Virtual · anywhere
Quick answer: a virtual running challenge is worth it if you want a goal with a deadline and a real medal at the end, without paying for a race entry, travelling or fitting an event date around your life. It is not worth it if what you actually want is a crowd, a timed result or a finish-line photo. We make these challenges, so read this knowing where we stand, but we have tried to be straight about who they are not for.
What you actually get
A virtual challenge is a distance target, a window to complete it in and a medal that is posted to your door once you have ordered. At Running Mad the medal is a chunky metal one with a ribbon, not a printable certificate. You pick the distance, anything from 1.5 miles up to 100 miles or more, and you cover it wherever and whenever you like. Walk it, jog it, run it or cycle it, in one go or over a few weeks. Then you log your miles on the site and you are done.
Because the medal is posted within 3 to 5 working days of your order, it is usually on its way while you are still doing the challenge. Plenty of people hang it up as the thing they are working towards.
The honest case against
Some runners find virtual medals a bit of a gimmick, and that is a fair view if the medal is the only thing on offer. Nobody is checking your GPS. There is no start line, no marshals and no crowd cheering you in. If the buzz of race day is what gets you out of the door, a virtual challenge will not replace it. It is also easy to buy one, put the medal in a drawer and never do the miles. That is on you, not the medal.
The honest case for
Most people who come to us are not chasing a PB. They are starting out, coming back from injury, walking rather than running, or trying to get a family or a workplace moving together. For them the value is the goal, the deadline and something physical at the end of it. A themed medal, whether that is a Halloween series, a charity challenge or a birthday medal, gives a reason to keep going on the days when motivation is thin. The leaderboard adds a bit of friendly competition if you want it.
How it compares on cost
A local 10K race entry in the UK is often £25 to £40 before travel, and a big-city half marathon is usually more. A virtual challenge is typically a fraction of that and you keep the medal either way. You are not paying for road closures, timing chips or a medical tent, so the price reflects what you get: a medal, a certificate and a goal.
Who it suits best
Beginners who want a first target. Walkers, who are welcome on every one of our challenges. Parents doing a challenge with kids. Runners who want a reason to keep ticking over between races. Anyone raising money for a cause who wants a medal to show for it. If that is you, browse our virtual running challenges with medals, or read how a virtual challenge works first.
Next step: Decide for yourself: browse all our virtual running challenges with medals, start small with a 1.5-mile mini challenge, or see how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Are virtual running challenges worth it?
Yes if you want a goal, a deadline and a real medal without a race entry, travel or a fixed event date. No if what you really want is a crowd, a timed result or a finish-line photo.
Is a virtual medal a gimmick?
It can be if the medal is the only thing on offer. The value is the goal and the deadline; the medal is what you have to show for it.
How much does a virtual challenge cost compared with a race?
Typically a fraction of a race entry, because you are not paying for road closures, timing or marshals. You keep the medal either way.
Who are virtual challenges best for?
Beginners wanting a first target, walkers, families and workplaces doing a challenge together, runners keeping ticking over between races, and anyone raising money for a cause.