Road Race Lets Runners Compete By Running On Treadmills

Imagine going to the gym and competing in a running road race by jumping on a treadmill to do the running. That is exactly what the Cape Cod, Massachusetts, based New Balance Falmouth Road Race will be allowing this summer, the Huffington Post reports via the Associated Press. The organizers of the event expect 100 runners to compete in the race by running on treadmills.

The annual race attracts more than 3,000 runners from around the country to compete in a seven-mile race that is being held for the 43rd time this summer. Allowing runners to compete this way, including military members overseas, is expected to increase revenue for the annual road race. Participants typically pay $65 to run in the Falmouth Road Race, while those who choose to run “virtually” on a treadmill will pay $40 to enter the race.

“This gives them an alternative to experience a little bit about what the race is all about,” said Dave McGillivray, director of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race.

The runners who participate by running on the treadmills will use technology developed by Outside Interactive, which allows runners to download an app that is used on the treadmill.

The technology will attempt to simulate the race by having the runner increase the elevation of the treadmill when approaching a hill at the mileage of the actual course, for instance. The technology will attempt to simulate the real experience of running the race course in that manner.

“Truth be told, I don’t think you can compare the two,” said McGillivray, who is also director of the Boston Marathon. “It’ll never replace obviously the experience of running the race in person. Nothing will ever replace that. But it’s an alternative to that.”

Is this as good as running the road race in person? Perhaps this question was answered in the reporting on the Huffington Post, which stated, “As evidence, he only has to point to the grand prize for virtual runners: They’ll be entered into a lottery for a chance to run in-person next year.”

Fox Business News is also reporting on the Falmouth Road Race allowing runners to compete by running on treadmills.

“The company behind the technology says other races have agreed to adopt it, and another company plans to offer a virtual version of the London Marathon next year. Some are calling it the future of road running,” Fox Business News reported.

The notion that runners competing in a road race could compete “virtually” via a treadmills is one that should be considered, perhaps, after the question of whether or not running on a treadmill is the same as running on the roads themselves. This question was raised by the Inquisitr, in an article titled “Is Running On The Treadmill As Good As Real Running?”

“For years, a myth has persisted that running on a treadmill is not as good as ‘real running’ — that is, on a track, sidewalk, field, or anything that is not stationary. That myth has now been debunked,” the Inquisitr reported.

The conclusion reached is that running on a treadmill is just as good as running out on the roads. Apparently, the organizers of the Falmouth Road Race agree with this conclusion. Do you agree? Do you think athletes should be able to compete virtually on treadmills rather than showing up and running in person on the actual road race course?

[Photo of runners from Getty Images]