This was a fantastic virtual race experience, and the race swag was out of this world (yeah, I went there)! We received a race bib, a quarter-zip tech shirt, a cap, and a commemorative Inspiration4 Miler Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® medal.

Registration only cost $40, and runners could choose to make an additional donation to support St. Jude, as well as use the race as a fundraiser. The top fundraiser would win a trip for two to the St. Jude launch party for Inspiration4 on Tuesday, September 14th, 2021 (the day before the launch) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, including a private dinner in an open-air hangar, American Airlines vouchers for round trip airfare and a two-night hotel stay at the Hilton Cocoa Beach!

I do realize that running a virtual race isn't for everyone. I have been doing them for years as a way to stay motivated and especially to help support some of the smaller races to which it would be cost-prohibitive for me to travel. The pandemic has helped introduce virtual races to many runners who may have never participated in them before, and I would bet has provided the opportunity for some who for whatever reason might not ever run an in-person race. One of the things I love about the running community is that it is so inclusive. A virtual race such as this is just one more way the running community can be supportive and welcome all to the sport.