I recently came across a different type of race - a virtual race. A virtual race is basically a fundraiser that you can do at anytime (usually within a date range) and anywhere. So for my 38th race I did the Swagtastic Virtual Race for Medals4Mettle. They had three distance choices: 5K, 10K, or half marathon. I signed up for the half marathon.
Medals4Mettle is an organization that presents donated finisher's medals from the completion of a marathon, half marathon, or triathlon to children and adults fighting debilitating illnesses who might not be able to run a race, but are in a race of their own just to continue to live their life.
Originally my plan was to do a half marathon hike up on the Appalachian Trail for this but the weather did not cooperate. Instead I decided to simply do a half marathon suburban hike. I was out the door before 7:00 AM heading east. The goal was to go 6.5 miles out, turn around and go back. I've experienced this before and have said it many times - you really do not see many things even if you have driven down a road hundreds of times. There is just something nice about slowing down and really seeing your surroundings.
The only challenge (besides making my legs walk 13.1 miles) was - my footpod stop working at 2.34 miles. So I really did not know how far I should go. Ended up doing more of a lollipop route instead of an out and back guessing at the mileage. When I got home retraced the route in my truck. It was only 11 miles. Went back out and did the last 2 miles.
It's quite different doing a virtual race, but it really does support something good.
Just a few pics from the route:
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| Berries! everywhere |
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| At the corner of Peachtree & Old Peachtree |
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| New Life Baptist Church |
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| Red Barn |
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| Gated Community |
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| Grazing |
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| Coming Soon |
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| Sugarloaf Plaza |
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| Home Depot on the 4th of July |
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| Look who is coming to town |
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| Crops look good |
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