Why are we doing Virtual Races? Because of one reason and here it is: people don't like them. No, I didn't type that wrong.
I've met hundreds of runners over the past few months at run clubs and booths all over Charlotte & the surrounding areas. When I tell them about Mystery Miles and our format, they LOVE it. Then when I tell them that it is virtual, their faces sink most of the time. Why is that.....? It's because virtual races don't currently feel like races.
Many of them do not give 1st place awards or have race days and common virtual races fall into these categories: 1) They are challenges that allow runners a week, a month, or several months to complete 2) They are virtual offerings of in-person races or 3) they require subscriptions to their platforms/add-on purchases to participate. I want to address each one separately:
1) Over such a long period of time, your sense of accomplishment dissolves. Some runners don't want to see an award for running a half marathon distance over an entire month.
2) Virtual offerings for in-person races do have their place, but they are literally marketed as an afterthought of the real thing.
3) Accessibility is never hidden behind a paywall or subscription in a real in-person race.
It is almost impossible to find one that checks all these boxes: 1) gives first place awards 2) has a race day 3) does not allow a time window longer than 24 hours 4) are not virtual versions of in person races and 5) they don't require a subscription or add on.
I'm not going to sit here and pretend like Virtual Races will ever beat the real thing. There is nothing like race day at an in-person race. That said, there are so many advantages to them that runners already appreciate. No commuting or hotel arrangements. No crowds. They can be an entry into the running world for a beginner or a way to make a training run more fun & competitive for an experienced runner. The list goes on and on.
So again, why are we making Mystery Miles a Virtual Race Series? Because Virtual Races need someone to take them seriously. We want to check all of those boxes, something that almost all others don't. We will have race days. We will have 1st place awards. We will make each race feel like it has its own unique character and isn't an afterthought. They will be accessible and you won't need a subscription to run one of our races.
We want to give runners a virtual race series with its own soul and competitive spirit that is very hard to find out there. And....give you the closest thing to an in-person race day that you can get in the virtual format.
Mystery Miles to the moon.
- Sam B. Founder, Anonymous Warrior