TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) — Virtual running is not the typical way of running a 5k or 10k, but that is exactly what hundreds of runners are doing this weekend. It is all part of Springtime Tallahassee's 10k.
The annual festival was supposed to happen the last weekend of March, but had to be canceled due to the Coronavirus.
From March 28th through June 19th of this year, anyone can sign up to run a virtual 5k or 10k. That is exactly what John Yelton, of Panama City, did Saturday morning at Cascades Park.
During the virtual race, runners can sign up to run anywhere they'd like. Runners do not have to run at Cascades Park or Tallahassee.
Yelton explained that he woke up at 2:30 a.m. Saturday and drove to the capital city to run the virtual race at Cascades Park, which is where the event was supposed to be this weekend. Yelton said he wanted to make the best of a weird situation. "When you've got a group that's determined and has put forth the effort in training, and put forth the miles to do this, you hate not to get out and run," explained Yelton. "A couple of us made a choice, 'Hey we're going to do this regardless'."
Medals and shirts for runners are being made available, while also adhering to social distancing guidelines. The race director has put an address on Springtime's website for runners to go too to pick up their bling.
Half of the money raised from the virtual races will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
