BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - The benefits of virtual challenges

 

Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about virtual races. Why? Because signing up for a virtual race or encouraging others to join you on one might be the very thing that will inspire you (and them) to lace up those sneakers and get out the door when your motivation is lagging. 

So what exactly is a virtual race you might ask? By definition, a “virtual” race is a race that can be run from any location you choose. You can run, jog, ruck, or walk on the road, on the trail, on the treadmill at the gym or at home, or on the track (or even at another race). You get to run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself. Running or walking these virtual races on your own, or with friends! And your medal will be shipped directly to you.

Sherry Wilson is on the far left, then Rebecca, Gretchen, me, Randi, and Russ

Consider my experience with the Navigate Missouri Virtual Challenges recently. With no races in the area over the weekend and extra time on my hands due to the Memorial Day Holiday, I was looking forward to getting in some miles and some fun.... two things virtual challenges can provide. How? Because you get to choose which ones to do, where to do them, who to do them with, how to do them, and whether or not you want to take them seriously or to simply have a good time. Virtual races can give you a reason to run when you're lacking the motivation to do it otherwise. Something Sherry Wilson will attest to. One of my closest running buddies pre-COVID, she and I hadn't run together in at least a year. But when I posted that I had signed up for the marathon challenge, she and several other friends said they were in for the half-marathon option; a distance they most likely would not have done had it not been for the challenge. But for a $15 registration fee and the promise that a medal would be mailed to us, we were all in Saturday morning! And because it was virtual, we set the time and the place to start and headed out for an adventure with no predetermined course. 

And do you know what's so great about a virtual race as compared to an actual organized in-person event (besides the cost of course)? There are no rules, no cutoff times, and no set routes. This allowed us to take our time carrying the flag all over our county in honor of the men and women who died to give us our freedom (we loved the honks and the shouts of "America!"), to stop at various points along the way, and to just enjoy the day with no worry of making it to the finish line before we were swept from the course. We had so much fun, in fact, that Gretchen decided that she would do the full marathon with me on Monday if I didn't mind waiting. Didn't mind waiting??? Of course I didn't mind! So I stopped at 13.1 miles with the group, signed up for the half-marathon challenge to claim my bling, and anxiously waited for Monday. Are you seeing where I'm going with this virtual challenge thing? If you're feeling unmotivated, signing up for one (there are lots of them out there but I'm pretty partial to the Bass Pro Navigate Missouri one) will give you a chance to not only earn a medal right where you are but give you a reason to rally the troops and even jumpstart your social life again.

But don't just take my word for it. Check out what Rachel Baker had to say about the Motivated 50 Mile for St. Jude virtual she and some of her awesome girlfriends completed on Friday. "We did it. 50 mile number 3 for May! The Motivated 50 mile for St Jude. I love that this crew of women encourage each other to be awesome!" Did you catch that encouragement part? That's what we runners do because we know it drives us to do great (and many times very stupid, LOL) things! And like I said before, virtual races give you the opportunity to rally the troops and get outside for an adventure. Rachel signed up for this virtual event that she didn't want to do alone. This, in turn, prompted her to invite all her friends, which motivated said friends to join her for a distance many of them would not have done otherwise. Are you seeing a pattern here?

So if you're wondering whether Gretchen and I actually completed the virtual Catching the Big 1! 26.2 mile race, the answer is yes! And to say we had fun doing it would be an absolute understatement. We decided to take the "don't take it seriously" approach to this marathon and wandered aimlessly around our county to get in our miles. We stopped to take a lot of pictures, to take part in a Memorial Day 5k run, and to just enjoy the day and reflect on how great life is. Quite honestly, I'm really digging these virtual races and I know you will too.

So if you're needing something to reunite you with your friends, inspire you to run a distance you've only dreamed about, or give you the motivation to simply get out the door, find a virtual event and get signed up!! Then get creative on getting others involved. You'll be glad you did!!

Happy Running!!!