As we slip into September, we roll into six months of quarantine life in a Covid-19 world with so many traditional road races cancelled, such as the Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon and NYC Marathon. Adding into the mix of cancellations, the Rock’N Roll series announced many of its favorite races would not happen this year as well.
As runners, we spend months training for these big moments. But as the theatre world reminds us, these moments are not cancelled just temporarily paused. The shows must go on as do the races. Perhaps not in person, like we hoped or planned, but virtually we can still stay on track with our training and keep our motivation and spirits lifted.
Besides being great motivators, I have four more reasons why you should run a virtual race.
September Virtual Races
Thirty days hath September and the month is chock full of challenges and virtual races from fall themed fun runs to 9/11 runs to remember.
Fun Runs
Bayside Tigers Running Team
- Now until September 30
- $34.95 + 6.95
- 5K or 10K
- Bib
- Bayside Tigers T-shirt or tank
- Bayside Tigers medal
- Share on social media #BaysideTigersRunningTeam #IRun4Movement
- Refer friends and earn money back
- Benefits Feeding America
Last Days of Summer
- Sept. 5 -7
- $25
- 5K/10K/25K
- Medal
- Digital finisher’s certificate
- Additional cost for t-shirt
- Benefits the National Park Foundation
ZOOMA Virtual Cape Cod
- September 27
- $55 Half Marathon or 10K
- ZOOMA Cape Cod finisher medal
- $75 Cape Cod Challenge medal – 3 medals (Lobster Trap 1 Mile + Half Marathon or 10K )
- $123 Cape to Coast Challenge option – 6 medals (Participate in Cape Cod and Amelia Island on Oct. 18)
- Bib
- Beach hair, don’t care tank top
- Run ZOOMA visor
- Run ZOOMA decal
- Run ZOOMA luggage tag
- Run ZOOMA mini-backpack
- Submit results via live tracking app
- Share on social media @runZooma #ZOOMANation #runZooma
5K To Riverfest
- Now until Sept 26
- $20
- 5K
- Submit finish to Active.com
- Benefits the Pocono Mountains United Way’s Healthy Start Program
Running with the Rays
- Sept. 1 – 30
- $30 standard registration, $50 for premium
- 5K
- Benefits Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund
- Commemorative finisher’s medal
- Bib
- Downloadable finisher’s certificate
- Premium registration includes Rays Ticket Voucher valid for two (2) Lower Reserved tickets for a 2021 regular season home game
Miles for the Mill Dog
- Sept. 15 – 29
- 5K
- $45 shirt and medal
- $30 medal only
- 100% proceeds donated to Bailing Out Benji
Best Damn Race Oregon Trail Challenge
- Now until April 21, 2021
- $29
- Run, walk, cycle or swim.
- 200 miles (individual) or 2000 miles (team)
- 1 mile = 10 virtual miles in the challenge
- Oregon Trail finisher double-sided medal
- Finisher patch
- T-shirt
- Digital checkpoint badges
- Other optional gear items as add-on purchases
- Submit miles online
- Share progress in BDR Oregon Trail Facebook group
- Earn money through referrals – See site for details
Girl Scouts Thin Mint Sprint
- Sept. 19
- 8K -$20
- 2 mile run – $20
- Faster Than Fiona (Girl Scouts CEO) – $15
- 2 mile -`$10
- T-shirts
- Digital bib
- Patches for Girls Scouts
- cotton shirts $10
- athletic tech shirts $15
- Benefits local Girl Scouts troops (fundraising opportunity for troops)
Paw-Ston Marathon
- $30
- 9K
- Sept 1 – 30
- Share on social media #PawstonMarathonVirtualRun #VirtualRunChallenge @virtualrunchallenge
- Submit finish time online
9/11
Patriot Day 9.11K
- $25
- Sept. 11
- Double-sided Twin Towers “Never Forget” Medal
- 9.11K
- Bib
- Submit results online
- Benefiting the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund
Virtual 19th Annual Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff Memorial 5K
- Sept. 5 -12
- $30
- Kids 12 and under $10 discount
- Digital bib
- A long sleeve commemorative shirt
- Submit finish time online
2020 9/11 Memorial Virtual Run
- Now until Oct. 3
- $27
- 9.11 miles
- Bib
- Twin Towers medal
- Share on social media #911MemorialVirtualRun #virtualrunchallenge
- Submit finish time online
- Benefits National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Tuesday’s Children
9/11 Remembrance Run
- Sept. 11 – 30
- 2,977 participants needed to run for each life lost on 9/11
- $28
- $5.00 using discount code RUN (Expires 9/1)
- $36 Includes t-shirt
- Bib
- A name of a life lost on September 11 (Run in that person’s honor)
- Firefighter medal
- Benefits Tuesday’s Children
- Earn $3 back for each referral
9/11 Remembrance Virtual 5K/10K
- Sept 11 – Sept. 12
- 5K – $26.50 + $2.50 fees
- 10K – $28 + $2.50
- Eagle medal
- Submit finish time on device via email or text
- Share in Facebook group
George Washington Patriot Run
- September 1 – 12
- $35
- 5K or 10 miles
- George Washington medal
- T-shirt
- Share on social media #GWPatriotRun
- Benefits Mount Vernon and the estate of George Washington
A Hero’s Salute
- Now until Oct. 1
- $25
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, 1-Mile Fun Run OR 100 Mile Challenge
- Bib
- Tech tee
- Medal
- Submit results online
- Share on social media #HeroesSalute
- Benefits First Responders Children’s Foundation
Brain Boosts
BT5K
- $35
- September 13
- Run as an individual or fundraise as a team
- Multiple virtual cities
- Bib
- BT5K medal
- Drifit shirt
- Mask (included with $50 registration fee)
- Share a tribute video to honor a loved one
- Submit finish time to RaceJoy app
- Benefits the American Brain Tumor Association
Robbie Foundation NO LIMITS Run/Walk/Roll 5K
- Sept. 1 – 30
- $25 (Ages 22+)
- $15 Students (Ages 18-21)
- $10 Youth (Ages 13 to 17)
- FREE – Kids Fun Run (Ages 3-12)
- Families with a special needs child – $20.00 (flat rate for entire family)
- Additional FREE registration for 2021 5k
- Robbie Foundation 2020 medallion
- Share on social media @RobbieFoundation
- Benefits children in Maine acquire equipment and therapies not covered by insurances.
Hope Isn’t Cancelled
- Now until September 30
- $34.95 + $3 fees
- 5K/10K
- Official Hope Isn’t Canceled T-shirt or tank
- Boco Gear Face Mask
- Bib
- Benefits frontline workers by providing meals
Jog Your Memory 5K
- September 12 – 13
- $25
- 5K or 1 .5 mile walk
- T-shirt available for added donation
- Submit finish time online
- Share on social media @JogYourMemory5K #JogYourMemory5K
- Benefits the JYM Caregiver Fund for Alzheimer’s assistance
Fall Themes
It’s Fall Y’all
- Now until November 30
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon
- $32.75 (Scarecrow medal and bib only)
- $38.75 (Scarecrow medal, bib and Fall Y’all shirt)
- SAVE $3 with code FALLYALL
- Refer friends and earn money back
- Submit results online or on social media @medaldash
- Benefits Feeding America
Service Dogs Great Pup-Kin Virtual 5k
- Now until October 31
- $35
- Benefits United Disability Services
Fall-natic Challenge
- $10 each or $22 for three medals
- Earn one medal for each 5K run
- September to Remember – Run 5K in September
- Rocktober – Rock (run) 3.1 miles in October
- Novem-brrr Dash: Finish fall with one more 5K
Gourdy’s Pumpkin Run
- Now until November 22
- $39
- Lightweight tech hoodie
- Medal
- Bib
- Gourdy’s Apple Cider Spice Blend
- Virtual finisher’s badge
- Submit finish time online
- Share on social media @gourdyspumpkin run #GourdysPumpkinRun
- Form a team and save $5 per person
- Benefits Girls on the Run
- #toughpumpkin option – Run with a pumpkin – earn a tough pumpkin medal
Hot Cider Hustle
- Now until Nov 8
- Marathon, half Marathon, 10K & 5K
- Submit finish time online
- Long sleeved t-shirt
- Digital bib
- Digital finisher certificate
- Mug and medal are available as add-ons during registration. (Included in marathon registration)
- Submit results online
Oktoberfest Virtual 5K
- Now to September 18
- $45
- Oktoberfest 5K EcoSmart 50/50 T‑shirt
- Benefits Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund
I Run For Pumpkin Spiced Lattes
- $35
- 5K/10K
- Bib
- Medal
- Starbucks gift card (Good for 1 Pumpkin Spice Latte)
- Refer friends and earn money back
- Share on social media #IRun4PumpkinSpiceLattes #IRun4Movement
- Benefits Stand Up To Cancer
