I signed up this race for 2 reasons, 1. Virtual race possibility 2. Awesome Beanie.
It was perfect distance race to accommodate in my on going training plan. Registration was very easy and swag came within 15 days time after registration. when the goodie bag arrived me and my daughter had bit cute fight for yellow Beanie, anybody can guess who won that small battel. Even i lost that battel I think I am the only one who used that beanie most. because when I go for run (early morning) kids are still sleep so no cry and fight.
On race day (almost last day for results submission) that the beauty for virtual race you can run at your convenience. I was planning to run easy (9 min/mil) not to push too hard, on race day I used my new Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 shoe and started slow and easy when finished 1st mile i realized I was that mile at 8 min pace. then started pushing end up finish 5k under 23 min.
When I reach home my elder daughter was waiting with medal. Results submissions was easy online not too complicated.

I will keep running this even and keep collecting those beautiful Beanies

After 4 years in area, first time ran bull city was not expecting so many hill's on route, I opted for mail-in bib so it arrived on time. No need to visit expo.
Race day was bit windy and chilly, ample of parking close to stat line, well managed.
when race stared after ran for less than 10 meter runner next to me asked what pace are you going to run. As i was planning to run this race very easy as 2 weeks before only I ran Berlin marathon so told him running at 7:45 pace, he agreed and said let pace each other an we kept going at 1st Miles garmin shoed 7:16, I told fellow runner we are bit faster need to slow down, and he said lets go for few more miles like this.
and we continued after 4 miles I was not ready to reduce my pace, continued very well but this route had many many hills i could not even remember the count. Hill at mile 10 slowed me down it was killer. on top those hill this race had so many U turn which is addition or reducing pace and slowing you down. Finnaly finished the course with 1:36:17 house.

If you are looking for good race with hills i would recommend this one.

It was really my best race experience ever. Yes, it was virtual, but I trained hard for this as any in person race. I was able get, two PRs, 15K and 10K, and I couldn't be happier with those results.

The race jacket, medal, bib and hot chocolate arrived in the mail about 5 days before race day.

While I really hope we're running this race in person next year, the virtual experience did not take anything away from the day for me.

Disclaimer: I received a race entry to the Blue Ridge Marathon to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

I know Blue Ridge Mountains only for one reason Fall colors and I love it, but when I heard about Blue Ridge Race, I was excited to know more details about it. As its logo says its one of the toughest road race in United States. I was thinking how can participate in this race, due to current COVID situation I was hesitant to run in-person race! They had a virtual race option I immediately registered for 10 km considering my other race schedule, 10k race was fitting perfectly. They have all option in this race Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Virtual run window was pretty wide 1st Apr till 30th Apr whole month. But I decided to run this race on actual race day at Morrisville, North Carolina. Definitely you will ask me will you able to gain that much elevation no not at all. but I decide to run race with my fullest energy and get my personal best time.

Communication from race organisation was very apt. I was well informed about the event rules and complete information about running virtual race. I had one doubt about elevation so I wrote email to race director and I was so amaze to get reply within 1 hours time. I can image how busy that person could be just one day before race, but I got my reply within no time.

Fortunately that day one of our Morrisville Runners group friend who recently relocated to Boston was visiting us and he asked is anyone running this weekend? and all of my buddies jumped on this opportunity to run together. (which is seldom these days due to Covid and Winter). I had to change my route for my runner friends. We all decided the route starting from Davis drive towards crab-tree lake and coming back, morning 6:45 start time.

It was good to see MRC team meeting after long time. We had group picture and started the run. Race for me as other members were running regular 8 miles run. From beginning I was determined to get my 10K PR today, i just waved my crew and kicked off 1st Miles was 7:20 min/m, what a good start and kept going, 7:17, 7:22,7:13 at 4 miles I had to turn back.

After 5th mile crossed my crew, Ajai gave me running hifi. That mile was one the fastest mile 7:09.
Somehow at 6 mile I was bit slow may be the GPS reception in woods was sketchy got 7:16. As soon as I got 6 mile beep, i started pushing really hard endorphins was kicking me off. Last 0.22 miles was with runners high pace was very close to 6 m/m and finally got my 6.23 miles saw the timing it was 45:02. amazing.
I broke my one week old PR by 1 min 28 sec.

After finishing my race ran back toward MRC runners, they were returning towards starting point ran with them for another 3.8 miles. and finally Jumping signature picture.

I can’t wait to get my swag in the mail! I’ll be sure to post an update so I can share what my swag looks like. And hopefully in the future I can attempt one of the Blue Ridge Races in person!

Raleigh half the first event by organizers, I really enjoyed running on Neuse River Greenway Trail route. This course was strategically selected to offer the flattest and fastest half marathon course in the Raleigh area.
The start was on the roads inside Buffaloe Road Athletic Park. Runners head down towards the Neuse River Greenway Trail, where they head North (turn left) for approximately 6 miles before turning around, heading back towards Buffaloe Road Athletic Park, where they took the path back up the right side, before finishing the final 400 meters on the track, in the style of the Olympic Games. Finish was perfect.
for me everything was perfect expect eh parking experience.
I reached there at 6:45 am at Marsh Creek Park (3050 N New Hope Rd, Raleigh, NC 27604), there suppose to be two shuttle buses to reach start, however only one bus showed up and volunteers were picking participants by their personal cars and dropping at start. because of the race started 15 min late. at 8:15 am. I finished race with decent timing of 1:54:10 hours, not mush snacks after race only half banana and water bottle. wanted to rush home as soon as possible due to other commitments. so waited for shuttle (was first in Q). hopped in shuttle, more runners and their family jumped in. bus started and what he just scooted like he is flying and we ended up in mud, it was so scary moment for my in my life. for a moment thought I will met with my get my first ever auto injury with god grace nothing happened. I decided to walk down to the parking place which was 3 miles away from the finish line. I know it was so difficult after running 13.1 miles.

it was one of the worst experience.
I may not participate in this race next year. dot want walk or put my life in danger for just getting transported to start line.