Run Anywhere.

Move with a nation.

Not near one of our 10 cities? You still belong here. Can't make the race in your city?  You still belong here. Register as a virtual participant, run or walk your miles on October 10th from wherever you are, and count on the national leaderboard alongside thousands of in-person runners.
Virtual participants receive the same physical race experience as in-person runners — shipped to your home. 
Finisher T-Shirt

The Official 2026 We Love

Teachers Worldwide shirt.  Same

design as every in-person city

Finisher Medal

The 2026 commemorative medal.

You earn it the same way -

cross your finish line.

Digital Race Bib

Personalized official bib

with your number.

Physical race packet included — shirt, medal, bib, and digital certificate shipped to your door - unless you choose No SWAG.

How It Works

 
Four steps. One national moment.
 
1. Register online
Complete your virtual registration  Here. Select your shirt size, enter your shipping address, and dedicate your run to a teacher if you'd like.
Packet shipping cutoff: October 1st. Register by then to guarantee delivery before race day. After October 1st, you may receive your packet after October 10th.

 

2.  Receive your packet

 

Your race kit ships in October. Open it the night before you run/walk— lay out your shirt, pin your bib, charge your watch. Race morning starts the night before.
 

 

3.  Run on October 10th or close to it
Wear your bib. Run your distance anywhere — your neighborhood, a trail, a treadmill. You have the full day. Many virtual runners run at 9am EST alongside the in-person cities.
Track your run with Strava, Garmin, Apple Watch, Nike Run Club, or any GPS app. You'll receive an activity link to submit your time.
4.  Submit your time and celebrate

 

Your result appears on the national leaderboard in real time. 
Time submission window: October 3rd-10th, 6am – 11:59pm ET. Late submissions accepted through October 12th but will not appear on the live leaderboard.
Virtual FAQ
What distance do I run?
The official distance is 5K (3.1 miles). You can walk or run the distance at any pace. If you'd like to go further, that's completely fine — we just record your 5K split for the leaderboard.

 

When does my packet ship?
Packets ship during the first week of October. You'll receive a tracking confirmation by email. Register by October 1st to guarantee delivery before race day.

 

Can my whole school run virtually?
Absolutely — and we encourage it. Schools outside the 10 cities regularly compete on the national school challenge leaderboard. Register your school team during or after individual registration. 

 

How do I submit my time?
You will receive an email with a link to "Submit my time." Record the time you made from any GPS app.

 

Do I have to run at a specific time?
No — anytime between October 3rd and 12th works. Many virtual runners choose 9am (EST) on October 10th to run simultaneously with the in-person cities.

 

What if I can't run on October 10th?
The virtual registration and packet are yours regardless. If October 10th doesn't work, run your 5K when you can and submit your time through October 12th. You'll still appear in the final results — just not the live leaderboard.