RUNNING FOR A CAUSE: MAKING THE MOST OF A VIRTUAL RUN DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

On National Running Day (6.3.2020), I ran a virtual 5K called, “I Run 2 Kick Corona’s A$$!”

This run was created and sponsored by I Run 4 Movement to raise money for relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the proceeds collected for each signup are donated to First Responders Children’s Foundation, which “provides financial support to both children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardships due to tragic circumstances.”

PARTICIPATING IN A VIRTUAL RUN DURING A PANDEMIC

A virtual run is a run you can do anywhere, at any time, with anyone you want. It’s a great activity to sign up for if you’re looking for the freedom to participate on your own terms. I signed up for the “I Run 2 Kick Corona’s A$$” run to motivate myself to stay active while my Pure Barre studio is closed. Needless to say, it worked! This was my first ever virtual run, and my first actual run in a while. I really enjoyed being able to choose when (I wanted to make sure the weather was good) and where (my neighborhood is my go-to spot) I was going to run. I also thought it was cool that I got a race bib, shirt, and finisher’s medal, just like at in-person races.

I Run 4 Movement hosts a bunch of virtual runs of all different themes, benefiting many different charitable organizations. The specific hashtags for each race and the I Run 4 Movement Facebook group create a great community of runners to communicate with and/or gain inspiration from. I also created a team of family and friends who signed up to participate.

HERE’S A LOOK INTO HOW MY RUN WENT!

I decided to complete my run on National Running Day, but there’s really no deadline to complete it (once you’ve registered). Registration for this particular run closes on Friday, July 31, 2020.

If you’d like to sign up on my team, click here.