¿Correrá una maratón virtual? Siga estos consejos de personas que han corrido una.
As you gear up to run the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon between October 17 and November 1, you probably have questions about what to expect on race day. We asked runners who’ve already done a virtual 26.2 to share what they learned from their experience. Read their tips before your race—and good luck!
How Do I Plan My Course?
Where you run is totally up to you—as long as you cover 26.2 miles, and a little extra, just to be safe.
“It’s important to map out [your route] ahead of time to make sure it covers the distance,” said Jill Zalewski of Morrisville, NC, whose route had her go “a tad over” the marathon distance.
Check out tips on using Strava to plan your route. And remember to run with a mask if social distancing along your route is not possible.
Think about what kind of route gets you excited. Joseph Lippold of Minneapolis planned a course that allowed him to take care of some unfinished business.
“My idea was to run from my parents’ house to my elementary school and the football field where the mile was run every year in gym class,” he said. “I had never completed the mile in elementary school, so at the age of 36 I ran around the football field four times and completed the challenge.”
How Do I Stay Hydrated and Fueled?
Without the fluid and fueling stations provided at in-person marathons, you need a plan your own. Theresa Winterhalter of Clearwater, FL, ran part of her virtual marathon along her normal running route, where she knew the locations of water fountains (and bathrooms).Another strategy is to run multiple loops so you can have nutrition and bathroom access on each lap. You can also opt to carry your own fluids and fuel, or to stop at a retail outlet or vending machine along the way.
Whatever your strategy, remember to follow it. Jill Zalewski carefully scheduled her hydration and fueling. “Every time I checked off a mile, I took a sip of water,” she said. “This was important, since I didn’t have water stops to remind me like I would during a race.”
Check out more hydration tips from Hospital for Special Surgery.
How Do I Maintain Motivation?
Use your long runs to determine what motivates you. Winterhalter cued up lots of music. “Plus, I listened to Les Brown motivational speeches when I hit a rough patch,” she said.
Lippold planned his playlists with care. “I cued music that reminded me of my family, music from the 90s that brought me back to high school, and some acoustic piano and guitar playlists that helped me focus for the long miles,” he said. (If you listen to music or podcasts, be sure to keep the volume at a level that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings.)
If you like running with other people—or at least seeing them along the way—set up that support for race day. “I ran with others and I can’t imagine not having support, whether it’s people joining you for sections, people cheering, or people at a fuel stop,” said Zalewski.
Jiang Zhang of Garden City, NY, agreed on the need for social support. “I ran with two other virtual runners on a slow pace and kept conversations going,” he said. “It was great.”
Scott and Lisa Berliner of New Albany, OH, had runners join them for portions of their run. “Without the support from our many friends, it would have made for a long morning,” said Scott.
How Do I Have Fun and Celebrate?
You can get creative with simulating the in-person marathon experience in your virtual. Scott and Lisa Berliner had friends sing the national anthem at their starting line. And you can “play race director” by customizing your race any way you want. Jill Zalewski gave her virtual marathon a hotdog theme—she called it “Wienerthon” and had friends waiting with hotdog costumes before the finish line that everyone, her included, put on for her big moment. That must have been some photo op!
You probably won’t have deafening crowds, but you can still make your finish a celebration of your incredible accomplishment. Consider creating an actual line to cross or a tape to break. Jill Zalewski dug up an old trophy for friends to present to her. She then wrapped herself in the American flag and took a “victory lap” as they cheered.
“Writing ‘Finish’—even if it’s just in chalk—and having a sign or some ribbon to run through can really motivate you and make it feel more like a race,” she said.
Looking back, Winterhalter regretted she didn’t have more of a celebration at the finish. “I should’ve shouted it out a bit more,” she said. “Doing this was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
You can still sign up for the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon at the Run for the Medal or Run for the Love of Running tiers and complete your virtual race anytime between October 17 and November 1.
