Monday, August 17, 2015

Why I Love to Run Virtually...#SoleSister7

I Love Virtual races!  There is no travel, pre-check in, or outrageous crowds.  There is Virtually no stress!  I set a goal by signing up for a virtual race.  I map out my trail in any place I want to run.  I then hold myself accountable to run it, finish it, and pat myself on the back!  I earn medals, T-shirts, and other cool swag in the mean time






I signed up for the seven mile sole sister race to be completed the last weekend of August, but I just couldn't wait!  My new runners tank, medal, bib, and shoe charm showed up in the mail and I couldn't wait to wear my new tank top so I got right to planning my race!  I mapped out a route and set my alarm for 5am on Sunday.  We live in Arizona so it was a whopping 95 degrees at 5am, but I had my mind set to earn my swag 95 degrees or not
I filled up my camel back with water, laced up my running shoes, grabbed my phone and my husband and I was on my way!  My husband the sweetheart he is joined me to keep me company on my trek.  The start of my route was running along a canal and farm fields.  The problem with this was the only other folks awake at 5 am on a Sunday are farmers.  Farmers plowing fields, kicking up dust and awakening all the little gnats and bugs.  We were pretty sure we were getting a fair share of bugs in our eyes and mouths, but figured we hadn't had breakfast yet so the extra protein might be good!  HaHa!  Look at the bright side right!?  I would say about two miles in the sun began to peek in the horizon, it had us forget for a second the pain of our blisters we had accompany us early on.  It was a beautiful sunrise!

We made our way around my mapped out course and fought the temptation of stopping at the donut shop, Jack In The Box, or pretty much anywhere.  Stopping sounded good,  I was starting to rethink this idea of seven miles!  At around the four mile mark, I pretty much thought I might die!  It was hot, my face was burning off, I was drenched in salty sweat, my feet were killing me, but I knew I had to keep going!  I had to keep going, well pretty much because I had to get back home and didn't want to be THAT lady all over  the morning news getting rescued in the desert from dehydration and stupidity.  So I kept on going!


Its about mile 5 1/2 I am ready to cry!  I stop for a second to stretch out my legs and as I am bending over I almost do a head dive into the sidewalk!  I have clearly overdone it, I am dizzy, fatigued, hot, and ALMOST there!!  I pick up my pace a little and see my neighborhood in the distance!  I can't believe I am actually doing this thing!

As I make my way back into my drive I have this overwhelming feeling of pride and accomplishment!  I completely forget for a second The pain I am in and am so exited to have made it!  After seven miles of complaining about how miserable this run was, when I finished I couldn't wait to sign up for another one!  So come the end of September My husband and I will be participating in a 6 mile Run Now Beer Later race!  I can't wait to add to my medal collection and add another Sunday Runday under my belt!

Have you ever participated in a Virtual Race?

28 comments:

  1. I've never tried it. I don't love "real" running, so I never gave it much of a thought. It's a pretty cool idea.

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    1. I've been trying to get into running more. The virtual races let me do it on my time at my pace.

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  2. No I don't think I've ever heard of a virtual race before, sounds interesting! I used to enjoy running, before I suffered from an injury and can't run anymore. Good for you!

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    1. sorry to hear about your injury :( I had never heard of Virtual races either until a fellow blogger opened my eyes to it ;)

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  3. I've never participated in a virtual race but before my {failed} back surgery, I love to run. I think I'd be crying by 2 miles after I've had such a long absence of practice.

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    1. sorry to hear about your failed back surgery :( dang that must be so painful! (((Hugs)))

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  4. I didn't even know that these existed. A virtual race sounds amazing, I love that there is no stress and best of all NO crowds!

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    1. I love the no crowds thing about virtual races!! I can go at my own pace an not worry about holding anyone up!

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  5. Congrats on completing the seven mile sole sister race, I have never participated in a real or virtual race before!

    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

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  6. I've never heard of a virtual race before reading this. What a fun concept! Congratulations on completing it!

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  7. Virtual race? it's my first time to hear such thing. Been participating to some fun run here and there and yes, sometimes I ask myself why I am doing it. But in the end, after finishing the race, I am looking forward to do more of it.

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    1. If you google virtual races there are several sites that provide them. I like doing mine through goneforarun!

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  8. Hmmm ...... virtual race? Just like everyone, me too, heard it for the first time but it sure sounds like fun! Congratulations on completing the race. Such an accomplishment!

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    1. Thank you! I had never heard of a virtual race either until a fellow blogger wrote about hers! I was intrigued and checked it out. I love them!

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  9. Virtual race sounds like interesting, this is something new to experience. I'm so glad that you have tried it. Congrats to you!

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  10. I have never heard about the virtual race, this is the first time that i heard it, but i think it was a fun activity. Congratulations on completing the race,

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  11. I am confused. What is a virtual race? Where and how do you join? I would want to know more about this. I will be doing my research. Thank you for igniting my curiosity today.

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    1. I do the virtual races through Goneforarun.com, but there are other sites if you google virtual races. You pick a race that is offered depending on the distance you would like to participate in. you map out a course on your own where ever you want to run it. They ship you your shirt, race bib, and medal. It is a fun hobby!

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  12. Hahaha since I'm not a runner in real
    Life maybe a virtual run would be my thing lol... Sounds pretty neat!

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  13. Love those socks! I have never tried a virtual race. I might have to try it.

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  14. Your post on this made me intrigued. I want to try it one of these days and see what the difference is between “real” running.

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  15. I've never ran in public. However, it is my goal to lose the extra weight and run without falling or embarrassing myself. A virtual race would be the best bet for me.

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    1. I have always wanted to run a run disney race but am too intimidated by the whole thing because well I'm just terribly slow! The virtual races are building up my endurance and getting my time down so I can build up enough confidence to enter into a non virtual race someday and be able to keep up ;) Virtual races are a great way to work on your goals!!

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  16. What a unique idea, I had never heard of a virtual race.

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