Running News Daily

This year the 39th annual Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K will be transitioning to a virtual event

The Traverse City Track Club recently announced that the 39th annual Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K will be transitioning to a virtual event.

After exhausting alternative formats to the 2021 event and keeping the health and safety of participants, volunteers and partners at the forefront, the Traverse City Track Club is canceling the traditional in-person event and offering its first-ever virtual option.

“To make this determination, TCTC has been monitoring developments in the running event industry, following the guidelines of local, state and national authorities and medical advisors, and listening to feedback from volunteers, participants and community partners,” says Lisa Taylor, executive director of Traverse City Track Club. “We did not take the decision to cancel the traditional in-person event lightly, and we thank everyone for their understanding and support.”

“MDHHS orders serve as our primary guide and after much thought and consideration, we do not suspect COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted until we are post-pandemic, meaning we’ve achieved herd immunity and the state has minimal new coronavirus cases’” says Dr. Jim Zeratsky, event medical director. “Vaccine production, distribution and acceptance could exceed expectations, but we think it is unlikely in time for the spring race.”

Virtual participants will receive a Bayshore Marathon short-sleeve technical T-shirt, a commemorative race bib and a finisher’s medal. Registration opens for the virtual event Monday, Jan. 11.

The cost of the virtual event will be $63 for the marathon, $60 for the half marathon and $30 for the 10K. Please note the Boston Athletic Association does not accept virtual times for Boston Qualification. Proceeds from the event will go to the Traverse City Track Club, which has donated more than $2 million to date in support of mission-related higher learning scholarships, community grants and planned giving.

Participants that had been registered for the 2020 in-person event and deferred to the 2021 in-person event will have the option to transfer registration to the 2021 virtual event or defer to the 2022 in-person event.