What do you miss most, competition or comradery?

It seems only yesterday we were training for upcoming spring races and looking forward to achieving new goals and personal bests. But on the other side, it seems like months since I've run or hiked with friends or followed a flour trail with the hashers.

We can look longingly back to the time before COVID-19 upended our lives or ahead to brighter and safer days. Until then, we've got to stay healthy and safe and endure as best we can as runners and citizens.

Nothing can match the excitement of toeing the start line of a major marathon, the thrill of finishing your first race or the pride in earning an overall or age group award. But if you can't run in an organized event, try a virtual race or a personal competition.

Several large races, including Pittsburgh Marathon on May 3, are offering Virtual Race options rather than cancelling their popular events. Check out the race website for your desired event, register, complete and verify your distance and time, then receive your reward or award by mail.

Virtual events are as diverse as real ones. And you don't have travel expenses for out-of-town events. Some, like Stay Strong Virtual Charity Race in Raleigh, N.C., raise money for charity. Apollo 13k and Saturn 5k Virtual Run in Florida emphasizes participants' perks.

If you crave competition with other runners, choose a race with specific course layouts. Pittsburgh Marathon's website lists eight course options in 5k and half marathon, four for the full marathon. Some are on roads, some on regional park trails. Compare your finishing times with others on Strava or on the race's website.

If you don't need a medal or swag to complete your race experience, organize your own event. Plot a course of whatever length you desire and pick a race date. If you're planning a fall marathon, train for your personal half marathon for early summer. Or set your competitive sights on a fast 5k on your favorite roads.

In this strange time of social distancing, you can't challenge your running buddies with a brisk tempo run on a neighborhood loop. But you can create your own virtual challenge. Create a Strava segment or a real segment by painting start and finish lines on a route.

While competition can be a great motivation to consistent running, some runners are moved more by the social aspects of exercise. We crave the days of meeting for a run and a beer or sharing the load on a long run. Sadly, it's now risky to run together with anyone but those residing with you as doctors advise that the type of breathing while running can release COVID-19 virus into the air beyond the six feet of social distancing.

For now, let's connect socially with social media. Local running stores Mojo Running and Multisport and Up-N-Running and running clubs Steel City Road Runners and North Park Trail Runners keep us motivated by offering and sharing workouts, photos and videos and conversation on Facebook.

I connect with Schuylkill River Runners from eastern PA to swap photos of solitary runs and Pgh-H3 Hash House Harriers who post virtual hashes and comments featuring the hashiness.

With schools out of session and work at home, families have a lot of togetherness. Take it outside. You can't train for a cancelled event or run with your usual group, but you can share running with those in your home.

Encourage family members to get out and about. Kids who miss spring soccer may enjoy a trail run though a local park. Reconnect with your spouse with a jog through the neighborhood on a sunny evening.

The group stays together at the pace of the slowest member. You'll have plenty of time to run alone. The purpose of running together is togetherness.

Saturday: Apollo 13k and Saturn 5k Virtual Run, Commemorates the 50th anniversary of Apollo 13 with hat, bib and finisher's medal. Submit results by April 30. smoothrunning.org/apollo-13k-and-saturn-5k-virtual-run or support@thefloridamarathon.comNow until April 15: Stay Strong Virtual Charity Race, Raleigh, NC. Run 1 Mile, 5k or 10k. Registration fees benefit charity of choice. Swag bag including T-shirt, bracelet and more available for purchase. All finishers eligible for random drawing prizes. staystrong.itsyourrace.com/register/April 18: “Great Allegheny” Ohiopyle Half Marathon, 10k & 5k, Ohiopyle. This race is postponed to a date to be announced. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ohiopyle/GreatAlleghenyOhiopyleHalfMarathon10kand5kNow until April 30: Social Distance Virtual 5k, Anywhere. Sign up, run a 5k distance anywhere, email results to info@wolfcreektrackclub.com by April 30, receive medal. runsignup.com/Race/XX/AllofHumanity/SocialDistanceVirtual5KApril 26, 11 a.m.: Sunday Run Days, Springdale. Run a mile or 5k, drink a beer at Leaning Cask Brewery. 724-715-7539May 3, 7 a.m.: City of Pittsburgh Virtual Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k, Pittsburgh. Register and run a virtual race on Pittsburgh streets or in area parks. www.thepittsburghmarathon.comMay 10: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Pittsburgh. This event has been rescheduled to Sept. 13. Registration is now open. 412-651-5504 or komenpittsburgh.orgMay 15: Elderton 5k, Elderton. This race is postponed to a future date to be announced.May 16: Glacier Ridge Ultra (30k, 50k, 50 miles), Portersville. This rugged trail race at Moraine State Park has been postponed to a future date to be announced. http://glacierridgetrailultra.com/May 16, 8 a.m.: Hollidaysburg Diamond Dash 10k and 6k Runs and 5k Walk, Hollidaysburg. http://www.blairregionalymca.org/raceseries/diamond-dash/May 16: Diamond 5k Run/Walk, Blue Spruce Park, Indiana. This race is postponed until Oct. 3. 724-349-1111, Ext. 7356 or www.diamonddrug.com/5kMay 16, 8 a.m.: AmVets Post 113 Patriots' Day 5k, Tionesta. 814-775-3404 or eric.cepek@gmail.comMay 17: UPMC St. Margaret 5k, Pittsburgh. Canceled for this year.May 24: Mark Jeffrey Sampson Memorial 5k, Titusville. Cancelled for this year.June 6, 8 a.m.: God's Country Marathon. Half and Team Relay, Galeton. Challenging road marathon, point-to-point from Galeton to Coudersport. 814-558-5353 or amy_eppley@yahoo.comJune 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.comJune 6, 9 a.m.: Yuengling Gold Rush 5k, Pittsburgh. Run on North Shore, post-race party. 765-729-0691 or www.yuenglinggoldrush.com

Ellport Boro 5k (70+ Championships), March 14: Dan Dygert, 1st Overall M, 17:55; Andrew Trbovich, 2nd Overall M, 19:34; Falyn Kiebler, 1st Overall W, 22:30; Herb Cratty, 1st 50-59 M, 21:11; Butch Caimano, 1st 60-69 M, 22:00; Tom Pisano, 3rd 50-59 M, 22:27; David Suber, 2nd 60-69 M, 23:25; Bob Graciwe, 1st 70-74 M, 24:59; Hunter Hill, 2nd 20-29 M, 25:31; David Adams, 2nd 70-74 M, 26:24; John Mason, 2nd 40-49 M, 26:56; Kristen Kelosky, 2nd 50-59 W, 26:56; Cindy Suber, 1st 60-69 W, 27:41; Ricky Gay, 3rd 40-49 M, 27:52; Jennifer Dunn, 2nd 60-69 W, 28:05; Mary Lou Safran, 1st 75-79 W, 40:45; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 80+ M, 42:19; Dan Reed, 27:19; Paul Johnson, 29:43; Ed Leymarie, 29:43; Anthony Sunseri, 30:46; Tammy Iwanejko, 32:46; Robert Crawford, 32:56; Reese Zimmerman, 34:04; Shawna Hardy-Emerson, 34:36; Tonya Barnett, 36:36; Annika Kyyashko, 37:07; Jennifer Kyyashko, 37:07; Robert Sands, 38:00; Kim Kenetz, 38:00; Debra Kuminkoski, 40:39Prep4Pitt Virtual Half Marathon, March 28: 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 60+ M, 1:49:59; Erin Kohlmeyer, 3rd 20-39 W, 2:16:18; Traci Hanna, 2:05:18Prep4Pitt Virtual 5k, March 28: Leslie Kramer, 1st Overall W, 24:39; S. Mark Courtney, 1st Overall M, 26:51; Debbie Courtney, 3rd 40-59 W, 29:36Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle.