Races are happening. Outside. Holy cow are we excited.
In the US, we’ve seen in-person races return across the country in places like Southern Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Connecticut, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and are eager to see where racing returns next!
We spoke with some race organizers and wanted to share what a return to racing in-person has looked like for them, and advice they had for us as athletes.
Most importantly, read the race emails and websites! Organizers are as excited to get back to racing as you are and put a lot of effort into ensuring that it’s a safe environment and you the racer are well informed. So be sure to read what they have put out there and take whatever they put out there as law 🙂
Showing up informed is step one in ensuring there are no race day surprises. But what does race day look like? Here are the trends:
- No on-site registration. In order to keep race day running smoothly & safely, most organizers have done away with this option for last-minute racers, so be sure to register ahead of time!
- Be prepared to be self-sufficient. Bring your own water, nutrition for on course, and pre- and post- race fuel.
- Have a mask. While some regions are specific on exactly what style of mask you need to wear and if it has to be worn while on course, be sure to at least have one with you for pre- and post- race.
- Pay attention to start time. Many races that previously had a single start time are now implementing waves or rolling starts, so read whatever your organizers send you to know when you should show up.
- Don’t expect to hang around before or after. We know you’re excited to be back amongst your racing peers, but following organizers guidance keeps the next race on the calendar.
- Keep distance. Obey any staging lines/markings at start lines to keep space between athletes. On course, unless you’re passing, keep your distance from others. And if you’re racing with others in your bubble, make sure there’s enough room for others to pass safely.
- If you’re feeling sick, stay home.
- THANK YOUR RACE ORGANIZERS. Always, but now more than ever. Whether in-person or a post-race email, your appreciation of efforts goes a long way to keeping them excited to put on more races.
We have been so impressed with the adaptability our industry has shown over the past 6 months and are thrilled to see that translate into our favorite weekend traditions returning.
And if in-person racing hasn’t returned to your region, or is not quite your cup of tea yet, keep those Virtual Race results coming!
Yeah, Georgia has in-person racing going on now as well …. I haven’t been doing any of them, but the events are out there !! Having said that, I am training like I’m going to actually race – and, at some time, I’ll pull the trigger and go do one. But, right now, it would have to be a smallish event to get me out there ….
Phoenix turkey trot. November 2020.
Will it be held?
Hi Gordon! I’d reach out to your race organizing team.
Sad to see an athletic event put on with all the participants wearing a mask on their faces. An outdoor activity that had no chance of causing the spread of the COVID-19 Virus which has a 99.7% recovery rate if it were contracted. It seems more than anyone athletes would have enough common sense to realize that the detriment to one’s health by running a minimum of a 5k or more with a mask on one’s face depriving one of precious oxygen is not safe for a human being. On top of that fact the CDC & The WHO have been clear that unless you are wearing a full body suit with gloves and an N50 Full Respirator Face Mask(gas mask type with canisters) you will not be protected from COVID-19(again, which world wide has a 99.7% recovery rate). I’m excited to participate in organized events again soon but not with a face mask. I would deal with no water stations and staggered starts but not a mask on my face because an authoritarian Governor or Mayor or City council thinks they know what’s best for me and want to have control over me in the name of safety To myself and others. This is The United States of America, home of the FREE! For the record my Safety is in Jesus Christ the son of God Almighty creator of the universe who has all our safety covered. I haven’t heard that on the evening news at all since January when this COVID-19 was first brought to the United States. I’m sure this won’t be posted or if it is won’t stay up for long but I at least know I tried my best to tell the TRUTH and pray that we wake up as a nation and stop living in FEAR of an invisible boogy man. Do your own independent research and prove me wrong don’t just believe a Billionaire(non-scientist) or a politician(non-scientist) or a pharmaceutical executive (non-scientist who retired from the CDC or FDA who’s corporation will be making Billions of Dollars from the American tax payer on an RNA DNA changing-skipping the mandatory years of clinical trials VACCINE) do real research and find the TRUTH. I don’t wear a mask for my physical fitness activities and never will and if an event requires it well good for them if they are able to convince enough participants to participate in it but it won’t be me. Thanks for reading.
thank you so much