During the pandemic, Why Racing Events resorted to virtual events to continue offering racing opportunities to athletes. “We made a decision in March 2020 that even though live races were cancelled, we could still fulfil our mission by helping our athletes focus on their physical strength, mental health, stress release, immune system and continue to foster friendships and community, all so critical when everyone was feeling a sense of isolation. We could still take care of our athletes but the finish line just had to be virtual” says McMillan. “We were able to keep over 13,000 athletes healthy and active during our 2020 virtual races. We helped our athletes stay fit and they helped us survive. We couldn’t have done it without them and the support of our sponsors and partners who believed in our mission” adds Schoene.
McMillan owns Northwest Personal Training, a fitness and training studio in Vancouver WA. When asked what the future holds for her now that she no longer owns Why Racing Events, she responds “I will still be involved in events to support the Kids Run Free initiative to help combat childhood obesity and inspire kids to get off their electronic devices. A few years ago I founded Why Community, a non-profit with a mission to allow at-risk groups the opportunity to train and race for free. I believe so much in the power of crossing the finish line that I want everyone to be able to experience it and how much it positively impacts your life. During the pandemic we gifted over 2000 complimentary registrations to at-risk groups and we helped raise funds for many local causes so I feel very good about continuing with that mission. In addition, I will now have the time to focus on Northwest Personal Training, which has taken a big hit over the last year and a half during the pandemic.”
Schoene continues “We are excited to grow our events and create a world-class racing experience for our athletes. We survived the pandemic, learned a ton and are positioned to attract many more athletes back to live racing. We remain committed to safety, well-organized events and a fun, friendly, non-intimidating experience that our athletes have come to expect from us.”
Why Racing Events made the announcement on a Live Facebook Q & A style interview. You can watch the entire footage here.
About Why Racing Events:
Why Racing Events is a multi-sport event management organization that offers athletes of all ages and abilities, from the elite level to the back-of-the-packers, the chance to successfully complete a racing event. They host a series of events throughout the Pacific Northwest including children’s races, fun runs, trail runs, half marathons, marathons, duathlons, triathlons and virtual options. Their races vary in size from 1000 to 5000 participants. They are committed to providing a positive experience to everyone involved while raising awareness and funds for important community causes. Find out more information about Why Racing Events at https://whyracingevents.com/
