GREEN BAY (NBC26) — With spring in sight and summer just around the corner, many runners are starting to hit the pavement again.
It's the 45th year of the Bellin Run, and for the second year in a row, the 10k will go virtual.
“We were not going to stop that tradition," said Linda Maxwell, Assistant Race Director of the Bellin Run. "While we’re really optimistic about what’s going on with the pandemic, with hospitalizations and numbers down and the role of the vaccination, we just really feel like we can’t safely host an event of our magnitude.”
Registration is now open for the 2021 Virtual Bellin Run!
— BellinRun (@BellinRun) March 1, 2021
Registration is just $20 throughout the month of March. Join us! https://t.co/S8NpBP7RIg#RunThisTown #BellinRun2021 pic.twitter.com/pugZ2kOB8J
While a virtual run just isn’t quite the same, runners like Rachel Hernandez said there are some perks.
“Last year, it was a shock when it was made a virtual event," she said. "I know many of us were hoping that this year it would be in person, but based on safety concerns in the community it’s virtual, and I think the run and community definitely understands that.“
People can run any course they like, any time between June 12th and June 21st.
“Getting to pick a day that has the best weather conditions, in addition to picking the best course for you," said Hernandez. "Those are some cool advantages of doing it virtually.”
This year, Bellin will have an app that runners can download. They’ll be able to see where they are on the race course, hear their pace every half mile and receive some fun encouraging messages. Bellin also has a spotify playlist loaded with all the tunes they play at the start line.
“I’m sure I’ll use that to kick off the run this year again as well," said Hernandez. "You can’t have a Bellin Run without Chariots of Fire.”
Bellin polled runners to get their input on the race swag, like shirts and bibs, said Maxwell. They will also give out finisher's medals, something they do every five years.
“There was never any doubt that we weren’t going to have some type of event because the goal of it is to get our community active," she said. "We know how important physical activity is.”
If you register by the end of March, you’ll pay the early bird registration fee of $20. You can register for the race here.
