Race #30 – Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg‘s “Running Is Not Cancelled” Virtual Half Marathon
The Cause – A portion of every race entry benefits Heart to Heart International, distributing urgently needed equipment and medication to partners here and around the world during the COVID-19 crisis. A combined total of $1,300 was raised!
The number of creative running hashtags is off the charts these days. Fleet Feet’s pandemic-related hashtag is #TogetherWeMove. The race hashtag is #RunningIsNOTCancelled. This weekend, I was supposed to run Philadelphia’s iconic Broad Street Run, which is (hopefully, fingers crossed) rescheduled for October. In the meantime, the Broad Street Run is encouraging #BroadStreetStrong.
All of these hashtags connect and uplift the running community. And I love the way Fleet Feet billed these virtual races:
“Your races might be cancelled this spring and summer, but RUNNING IS NOT CANCELLED.”
And, “We’ll go farther if we go together. Together we can stay motivated, moving and running…. We hope our virtual race is a small way to help keep you inspired, keep you positive, and keep you engaged in the sport you love and the running community that you helped build.”
About 250 runners participated in “Running Is Not Cancelled” events this weekend–choosing between distances of 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon and 50K.
I chose the Half Marathon option because, honestly, I can’t run enough miles these days. Running is the best escape from the reality of this pandemic, and some days I just want to keep running and not come back.
I headed out to the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, one of my favorite Central PA rail trails thanks to its rural landscape with beautiful mountains in the distance. My husband came along to bike the trail and provide some much-appreciated race support, AKA water breaks. And what a great milestone this weekend–to notch my 30th race with 20 more run and worthy causes to go!
It was a gorgeous day, and I was thinking of lots of running friends simultaneously doing their races (from a social distance of course). As much as I love solo runs, I miss them dearly and can’t wait to be a more sociable runner.
The great thing about sharing virtual race photos (with hashtags of course) can be summed up by Fleet Feet’s race info: “Thank you so much for supporting us, and running with us. Positivity is contagious and you’re playing a part in making our world a better place.”
And one last note: As a writer it’s been hard for me to write “cancelled” using the British spelling and not the American “canceled.” I just want to clarify that these are not typos. LOL. But the race benefitted a great cause, helping to fight this horrible virus, and for that I can certainly forgive a misspelling. 🙂
CV Rail Trail 
My photo for the collage 
Start line photo! 
I’ve never been this close to the starting line, LOL 
Near the halfway turnaround–goats! 
Love this mountain view 
Post run celebration with my husband! My face is quite salty. 
Getting creative with my post-run refreshments. This photo will make its way into another friend’s Running Is Not Cancelled video project… cheers!
Inspired Miles 
[…] Karen Hendricks is a journalist and a local runner. In her words: Running friends . . . separate, but together at heart for this weekend’s “Running Is NOT Cancelled” virtual races by Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg. 250 runners raised a total of $1,300 for Heart to Heart International, distributing COVID-19 medical supplies. And this was my 30th of 50 races to benefit 50 causes. Race recap here: https://inspiredmiles.com/…/race-30-running-is-not-cancell…/ […]
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