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?