Create a Virtual Race

A unique look at a single program taking hundreds of races virtual: Healthy Kids Running Series.

Healthy Kids Running Series is a nonprofit “race-in-a-box” program with locations all over the country. 

The 19-year-old Harpoon 5-Miler is a popular race that raises money for the Angel Fund for ALS Research, and usually sells out. Rather than give up – and let down their charity, they’re taking this year’s event virtual. To mimic the race day experience, they are limiting the event to a one-day virtual race; they are discouraging use of the official course or running with anyone else to ensure that safety guidelines are followed

Yellow Jacket Racing is using their free time to both offer a virtual event and get rid of the clutter. Their Spring Clean Virtual Race repurposes old race supplies to create an inexpensive virtual racing option. Each runner signs up for their preferred distance (5K, 10K, or Half Marathon) for just $20 – and in return, they get an array of swag from previous Yellow Jacket Racing events.

Fusion Race Timing turned the Virtual Race model on it's head and used social media to promote a hyper-interactive challenge for runners to participate in throughout a 6-week period. Check them out for impressive social media engagement.

The Social Distance Run from Orca Running and Evergreen Trails is a virtual experience chock full of puns and humor – from virus-inspired “Event” names to the promise of daily dad jokes.

Charm City Run is also supporting their community with their Live Give Run Virtual Race Challenge to support the Maryland Food Bank and the University of Maryland Medical System. In the challenge, runners can chose between a 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon race distance and complete their race between 4/17-4/30.

For running clubs, the challenge is keeping members active engaged while all group runs and activities are cancelled. The Utica Roadrunners have a cool option: the Utica Roadrunners Scavenger Hunt.

Your virtual event doesn't have to be a race. The Autism Society of Nebraska switched their Funfest from a live event to a virtual one, including a live online auction, virtual art contest, and other activities. They emailed out links to join the video conference to participants and fundraisers. After the event, they converted their website to host video content, continue to sell shirts, and ask for donations.

The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee is taking the above weekend challenge…and supercharging it to give runners something to do allllll summer.

Donations to Feeding America are integrated into the registration process to raise additional funds for Tennesseans struggling with hunger. This simple, lightweight donation structure is paying off – to date, more than $25,000 has been raised for the cause.

Tanger Outlet Mall went virtual for each of their locations to help keep the tradition of their in-person races as well as raise money for their charity partner. With over 30 locations they were able to create a race to use as a template and then utilize RunSignup's Copy Race feature to easily make over 30 races with the same information to share across their locations.