Virtual races — I’ll never do that. But that was back in March, a lifetime ago.

Since then, I’ve signed up for three virtual races and completed two of the challenges.

When spring and summer races began to drop from the calendar due to social distancing concerns, I, like many road and trail racers, was disappointed. I’d lost my motivation to push through bad weather, sore muscles and time constraints to run for goal.

For weeks, while I had plenty of quarantine time to hit the roads and trails for workouts or relaxation, I found I just didn’t have the enthusiasm. Then I talked to Herb Cratty.

Herb’s Miles of Smiles Timing Service, in lieu of directing and timing actual events, had decided to offer a virtual race to encourage runners to keep going and stay connected — just what I needed to get off the couch. In Herb’s virtual races, runners may complete the distances as many times as desired in the month of May. Results are updated daily to reflect fastest times.

So far, I’ve done the Miles of Smiles You May Run Virtual 5k twice. I couldn’t wait to see my name in the daily results, so I posted my completed first time on May 2, a 1:06:21 on a rambling, rugged trail run/hike with my kennel’s quarantine hash through Pittsburgh’s Southside Slopes. I have to admit, I liked seeing my name on the list of something completed.

By the following week, as my name sank slowly to the bottom of the posted results, my competitive juices kicked in. If I wasn’t in racing shape, I at least wanted a less embarrassing time.

One of the perks of virtual racing is choosing your own course and I picked a mostly downhill, point-to-point straight road in my neighborhood and surprised myself by cutting my first 5k time in half.

Next, I chose a 10k challenge offered by Most Dope Virtual 5k, 10k, 10 Mile because I liked the swag. This event is sponsored by ProBike Road Runners Club in partnership with Allegheny City Brewing. Perks include a bottle opener finisher’s medal, a free draft when the brewery reopens and $5 off a future GCXC race in Pittsburgh or Ohio.

I decided to take this run semi-seriously. I ran a steady effort on some challenging hills in Hartwood Acres to finish the 6.2 miles in 1:27:31.

I have yet to run my Miles of Smiles half marathon. I’m not in racing shape, but I am up for the challenge. And after the long run, I’ll have plenty of recovery time.

Virtual races can be run with a great deal more seriousness than I have given. Sean Fox of Cheswick — who has run competitively since his eighth grade cross country season more than 20 years ago — ran his first virtual race in March. The Virtual 1775, a 17.75 kilometer event, was a qualifier for Marine Corps Marathon, hopefully to be run this October.

After training throughout the spring, Sean ran the Virtual Pittsburgh Marathon. He says that training was a way to keep normal in all the craziness and after the time and effort he put into preparation, he thought, “Why not see what I can accomplish?”

Sean ran an out-and-back 26.2 miles on the Butler-Freeport Trail, an almost level, pack gravel course. Although he was justifiably pleased with his finishing time of 3:17:10, a personal best by more than seven minutes, Sean says the best part of his virtual race was the support of friends and seeing his wife and daughter cheer him across the finish line.

Sean suggests runners try a virtual event while real events aren’t possible, especially to support a charity or non-profit, or at least just to take care of your own health. “Running isn’t canceled,” he says. “Achieve something, even though things aren’t what we expected.”

Tim Heusey of Valencia is an example of Sean’s philosophy. Tim used Sean’s marathon course to run 3:30:26, a personal best by 55 minutes in his second-ever marathon.

Tim had trained for 18 weeks on a plan designed by Hanson Running with the intention of running Martha’s Vineyard Marathon with his wife Meredith as a celebration of their wedding anniversary. When the event was canceled, the Heuseys deferred their registrations until 2021 and Tim was left without a spring race.

Tim decided to stage his own personal race, a marathon time trial. Though completing the run was hard, Tim is glad he did it.

“Anytime you can prove to yourself that hard work pays off, it’s good,” he says.

Tim credits his personal support system for this marathon success. Friends from Team Beer running group paced him along the way and group member and cyclist Jinny Hertweck provided traffic control and a travelling aid station for the 26.2 miles.

“I got to mile 25 kind of broken, in survival mode,” Tim says. “I found the inner strength to finish for friends and supporters, especially for my wife and girls.”

Virtual races can’t provide the excitement of head-to-head competition, the joy of comradery or the feeling of being part of something larger than oneself. But the essence remains — effort in preparation, hard work that leads to a goal achieved and finding inner strength by sharing that goal with family and friends. It’s running after all, and, in Sean Fox’s words, “Running isn’t canceled.

Upcoming events

Now through May 31: Miles of Smiles You May Run Virtual Half Marathon and 5k, Ellwood City. Run a half marathon, 5k or both. Email times to bonnherb@yahoo.com. Earn a finisher’s medal (or two) and t-shirt. Submit as many times as you wish. Fastest time counts. Register at runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/MilesofSmilesYouMayRunVirtualHalfMarathonand5k or bonnherb@yahoo.com

Now through June 14: Most Dope Virtual 5k, 10k and 10 Miles. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Pittsburgh/AlleghenyCityBrewingVirtualRaces

Friday: Fryburg Mayfest, Fryburg. This event has been cancelled. Saturday: Blue Knob Trail Face 3.75 Mile Trail Race, Claysburg. This race has been cancelled.

Sunday: Mark Jeffrey Sampson Memorial 5k, Titusville. Cancelled for this year.

Monday, 7:30 a.m.: Freedom Challenge 15k/5k/Relay, Erie. Postponed until Labor Day, Sept. 7. 814-838-7515 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Erie/FreedomChallenge

May 30: Freeport Flash 10k & 5k Run/Walk, Sarver. Virtual race this year. First race in Freeport Triple Crown. Register and run now through June 30. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Sarver/FreeportFlash5K10K

June 1: Rocksylvania Remix, Pennsylvania. Rocksylvania Trail Series is virtual this year. Run 175 or 350 total miles on any Pennsylvania trails between June 1 and August 31. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Rocksylvania/RocksylvaniaVirtualChallenge

June 4, 6:30 p.m.: Gateway Track Mile, Monroeville. 412-372-3212 or don_tammy@msn.com

June 6: God’s Country Marathon. Half and Team Relay, Galeton. Canceled for this year.

June 6, 8 a.m.: Boston Trail ½ Marathon and 5k, Elizabeth Township. Run from Boston Trailhead of Yough River Trail on Great Allegheny Passage. (Rescheduled from April 18.)412-780-7802 or thebostontrail.com

June 6, 9 a.m.: Yuengling Gold Rush 5k, Pittsburgh. Virtual race this year. 765-729-0691 or www.yuenglinggoldrush.com

June 7: Greenfield Glide 5k, Pittsburgh. Canceled for this year.

June 7, 10 a.m.: Get Lost 5k Run/Walk, Erie. Benefits K-9 Search and Rescue. amym@nwpak9sar.org or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harborcreek/SearchandRescueGetLost5k

June 12, 7 p.m.: Riverview Park 5k Run & Fitness Walk, Pittsburgh. 412-255-2493 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/RiverviewPark5K

June 17: Summer Solstice 5k and 1 Mile Run/Walk, Portersville. This race at Moraine State Park has been canceled.

June 20: Clarksburg 10k, Clarksburg, WV. Virtual race this year. 304-672-3637 or runwithhat@yahoo.com

June 20: Butler Road Race 5 Mile and 2k, Butler. Virtual race this year. 724-287-4733 or cdreher@bcfymca.org

June 20: Beartown Rocks Trail Race, Sigel. This race has been canceled.

June 20: Butch’s Bucket Brigade, Worthington. This race has been canceled.

June 21: ERC Father’s Day Race, Erie. Canceled for this year. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harborcreek/SearchandRescueGetLost5k

July 3: Ellwood City Ledger 10k, Ellwood City. This race has been canceled.

July 10, 7 a.m.: Presque Isle Half Marathon, Erie. Registration has been paused until state parks reopen in June. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Erie/PresqueIsleHalfMarathon

Sept. 27: City of Pittsburgh Great Race, Pittsburgh. All Great Race events are now virtual. Register now, submit results anytime in September. www.rungreatrace.com

Race results

Prep 4 Pitt Virtual Half Marathon: Jason McDowell, 1st Overall M, 1:32:14; Julie Demarco, 1st Overall W, 1:36:44; Shannon Lehman, 1st 20-39 W, 1:41:10; Adam Stillwagon, 2nd 20-39 M, 1:46:06; S. Mark Courtney, 1st 40+ M, 1:49:59; Leslie Kramer, 1st 40+ W, 1:49:59; Eric Kohlmeyer, 3rd 20-39 M, 2:16:18; Traci Hanna, 2:05:18

Prep 4 Pitt 5k: Leslie Kramer, 1st Overall W, 24:39; S.Mark Courtney, 1st Overall M, 26:51; Lydia McAlister, 1st Under 20 W, 27:32; Debbie Courtney, 3rd 40+ W, 29:36

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle