itself, and many respond well to it; for
them, it adds purpose and excitement
to their running. The issues arise
when exercise becomes performance-
driven: when easy runs become fast-
paced races to earn medals and
kudos, and running becomes less
about enjoyment – or
fitness – and more about
achievements.
There is also another,
more obvious, downside
to virtual races. The
medals may be better,
the logistics less
challenging and the
pressure less
pronounced, but, for
many runners, being
present in real-world
races can be great fun. Mass-
participation events such as the
Virgin Money London Marathon are
more popular than ever – this year it
received a record 414,168 applicants
- because of the achievement they
represent, but also because of the
memories they create. You might
cover the distance and earn the
medal with a virtual race, but you’re
going to miss out on the race-day
experience – the atmosphere, the
crowds, the communal sense of relief
on crossing the finish line – that
keeps runners signing up for more.Reality check
IN BORN TO RUN, Christopher McDougall
writes: ‘The reason we race isn’t so
much to beat each other...but to be
with each other.’ If you’ve never
raced shoulder-to-shoulder with your
fellow runners, you’re missing out on
meeting a community of like-minded
people, along with the atmosphere
generated by the crowds and the
collective euphoria at the finish.
For 33-year-old Alison Davidson
these are reasons for keeping it real.
‘I’ve done virtual races before,’ she
says. ‘They can be great for raising
money, and for people who live in
remote areas or anyone nervous about
the prospect of big crowds, but for me
races are social occasions, and the
start-line excitement is contagious.’
Racing with and against others
can also have tangible performance
benefits. Numerous studies attest to
the fact running with others reduces
your rate of perceived exertion, which
Davidson can also relate to: ‘You’re
able to run faster and further than
you can when you’re running alone.
You hear people saying they’re only
against themselves, but I like pushing
my limits in races, and that includes
trying to catch people.’
That said, advances in technology
means virtual running no longer has
to be a solitary pursuit. The RunSocial
app allows you to run real-life routes
and famous races from the comfort
of your own home, or the gym. ‘Our
technology is “Mixed Reality Video”,’
says co-founder Andrew
Frank. ‘We blend real-
world HD video with
3D elements that are
interactive and “inside”
the video location. We
show avatars of people
all over the world
running together in the
location in the video. You
move through the video
at the exact speed you
are running.’
Among the many scenic routes on
offer are a 4.9-mile trail run through
Sequoia National Forest in California,
a 5K through rural Japan and a wave-
dodging 10K along Noosa Beach in
Australia. ‘The Swiss Alps 10K isstunning,’ says Frank, ‘and the Tibet
5K route is pretty special. It’s not
easy to get a video crew in certain
places, like in front of the Potala
Palace. I run that one all the time.’
Despite the complicated logistics and
technology, the concept, says Frank,
is simple: ‘You choose a beautiful
location, and then you run.’
Zwift – the at-home training app
popularised by cyclists, but making
inroads in the running community –
recently launched several races
across its virtual worlds, the latest
being the 6km ZRS Night Owl Series
(zwift.com/events). The series takes
place at night in the virtual world
of Watopia, with runners encouraged
to run at night for a fully immersive
racing experience.
While the atmosphere of race
day can never truly be replicated,
platforms such as RunSocial and
Zwift are at least providing virtual
runners with some of the benefits of
group participation. And Frank
believes the community aspect is
only going to improve: ‘Technology
will make it increasingly easier and
more fun to interact with others
remotely while you are running,
whether on a treadmill or a solo run
outdoors. We worked with NASA
and their research found that the
social element in our app increased
performance significantly. So new
technology will mean more live
events and running groups for both
indoor and outdoor runners. Virtual
racing is going to become more and
more mainstream.’
Virtual racing, no matter how
lifelike it becomes, is unlikely to
replace real-world events any time
soon. The atmosphere is what makes
racing so special for so many, and
the reality is that virtual events –
immersive though they may be – can
never truly replicate that race-day
buzz. Yet there are plenty of runners
for whom traditional events fail to
hold the same allure. Even for those
unmotivated by medals, virtual
racing can provide a beginner-
friendly path into the world of
competitive running. Some may
lament the encroachment of
technology, particularly when it leads
to obsessive behaviours, but when
virtual challenges are approached
with the same good sense as real-
world events, those issues are reduced.
Virtual or otherwise, anything that
provides more people with a route
into running has to be a positive and
if for you that means shiny medals
through the post and month-long solo
marathons, then welcome to the
virtual runners’ world.How to get in on
the virtual action- Find a common cause
Virtual races benefit
from a big idea to get
runners excited. Base
your run on a special
day, or align it with a
charitable cause. - Go big on the bling
In the virtual racing
world, medals matter.
Don’t be afraid to
go big and bold. - Use a trusted site
Opt for an established
registration site such as
Eventbrite, so people
know it can be trusted. - Drum up interest
Utilise social media to
create a buzz around
your event.
‘A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE MOTIVATED
BY THE MEDALS
WHEN THEY START’
VIRTUAL RUNNING
SEPTEMBER 2019 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK 039