AUBURN, Ala. (EETV)- So many things that we include in our daily routine, things we enjoy have been majorly impacted because of the pandemic. School, hanging out with friends, and even going for a run has been disrupted. I was able to sit down with Auburn Alumni, radiologist, and Atlanta Track Club Member Jennifer Mashburn to talk about how running has changed and what a virtual race looks like in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mashburn’s college roommate at Auburn was the person who encouraged her to start running. She started off with a 5K which she said she did, “completely horribly, and it totally killed me but I liked running so I kept doing it.”
She explained to me some of the unwritten running rules that have come into effect since the start of the pandemic. Due to the nature of her job, Mashburn is no stranger to wearing masks all day but she did explain that her usual running time doesn’t typically bring her in close contact with other people. “I normally will put it on once I get within ten feet of a person just to kinda be respectful.”
Something new for most runners is the concept of virtual racing, where runners complete their miles that can be tracked on smartwatches and app then downloaded to digital platforms to be compared to other participants in the race. Mashburn says it’s different because “you can leave whatever time you want” but ultimately, “it’s really whatever you make it”.
Jennifer Mashburn plans to complete her first full marathon on October 31st. She says this race will also be virtual.
You can watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/29Q4NaBrJD0
