Gazelle Girl 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Will Be Virtual Again This Year

A West Michigan race for women will once again be virtual in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wood TV 8 reports that the registration for the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon (and 5K and 10K) is now open.

Organizers said in a post to Facebook that the decision to remain virtual was not an easy one and they hope one day to return to in-person racing:

We put the safety of our community first, along with the viability of any future event for our charity partners...
Our team and I want to return to racing as badly as you do. We hope you join us in the best way we can at this present time and extend that olive branch...
This is necessary, not just for your local events and businesses to survive, but in this moment for our nation and its people.

Gazelle Girl is scheduled for Friday April 16 through Sun April 18, 2021.

How does a virtual race work? From my understanding, participants can choose to run at any location, they time themselves, and then post their times online.

Those interested in participating can sign up now here; the price to participate will increase after February 28.

Participants will get a shirt, a custom medal, and race bib. New this year, there's also the option to add a Gazelle Girl Legacy Love Series Package:

This is a unique opportunity to run Gazelle Girl all through the spring! Choose to add on one or two additional distances to your registration and in addition to your event swag, you’ll receive a bangle with custom Gazelle Girl charms and exclusive access to the monthly online events to celebrate your series accomplishments.

In 2022, Gazelle Girl will celebrate its ten year anniversary.