What are hybrid running races?
And why will you see them everywhere in 2021?
In the running race world, 2021 will be all about "hybrid races."
What are hybrid races, how are the leading races in the world creating them, and how are participants seeking out hybrid races?
But, most exciting to consider, is how can hybrid races be both the path back to real world mass participation events and the launchpad for local races to expand their audience globally in powerful new ways?
Hybrid races can be run anywhere, on a specific physically or digitally marked course, virtually outdoor or on a treadmill
A hybrid race means any combination of the following five race options:
1) Just run
Sign up for a race, and, in a window of time often between a day and a month, run that distance from wherever you are. In most instances, races provide a mechanism to share your race time and join the results leaderboard.
2) Closed course racing
Also known as real-world racing or mass participation events. This is what we're all familiar with: the nerves at the start line, brushing shoulders with so many others in the running community, racing through new or familiar streets or trails, and tumbling exhausted over the finish line. Race courses tell stories about their cities, about their community, and about their sponsors. Who's ready for these events to come back??
3) Open course racing
A race organizer sets out a course for their participants to run, but they have a window of time to do that (often longer than a day to offset congestion, optimally 2-4 weeks), and the course is not closed or managed by marshals.
Some events will flag and sign the course, although they must review the course to make sure all signs stay intact over that time period.
Most events will use a running navigation app to help guide the runners. These guides alleviate the stress of feeling you're off course and remove the need to have people on-site continually. These apps can also mention important navigation tricks and caution messages to make running it more safe.
These apps, like RunGo, can recreate race-day experience by mixing in sounds of the real race experience, relevant messages from the race director or partners, and motivational music and messages from athletes and others in the community.
4) Remote course racing
Allow runners to simulate being on course, even if they're participating from anywhere else in the world. An audio-guided solo run can recreate the experience of being on course, with the same sounds and sights. Point-of-view video and local photos can unify their experience with those who can be on course.
5) Treadmill racing
Over the colder months, many participants will want to run on a treadmill. Remote course racing supported by indoor or treadmill running is another critical piece to a hybrid race.
Hybrid racing is a combination of any or all of these. The goal of a great race is to make them as similar as each other and to the real world experience.
What if these five different running race experiences could be both consistent and managed with a single platform?
What if that platform could be branded for the race but not require an app download that's inconveniently only good for race day?
What if managing results could be automatically driven by verified GPS data to simplify the runner experience?
What if completion of the race could cue up some personalized, shareable assets and photos of the experience?
Give us a shout at RunGo, we'd love to discuss the needs and wants of your race event.
RunGo has powered hybrid races, including the Guinness World Record attempt for largest remote 5K, events that have raised millions of dollars, and hundreds of races throughout 2020, and it’s the most rated and most highly rated running app for races in the App Store.