runDisney has jumped on the “virtual” race bandwagon with the Virtual Running Shorts Series, an opportunity for people to participate in a Disney-theme 5K event from the comfort of a local track or their own treadmill. Participants receive a real runDisney medal by mail, and can print out a digital race bib to wear on their run if they want to have the full “race” experience.
There are three virtual races scheduled over the summer, and each has a different finisher medal inspired by Mickey Mouse—shoes, pants and gloves. Participants are asked to complete their runs within a specific two-week window, though no proof of run is required to receive a medal:
- runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series – Yellow Shoe – May 15 to June 1, 2016
- runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series – Red Pants – Event Dates: June 5–18, 2016
- runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series – White Glove – June 19–30, 2016
Runners who register for all three events receive a fourth “challenge” medal featuring Mickey Mouse, along with a souvenir tumbler. Each race is $39, plus a $2.57 processing fee. The Challenge series is $142 plus a $9.37 processing fee.
The Yellow Shoe medal is the first of three Virtual Running Shorts events scheduled for May and June. Photo © Disney.
Virtual races are a popular way for charities to raise money and awareness, with hundreds of them offered each year. Some virtual race organizers, like Virtual Strides, donate a specific dollar amount per registration, while others, like Full Metal Runs, donate a percentage of their profits to their designated charity. And in announcing the races, Disney said the events would “benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” the organization listed as the Celebratory Charity on the runDisney event website.
As such, it wasn't unusual for interested runners to wonder how much of the $39/$142 registration fee was earmarked for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and with no mention of it given on the event website, some runners called runDisney directly to ask. This quickly led to confusion and concern when phone operators told callers that no portion of the race entry would be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but that the charity would receive any donations runners chose to add at the time they registered for the events through the Active.com website. Not surprisingly, runners took to social media to complain:
“Shame on you Disney for making it seem like money goes to LLS. I'm severely disappointed. And I won't be participating.” [Jennifer Ruth, via Facebook]
Disappointed @runDisney :advertise a virtual race series as a charity event. None of the $$$ goes to charity. Boo to #runDisneyShorts
— MadameG (@mamieanglais) April 29, 2016
“It's really B.S. And deceptive to say that the celebratory charity is LLS yet absolutely $0 of the registration fees are going to the charity unless we choose to donate on top of the registration fee.” [Evan Berner, via Facebook]
Shameful that none of the fees for #runDisneyShorts go to the charity that the virtual races “benefit” (Disney's word). Boo to @runDisney
— Stephen Goldman (@sdgoldman63) April 29, 2016
MousePlanet contacted both runDisney and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for clarification. Representatives from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society did not respond to our inquiry by press time, but a Disney spokesperson told MousePlanet that runDisney is making a donation to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in conjunction with this race. The spokesperson could not tell us how much runDisney is donating, but said the amount is not a per-registration or percentage of the registration fees.
Aside from questions about the charity element of this race, the other big discussion topic surrounding this announcement is why anyone would pay $39 to run 3.1 miles in their own neighborhood. Runners and walkers seem to fall into the “love them” or “hate them” camps when it comes to virtual races, and there's not a lot of middle ground.
I was a member of the “not a chance” crowd when I first heard about virtual races a few years ago. The idea of paying money to get a medal without even having to show up seemed absurd. As virtual races have become more common, and with a change in perspective on my end, I can see why these are so attractive to so many people.
No travel costs
As a Disneyland local, I don't have the extra travel expenses associated with doing the West Coast runDisney events. People who don't live within jogging distance of Anaheim or Orlando, however, face a substantial expense when they register for a theme park-based runDisney event. Transportation, hotel, food—it all adds up. For many people, the primary draw of this virtual event is the ability to earn a real runDisney medal without ever leaving their own Zip code.
Flexible scheduling
Are you a morning runner, or do you prefer nights? A virtual race lets you choose when you prefer. Rain in the forecast? Wait until the storm passes. With a virtual race, it's up to you when and where to run. You can fit it into a business trip or even a vacation.
I've previously shared my feelings about Disney's “no refunds” policy, and have been much more selective about registering for runDisney events after having to miss several events due to injury and family emergencies. The nature of a virtual race eliminates many of those concerns for runners who just can't commit to an event nine months in advance. You officially have two weeks during which to complete your run, but let's face it—Disney has already said that there is no proof of run required to receive your medal. If something comes up and you can't complete the run when you expected, then you can reschedule when it's convenient for you, and your medal is still yours to keep.
Family friendly
Though runDisney requires all participants in the Virtual Running Shorts series to be at least 5 years old, the virtual nature of the event makes it so much easier for families to participate together. There are no rules against bringing your jogging stroller or family pet along for the run, as there are with the theme park events. Want to pile the younger kids in a wagon and go for a long walk? No problem. Need a potty break? An ice cream break? It's all up to you.
These races are also a great way for parents to give their kids a taste of the runDisney experience without the hassles associated with a theme park event. I completed the inaugural Star Wars 10K shortly after my husband and I became foster parents last year, and the little boy we were caring for at the time was incredibly jealous of my medal. We staged a little run in our neighborhood for him, and gave him one of my Disney cruise Castaway Cay 5K medals when he crossed the finish line.
In the following months, we registered him for some of the runDisney kids races, and once he turned 5, entered him in his first runDisney 5K. I would have loved the opportunity for him to have earned a runDisney medal without the early mornings and standing around that come with the bigger theme park events.
Last month my husband and I welcomed two brothers into our home. I've registered all of us for the Virtual Running Shorts series as well, and I'm looking forward to using the medals as incentives for the boys as we train this summer for the Captain American 5K this fall. Best of all, if we have younger children in our home during our scheduled run, we can put them in the jogging stroller and take the whole family together.
Accessible
runDisney events prohibit canes, walkers, crutches and service animals, which makes them inaccessible for some runners. Virtual races have no such restrictions, which means nearly anyone can participate.
No balloon ladies
I'm a back-of-the-pack walker at runDisney events, and I'm far more familiar with the “balloon ladies” (who you need to stay ahead of if you want to avoid getting swept for being slower than them) than I care to admit. Virtual races are ideal for people who are just starting a running or walking program, and aren't sure if they can meet Disney's pacing requirements.
There are no balloon ladies in the Virtual Running Shorts Series. You have all the time you need to finish the 3.1 miles, and nobody but yourself to be accountable to. If a Mickey Medal is what it takes to encourage someone to get out and walk, I can't think of a better reason to register.
Related links
- Official runDisney announcement.
- Virtual Running Shorts event page.
- Virtual Running Shorts registration page.
- Team MousePlanet discussion forum.
