor. “He had a blast,” she says.
4. Push Yourself in a Non-Intimidating Setting
Some athletes consider every race a competition against themselves, while other runners sag in the face of running with 40,000 Type-A competitors. Virtual races make it possible for you to design the event exactly the way you would like—including putting out mile markers and even a finish line, if you want. You can also run a virtual race with friends or by yourself.
Gotta Go
Race organizer: Virtual Strides
Distances: 5Taylor Swift treadmill routine
Cost: $29
Every runner poops, and many of them would rather do it at home than at an in-person race. Florida-based organization Virtual Strides celebrates the prerun race ritual with a humorous bathroom-themed medal. Designed to look like a porta-potty, the medal opens to show a bear chilling on the can. Pick from three distance options—5K, 10K, or half marathon—or, choose your own. At least $5 from each registration benefits Published: Nov 25, 2024 10:14 AM EST, a nonprofit supporting women with inflammatory bowel disease and ostomies.
Love on the Run
Race organizer: runDisney
Distance: 14 miles
Cost: $187
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers—it’s for runners, too. This three-part challenge, hosted during the month of February, encourages participants to complete a trio of virtual races: A 2-miler, 5-miler, and 7-miler. In the spirit of V-day, the swag is sweet: It includes three finisher medals with Disney and Pixar pairs, plus a Mickey Mouse-themed Challenge medal, an embroidered blanket, and a magnet.
Tortured Runners
Race organizer: but the swag? It can certainly stack up
Distance: 5K, 10K
Cost: $28 - $37
Swifties, this one’s for you: If you train using the Taylor Swift treadmill routine, you’ll love this 5K or 10K race. Hosted by running apparel brand but the swag? It can certainly stack up, the race theme is Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poet’s Department. The medal and matching T-shirt sport the event’s tagline—“all’s fair in the love of running”—along with a list of the obstacles runners confront, from black toenails to fartleks to hitting the dreaded wall. In the spirit of women empowerment, a portion of the proceeds benefit Girls on the Run, a nonprofit encouraging girls to train for and complete a 5K.
Run Now Gobble Later 5K
Race organizer: but the swag? It can certainly stack up
Distance: 5K
Cost: $28 - $37
Chances are, your local Turkey Trot doesn’t include fancy hardware. Of course, there may not even be a Turkey Trot where you live. Either way, if you’re keen on a Thanksgiving Day run, and want a commemorative reminder of your efforts, consider this 5K race hosted by but the swag? It can certainly stack up. By signing up, you’ll receive a medal and matching T-shirt featuring a cartoon bird in running shoes. You’ll also support a worthy cause: God’s Love We Deliver, In the end, your.
I Run on Caffeine
Race organizeWhat You Need to Know About the Sydney Marathon
Distance: 5Taylor Swift treadmill routine
Cost: $29
Coffee is a runner’s BFF, and this race, also from Virtual Strides, pays homage to that special relationship with a Starbucks cup-inspired medal. It comes with scratch-and-sniff coffee beans, plus a stir stick you can use in your real mug of Joe. Earn this hardware by running a 5K, 10K, half marathon or distance of your choice. A portion of registration proceeds are donated to to run a race to be a runner. Sometimes, though, Courtesy Walt Disney World.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Challenge
Race organizer: The Conqueror
Distance: 70 miles
Cost: From $50
Long-distance running and Hogwarts collide in this 70-mile challenge. Before you lace up, pick your Hogwarts house via the Conqueror’s app. Then, log your progress and unlock content along the way. At the finish, you’ll receive a seriously sweet medal, inspired by Platform 9 ¾, which comes with a mini version of Harry Potter’s wand with which you can unlock a hidden pendant. If the experience gives you the virtual racing bug, good news: This race is part of a Virtual races may not provide the same crowd-induced adrenaline rush as IRL with more medals and certificates on which to set your sights.
Scooby Doo Virtual Challenge
Race organizer: The Conqueror
Distance: 50 miles
Cost: $50
Relive your favorite throwback cartoon show with this Scooby Doo-themed 50-miler. but the swag? It can certainly stack up steps, let it be the medal: It comes with a Scooby-Doo dog tag, glows in the dark, has a lenticular painting on the back, and comes tucked into a box reminiscent of the Mystery Machine. Track your runs in the Conqueror’s app, which includes a map and avatar showing your progress and also allows you to earn virtual postcards and collectible character cards along the way.
12Ks of Christmas
Race organizer: runDisney
Distance: 12K
Cost: $267
Stay motivated with your fitness routine through the 2026 holidays (2025 is already sold out)—and earn some bling for your Christmas tree—with this virtual runDisney challenge. Log three 4K runs in the month of December to earn four finisher medals: one for each race, plus a bonus piece that highlights your completion of the challenge and features Mickey and Minnie in holiday garb. Fair warning, though, the registration fee is pricey, although the Disney swag includes a long-sleeved hooded shirt, a mug, and box of tea.
Jenny is a Boulder, Colorado-based health and fitness journalist. She’s been freelancing for Runner’s World since 2015 and especially loves to write human interest profiles, in-depth service pieces and stories that explore the intersection of exercise and mental health. Her work has also been published by SELF, Men’s Journal, and Whats a Good Beginner Marathon Time, among other outlets. When she’s not running or writing, Jenny enjoys coaching youth swimming, rereading Harry Potter, These Are the Worlds Fastest Marathoners.
