Virtual Running
roanoke.com - October 2006
By Jenny Kincaid Boone

There are fantasy football leagues and virtual baseball and golf teams.

There's even virtual road racing.

This weekend, perhaps one of the world's first virtual half-marathons is taking place, and two local runners are joining in.

The race is called the Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon, and Mal James, a Middle-East based cameraman for Fox News, is one of its founders. A runner himself, James has invited others across the world to run 13.1 miles this weekend, either through their own route or in a sanctioned race. The race is named for the famed Greek runner who completed the first ever marathon distance.

Participants in the half-marathon will be able to enter final times, pictures and maps of the courses into the race's online database.

“The idea here is to share the experience with everyone,” said Steve Walker, a Boston runner who's one of four organizers of the race.

The prizes are images of medals that runners can display on their own blogs and Web sites, Walker said. He described the simple prizes as “honorary.” He also plans to feature some of the half-marathon winners on the podcasts that he regularly broadcasts about various running topics.

At least 448 runners from 23 different countries already have signed up and among them are brothers and Roanoke area runners, Kevin and Keith Spencer. Kevin Spencer learned about the virtual race while listening to one of Walker 's podcasts. Walker's nickname is Steve Runner.

Kevin Spencer's already training for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon on Nov. 11, so he decided to make a 13.1 mile route his Saturday run.

“I just like the fact that everyone is running around the world,” he said.

For their inaugural virtual half-marathon, the Spencer brothers will take one of their regular routes at 5 a.m. It begins at Vinton Baptist Church and traverses numerous roads toward Southwest Roanoke, including Campbell and Memorial avenues and Grandin Road. They plan to run several laps around Patrick Henry High School 's track before retracing the run back to Vinton.

“It's one of our default routes, because it's sort of flat, and it doesn't have a lot of hills,” Kevin Spencer said.

Kevin Spencer is a running enthusiast who has completed marathons and runs in local road races. He also started a running group for elementary school children at Raleigh Court Elementary School in Roanoke, where he teaches fifth grade.

He organizes a regular group of local runners who meet several days a week for early morning runs.

This Saturday, however, the Spencers aren't sure yet who else will join them for the local run. But they know that at least 400 hundred others from all parts of the world will be running.

For more information about the World Wide Half Marathon, visit www.worldwidehalf.com

To hear running podcasts and other details about the virtual half marathon, visit http://www.steverunner.com/