The coronavirus pandemic has derailed many planned athletic events worldwide, and the heartbreak of race cancellations and postponements is being felt by runners everywhere. Those who have spent portions of 2020 training for anything from their first 5K to an ultramarathon and hoping to sign up for a race in 2021 still may have a change in plans.
That shouldn’t mean you should throw all goal-setting out the window going into a new year. Some races are saying the show must go on—even if it means going virtual.
What does this look like for participants? Depending on the distance, a long (or very long) solo run in any location, with runners recording and reporting their results by the date specified by event organizers.
Athletes will have the opportunity to put their disciplined training to use, with the added convenience of completing their race mileage right where they are. As for the full race experience—there’s always next year. (Or maybe even fall, but only time will tell.)
Below are the dates of major running events that are offering participants a virtual race option.
*Race dates or details may change. Runner’s World will update this list with new events when announced.
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December
All Year Long
Rock ’n’ Roll VR Series
Create a profile and take part in weekly challenges, races, and training with the free new virtual race series from Rock ’n’ Roll. You can even earn points for activities completed when you link your fitness tracker.
Run Across America
Sign up to virtually run 2,700 miles across America at your own pace, or you can choose to run 500 miles. Proceeds go toward helping those who are suffering from addiction get the help they need.
January
January 1
Run Wild Missoula Resolution Run
January 6-12:
Walt Disney World Marathon & Half Marathon
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Also includes: 5K & 10K
January 7-February 7:
San Francisco Half Marathon
San Francisco, California
Also includes: 10K & 5K
January 10-31:
Miami Marathon & Half Marathon
Miami, Florida
Also includes: 5K
January 11-21:
Charleston Marathon
Charleston, South Carolina
Also includes: Half marathon & 5K
January 16:
Chilly Willy Half Marathon (In-person and virtual options)
Sugar Hill, Georgia
Also includes: 5K, 10K
January 17:
Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon
Carlsbad, California
Also includes: 5K
January 17:
Houston Marathon & Half Marathon
Houston, Texas
Also includes: 5K
January 17:
Key West Half Marathon (In-person and Virtual options)
Key West, Florida
Also includes: 5K
February
February 6-15:
Lost Dutchman Marathon & Half Marathon
Apache Junction, Arizona
Also includes: 10K & 8K Trail Run
February 8-15:
Great Aloha Run
Honolulu, Hawaii
8.15-Mile
February 14:
Donna Marathon Weekend
Jacksonville, Florida
Also includes: Half marathon & 5K
February 18-21:
Disney Princess Half Marathon
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
March
March 1
Pittsburgh Marathon
Race weekend has been switched to a virtual run.
*This date is the deadline to request refund for registration.
March 5
The Gemini
Choose between 100 miles, 50 miles or 50K. Log the full distance on your own time by March 5.
*Registration closes March 2
March 20
Inyo County SAR Winter Race Series
5K
All race donations support medical training and the General Fund for the all-volunteer Inyo County SAR in Bishop, California.
March 20-April 3:
Crescent City Classic
New Orleans, Louisiana
10K
March 21:
Shamrock Marathon & Half Marathon (In-person and Virtual options)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Also includes: 8K
April
Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge
*Sign up between January 1 and April 1, post results by June
April 10-25
Salt Lake City Marathon & Half
Salt Lake City, Utah
Also includes: 10K & 5K
April 22-25:
Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon & Mini-Marathon (In-person and Virtual options)
Louisville, Kentucky
Note: The Mini-Marathon is a half marathon
April 30 - May 2:
Flying Pig Marathon (Virtual, but may change to in-person)
Also includes: Half marathon, 10K, 5K
May
Green Bay Marathon & Half Marathon
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Also includes: Marathon Relay & Half Marathon Relay
May 1–2:
Pittsburgh Marathon
Race weekend has been switched to a virtual run.
May 25:
Coeur d’Alene Marathon & Half Marathon (In-person and Virtual options)
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Also includes: 10K & 5K
April 12 - May 31:
Bend Marathon
Also includes: Half marathon, 10K, 5K
Race day is “officially” on April 18, but runners can continue register and complete the virtual run between April 12 and May 31
Check back for 2021 updates
Freihofer’s Run for Women
5K
Check back for 2021 updates
Calgary Marathon
Also includes: Options for virtual Ultra Relays, 10K, and 5K
June
May 28 - June 28:
Saskatchewan Marathon
Also includes: Half marathon, 10K, 5K
Check back for 2021 updates
Virtual Brooklyn Mile
Check back for 2021 updates
UConn Health Half Marathon
Also includes: 10K, 5K
Check back for 2021 updates
Bellin Run
10K
Check back for 2021 updates
North Olympic Discovery Marathon
Also includes: Half marathon, marathon relay
Check back for 2021 updates
Banff Marathon
Also includes: Half marathon, 10K
July
July 24 - 25: (May be In-person or Virtual)
Bix 7 & QuickBix
7-Miler & 2-Mile
July 25:
San Francisco Marathon & Half Marathon
Check back for 2021 updates
Virtual NYRR Black Lives Matter 1M
Check back for 2021 updates
Out Living It 160K Relay
Also includes: Ultra relay, where each runner runs 40k
Check back for 2021 updates
Wharf to Wharf Race 6 Miles
August
August 15:
America’s Finest City Half Marathon (Virtual options)
San Diego, California
Also includes: 5K
Check back for 2021 updates
Falmouth Road Race
7-Miler
August 15:
America’s Finest City Half Marathon
San Diego, California
Also includes: 5
September
September 18 (May be In-person or Virtual)
United States Air Force Marathon
Dayton, Ohio
Also includes: Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K
October
October 11
Boston Marathon
Check back for 2021 updates
Wicked 10K & Monster Mile
Virginia Beach, Virginia
10K & Mile
November
Check back for 2021 updates
NYC Marathon
December
*Check back for updates for December 2021 races.
Paige Triola is a freelance writer based in Boulder, Colorado, who covers a range of topics in the athletic and outdoor recreation sphere. She spends much of her time cruising the trails on foot or by bike, testing out the newest gear designed for playing outside. Paige has written articles and product roundups for a variety of publications including Runner’s World, Bicycling Magazine, Gear Junkie, and Trail Runner Magazine.