Covid On The Run
Running to the new normal
The races are coming back and it feels amazing. Previously only imagined, our society seems to at last be on the down slope of one of the most horrific tragedies of our lifetime. Everyone knows the coronavirus pandemic isn’t over, but with our nation’s adult vaccination rate now at 50%, the feeling of establishing a new normal is unmistakable.
My inbox is overflowing with a wide range of in-person running and racing events for the coming months. The return of the NYC Marathon is dominating the news feeds, serving as exclamation the big races are returning. The Midwest will soon share images of crowded events, with the Grandma’s Marathon scheduled for June 19.
Runners, however, are not flocking to the registration pages just yet. Covid-19 produced a historic running boom, as first-time runners took to the streets and treadmills for the safety of the exercise. A recent RunRepeat survey showed about 30% of the 3,961 runners polled started during lockdown. A telling number is that new runners are 115% more in favor of virtual races than live races. Many of the new runners are not currently motivated by competition, with 34% less likely to run for PRs than veteran racers.
If you ran before the pandemic, you’ll likely sign up for a live race this year. If you started running during the pandemic, there’s a 50/50 chance…
