Runners and race directors alike are looking forward to filling the event void left by the devasting impact of COVID-19.
Virtual 2020 races, personal training experiences and plenty of time alone on streets and trails, have given us all the opportunity for planning and dreaming of in person races again.
And the best news for our industry?
According to responses to the Running USA 2020 Global Runner Survey, runners are ready to sign up for those races once again in droves.
According to the survey results, a whopping 94 percent of those runners who were surveyed, responded that they were unable to run in events that they had previously signed up for, due to COVID-based cancellations.
The Mighty Mujer Marathon and runner wearing our Racetrackers 6500a Cap.
Many of those same runners feel that the pandemic will still be affecting the ability to participate in running events throughout 2021. But that doesn’t mean they won’t join in virtual events, while waiting for the in-person green light.
Runners will enter more events in 2021.
While facing the cancellation of already made plans, 73 percent of the runners surveyed did participate in a planned virtual event in 2020, and 61 percent of runners surveyed expect they will be participating in even more events in 2021 than they did last year, virtual or not.
This bodes well for the running event industry as a whole and, as the months pass, maybe we can plan on a surge of activity by fall or winter, that will boost our hearts and our business activity at the same time.
Boston Marathon 2021 makes big news!
Scranton Half Marathon Finishers with Custom Race Medals.
Big news released today is that the Boston Marathon has selected a date for the Fall 2021 race, to be held in person on Monday, October 11, 2021. This is the first major race to have published a 2021 date, and we couldn’t be more excited with the news. As readers may recall, the 2020 marathon’s cancellation was the first in the event’s 124-year history and was a wakeup call to how badly our industry was being impacted.
The announcement of the 125th event includes this hopeful message from Tom Grilk, the President and CEO of the BAA:
“We announce the 2021 Boston Marathon date with a cautious optimism, understanding full well that we will continue to be guided by science and our continued collaborative work with local, city, state, and public health officials,” Grilk continues, “If we are able to hold an in-person race in October, the safety of participants, volunteers, spectators, and community members will be paramount.”
Runners at the Paladin 5k enjoy the event.
What’s next for the running world?
Let’s hope this is the start of a return to normalcy in the running world, and in our communities at large. We can’t wait to see which major event is the next to take the leap into planning for 2021 and we wish these organizations the very best of luck as they step into the new year with big hearts, cautious hope, and eternal optimism. We are right there with them.