How To Throw A Virtual Race In Your Neighborhood (Avondale Virtual 5K)

Virtual Avondale 5K 2020 and Throwing a Race in your Neighborhood!

Thanks FF Race Ambassador Vy Doan for sending us this report! And for reminding everyone that #runningisnotcancelled!

The Avondale 5K is a speedy 5K road race that starts and ends in the Avondale area of West Ashley. Avondale is almost like a second downtown Charleston, with lots of cute shops and restaurants. The race is the largest annual fundraiser for the Charles Webb Center for children with special needs and development disabilities.  

This year, out of an abundance of caution, the organizers made the difficult but responsible decision to change the Avondale 5K to a virtual race. Since I typically run this race and have an amazing time every year, my husband, Ryan, and I decided to organize a socially distanced run and walk in our neighborhood for friends who registered for the virtual 5K or donated to the Charles Webb Center.

Since we live close to Avondale, Ryan was able to come up with a route through the Avondale area, similar to the real in-person race. He marked the route with chalk and led the runners, while I walked with the 1-mile participants. The weather was amazing, around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The walking group ended up going closer to 2 miles as we decided to visit the beautiful community garden on Magnolia Road. Some of the runners were quite quick with some at sub 7-minute miles and some hitting personal bests for a 5K distance!

After the race, we gathered in our backyard for burritos (just like the race!) and mimosas! We kept our event outside to minimize contact and asked everyone to bring masks for inside our house and our group picture. All in all, the virtual Avondale 5K run and walk was a great time! We enjoyed seeing some of our friends and exercising together. It definitely provided me with a semblance of normalcy during the COVID area.