Building a Virtual Race


running in a virtual race

The AccuRun system was designed to provide simple race creation for the race director.

Building a virtual race is not complicated. There are plenty of resources that will help race directors create a virtual race or you could even just use social media to record finish times. However, creating the race is not the point; getting runners engaged in a virtual race that preserves competition by validating results and promoting community is the real goal. AccuRun is dedicated to the latter. With AccuRun, a race director can create a virtual race that is fully customized for your runners and sponsors. In order to accomplish this, we provide unprecedented flexibility and ease-of-use.

Click on the following link for a video on creating and managing a virtual race

Virtual Race Creation

With AccuRun, creating a virtual race is easy. The race director simply needs to log in as an admin and click the Create a New Race button. The admin can then choose the desired race options such as logo, description, GPS accuracy, validation options, start options, and race distance:

  • To preserve branding, a customized logo can be added to the race
  • A runner-viewable description can be added with race directions and links to outside resources
  • GPS Accuracy can be set high to improve the quality of race results or set low to allow runners with older devices to compete
  • Race results can be validated using device sensors or turned off to allow for manual entry
  • Virtual race may be set to start at a specific date and time or between a selected start and end date
  • The race distance can be set to 5K, 10K, 15K, Half-Marathon, Marathon, 50K, or a custom distance.

Inviting Runners

Once you have created the race, you will be able to invite runners to join. The Add Participants button gives the Race Director four options to invite runners to their race:

  • Generate an invitation link I can publish in my own email or newsletter - This is the most common option and allows the admin to create a race invitation and QR code that can be sent to participants or displayed on flyers.
  • Automatically include selected prior participants without invitations - This option is useful when you need to include someone from a prior race into your current race.
  • Create an individual member account - Although rarely used, this option will let the admin create an individual runner account and can be useful for last-minute additions.
  • Create multiple member accounts from a csv file - This option can be used to bulk-upload multiple user accounts into the AccuRun system using a standard spreadsheet formatted as a csv file. Spreadsheet sample files are available.