Virtual Races

I have a love-hate relationship with running. I love to hate it. One of the things that keeps me going to signing up for local races. In most months I can get at least two in but for July and August when it is hotter than Hades in Houston races are pretty scarce. So to keep up my running motivation I sign up for virtual races. What's a virtual race? They are just like any other race, except there is no packet pick up, you choose when and where and off you go. Some virtual want proof that you finished, most work on the honor system and will automatically mail you out your medal. Medal? Yes, you read that right, these races also include medals. There are 3 basic types of medal, dog tag, insert, and die cast. A dog tag run generally costs about $10, whereas the other 2 start at about $25 and go up from there. The difference between and insert and a die cast? Well an insert medal is one the is generally pre-made with a sticker made to reflect the race and then placed on the medal. Die cast are just that, die cast medals that are uniquely designed, like most medals you find at live races. So races charge more depending on the distance you run but for me unless the medal is different or bigger I try to stay away from those. My reason being the cost to the race director is the same, no matter what I run a 5k of half costs them the same. On the other hand IRL races there is a true difference in cost for putting on a 5k to a half, ie, security, general race support (water tables, water, volunteers, t-shirts, venue costs). If you collect running t-shirts most have those available for an extra fee. I have only come across one that includes it in the cost of the race, the For the Love of the Kids racing series.  Over the weekend I ran two of these, the Fit 4 Life "Wait Until Your Father Get Home (5k)" and the Will Run for Bling "Father's Day Beer Run (10k)". If didn't have these to races on my schedule, I probably would not have gone out and run on those day.