What is Virtual Racing and what are the Benefits?
Written By Mark Pulcifer
I love to travel. Seeing new sites, exploring new places, and learning about local cultures, traditions, and values. As much as I love it, I’m not independently wealthy (yet), and sometimes it’s nice to explore places without having to carry a suitcase. Virtual racing has proven to be demanding but fun in this regard and has helped motivate me to stay in shape. If you've never considered it or aren't sure where to begin looking for a virtual race, you're in luck. In this article, we'll discuss what virtual racing is, the benefits of participating, and some of the various venues that are available. We'll also contrast a few of these virtual racing venues' features and advantages so you can decide which one might be best for you to check out. With that, let’s jump in!
So what exactly is a virtual race?
Let's first clarify the kind of racing we're referring to here: if you're searching for a virtual grand prix, Formula One, or rally racing, those are not the same as the kind of racing we're describing. When we say "virtual racing," we are talking about a physical challenge that generally involves performing some sort of exercise (e.g., running, swimming, riding a bicycle, etc.) over a specified distance. In order to track progress, you can use a wearable fitness tracker (such as a Fitbit, Garmin, etc.) or an app on your smartphone. There are several vendors for virtual races, and they all have similar business models. Virtual race courses are usually pay-per-participation, which means that you must first choose a course that you want to participate in before paying to do so. Once entered, you may have the option to specify your completion objectives. This could be accomplished in a specific amount of time by traveling a given distance each week or using another metric for success. By logging your progress against your goal with your fitness tracker or phone, you will eventually complete the course.
Let's first clarify the kind of racing we're referring to here: if you're searching for a virtual grand prix, Formula One, or rally racing, those are not the same as the kind of racing we're describing. When we say "virtual racing," we are talking about a physical challenge that generally involves performing some sort of exercise (e.g., running, swimming, riding a bicycle, etc.) over a specified distance. In order to track progress, you can use a wearable fitness tracker (such as a Fitbit, Garmin, etc.) or an app on your smartphone. There are several vendors for virtual races, and they all have similar business models. Virtual race courses are usually pay-per-participation, which means that you must first choose a course that you want to participate in before paying to do so. Once entered, you may have the option to specify your completion objectives. This could be accomplished in a specific amount of time by traveling a given distance each week or using another metric for success. By logging your progress against your goal with your fitness tracker or phone, you will eventually complete the course.
What are the benefits of a virtual race?
We love racing in person, but sometimes you just want to compete against yourself. On your schedule. At your own pace. At any virtual location. Did we just list all the benefits of virtual racing in sixteen words? Not quite, but we did catch many of them. It’s important to understand that the main benefit of virtual racing is the flexibility it offers. Most virtual races let you participate either alone or with others, allowing your overall progress to count toward finishing the course. Let’s face it—in a world of $5+ a gallon gas, being able to run a virtual race course in the Rocky Mountains is a lot cheaper than packing up the jeep and trekking it cross-country when you live in North Carolina. There are also differences in the experience and sensation of accomplishment. In a real-world race, you’ll typically finish in a single day. A virtual race, on the other hand, often calls for commitment across several days, weeks, or sometimes even a few months. This means that when you arrive at your virtual destination, it is the culmination of many days of hard work. Given the effort required to complete the route, reaching the finish line will be more satisfying.
We love racing in person, but sometimes you just want to compete against yourself. On your schedule. At your own pace. At any virtual location. Did we just list all the benefits of virtual racing in sixteen words? Not quite, but we did catch many of them. It’s important to understand that the main benefit of virtual racing is the flexibility it offers. Most virtual races let you participate either alone or with others, allowing your overall progress to count toward finishing the course. Let’s face it—in a world of $5+ a gallon gas, being able to run a virtual race course in the Rocky Mountains is a lot cheaper than packing up the jeep and trekking it cross-country when you live in North Carolina. There are also differences in the experience and sensation of accomplishment. In a real-world race, you’ll typically finish in a single day. A virtual race, on the other hand, often calls for commitment across several days, weeks, or sometimes even a few months. This means that when you arrive at your virtual destination, it is the culmination of many days of hard work. Given the effort required to complete the route, reaching the finish line will be more satisfying.
What are some of the virtual racing venues?
We've already mentioned that the rules, procedures, and alternatives are mostly the same across the several websites that provide virtual racing challenges. Let’s take a look at some of those.
The Conqueror Virtual Challenge
One of the more reputable virtual challenge websites is The Conqueror. This UK-based company offers a wide array of challenges, ranging in length from 20 to 2,485 miles, that are associated with famous landmarks and destinations around the world. For instance, you might find yourself on a short trek through Angkor Wat. If not, you might be feeling ambitious or nostalgic and want to travel on Route 66. Pricing is fairly consistent at $29.95–$39.95 for single races with a medal or $59.95–$69.95 if you opt for a medal and t-shirt. For every 20% of a challenge successfully completed, The Conqueror will plant a tree or stop ten plastic bottles from going into the ocean as a way to promote environmental responsibility.
Race at your Pace
Running on a slightly different model, the bones of Race at Your Pace will seem familiar. Select a challenge, sign up, and track your way towards completion. The difference with this venue is that it’s kept simple—rather than having a bank of challenges of different lengths to select from, you instead keep yourself motivated by selecting a distance challenge per month. The goal here is to maintain or improve over time and establish movement as part of your routine. This is because the challenge is month-based, the pricing structure is in line with that, allowing you to pay monthly or yearly, and you may receive loyalty benefits for finishing 12 months in a row. With this UK-based company, people who finish a distance every month win a compression top and a medal with the distance engraved on it.
Run On History
Feel free to look around since you’re here! Once more, the various virtual challenge models that manufacturers offer are actually just variants on a theme. Our goal to improve the well-being of not only our bodies but also of our communities and minds sets Run on History apart from other organizations. We do this by creating an immersive historical experience that is linked to each particular challenge. As such, participants advance through a course, and they reach a sequence of milestones that reveal historical information. Additionally, a charitable donation is made for each submission to a partnering non-profit organization related to each course. The entry fee for each race is $39.00 per person, and each participant will receive a medal upon completion.
We've already mentioned that the rules, procedures, and alternatives are mostly the same across the several websites that provide virtual racing challenges. Let’s take a look at some of those.
The Conqueror Virtual Challenge
One of the more reputable virtual challenge websites is The Conqueror. This UK-based company offers a wide array of challenges, ranging in length from 20 to 2,485 miles, that are associated with famous landmarks and destinations around the world. For instance, you might find yourself on a short trek through Angkor Wat. If not, you might be feeling ambitious or nostalgic and want to travel on Route 66. Pricing is fairly consistent at $29.95–$39.95 for single races with a medal or $59.95–$69.95 if you opt for a medal and t-shirt. For every 20% of a challenge successfully completed, The Conqueror will plant a tree or stop ten plastic bottles from going into the ocean as a way to promote environmental responsibility.
Race at your Pace
Running on a slightly different model, the bones of Race at Your Pace will seem familiar. Select a challenge, sign up, and track your way towards completion. The difference with this venue is that it’s kept simple—rather than having a bank of challenges of different lengths to select from, you instead keep yourself motivated by selecting a distance challenge per month. The goal here is to maintain or improve over time and establish movement as part of your routine. This is because the challenge is month-based, the pricing structure is in line with that, allowing you to pay monthly or yearly, and you may receive loyalty benefits for finishing 12 months in a row. With this UK-based company, people who finish a distance every month win a compression top and a medal with the distance engraved on it.
Run On History
Feel free to look around since you’re here! Once more, the various virtual challenge models that manufacturers offer are actually just variants on a theme. Our goal to improve the well-being of not only our bodies but also of our communities and minds sets Run on History apart from other organizations. We do this by creating an immersive historical experience that is linked to each particular challenge. As such, participants advance through a course, and they reach a sequence of milestones that reveal historical information. Additionally, a charitable donation is made for each submission to a partnering non-profit organization related to each course. The entry fee for each race is $39.00 per person, and each participant will receive a medal upon completion.
So, are you ready to give it a try? Visit one of these sites and see which one is right for you, and happy trails!