Silicon Valley Run 2.0 Challenge Review

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to review the Silicon Valley Half Marathon and Run 2.0 Challenge virtual race as part of being a BibRave Ambassador. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Ambassador, and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Training

With the crazy Summer and Fall we have had in the Bay Area, training for this race was less than ideal. Having to stay inside for almost the equivalent of a month due to poor air quality was definitely a challenge. I was able to run only a few times outside the month before the race and mainly focused on staying fit by doing indoor cardio and bodyweight workouts. Even untrained, I loved running this race challenge and was glad to have something to push me outside when the weather cleared up!

Race Week

Race week thankfully brought better air quality! I chose to run the first 5k on a Monday and then ran the 10k on Saturday over the Golden Gate Bridge! You had the option to run their live courses, but since I was running with a stroller and toddler, I chose to run my races on a course that worked best for me.

Food Truck 5k Race

I ran this race in my local neighborhood. I had plans to drive somewhere, but the air quality was steadily getting worse due to local fires so I got out the door and ran asap to beat the smoke. This run became more of a run/walk since Logan kept jumping out of the stroller to pick berries, follow squirrels, look at a snail and pick up sticks. Ha! That’s racing with a toddler for you! I had fun no matter what; and let’s be honest, running while 32 weeks pregnant is not going to win me any speed records anyway! I was just proud to have completed the race!

Silicon Valley 10k Race

I ran the 10k on a weekend and chose a course that would really entertain my toddler riding in the stroller, the Golden Gate Bridge. I had some great views and was right by the water for that extra SF Bay breeze! This race I was able to meet up with a friend, however, she took off on the run and we only met up a few times. I actually felt better running the 10k than I did on the 5k. Running the race in a new location made it seem more like a race and wearing my race bib got me some cheers from others on the bridge. I even ran into a few other runners out doing virtual races! One offered to take my picture. I would definitely recommend wearing your race bib, even on virtual races, to get some support from other runners or walkers around and help keep your mindset in the right place. It is still a race, after all. Challenge yourself and make it seem like you are still meeting up for the live event.

Run 2.0 Challenge

Medals and swag from the running the Run 2.0 Challenge was amazing! I snagged a shirt for the 5k, a shirt for the 10k, medals for both races, and a bonus medal for completing the challenge! These medals were BIG and high quality. Logan’s favorite was the Food Truck 5k medal, I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back from him, ha! I guess he earned it with all the stroller miles he put in.

Was It Worth It?

This was definitely a virtual race I would do again, though I hope it is in person next year! I felt like the race organizers were on it every step of the way. Having live courses you could run was an awesome perk, just one I wasn’t really able to use due to distance from my house, being pregnant and bringing a toddler along!

Did you run this race? What were your favorite parts of the virtual experience?

Logan at the halfway point during the race.