Yesterday, it was March, and in a few days, it will be June. Time may not exist properly during quarantine, but running events are still jogging on. On June 3, runners around the world will be lacing up their sneakers to celebrate Global Running Day with virtual events.
While in-person races just aren't on the table this year, avid runners and once-a-year speed walkers can all jog to the beat of their own playlists in physically distant locations. You might not be able to share a post-10K beer with your Sunday morninggroup right now, but there are still silver linings to online runs that you complete on your own.
"Global Running Day should be a celebration of all the run has to offer for anyone willing to put one foot in front of the other," says Matt Weiss, the director of runner engagement at Brooks Running. "Pace and distance shouldn’t be a 'barrier' when it comes to deciding whether or not you’re lacing up."
Virtual events may well make Global Running Day more accessible to people with varying levels of experience and physical abilities. While you technically can walk at many local 5ks, it's easy to feel like you're just not going fast enough. With virtual running events, you don't have to travel anywhere special, or worry about the sheer volume of people around you. You'll be able to take all the breaks you want without feeling like everyone else is better at this.
Events that can now be joined no matter where you live allows for an increase in community-formation, too. "Living with Bipolar II Disorder during these times of physical distancing carries its challenges," says Christopher Malenab, a Brooks Running Run Happy team member. "With virtual events on Global Running Day, I am reminded that running isn’t about races all the time. [These events] allow me to celebrate the friendships I have made, relationships I continue to make, and communities I am part of through an activity that I enjoy so much."
Most virtual Global Running Day events are also free, which means that finances won't be a barrier to participation, either. Sign up for one or more of these seven online Global Running Day events and create your running community — and your race pace — on your own terms.