TSP DIY: Rewriting The Virtual Race Handbook

2020 has been shit really. As much as we’ve looked for hope, these glimmers have been repeatedly overshadowed by natural disasters, unnatural disasters and a surprise Taylor Swift album. (Who am I kidding? It’s actually quite good!) The running world has been hit just as hard, with event after event struck off the calendar quicker than most 70’s BBC presenters being struck off the TV Hall of Fame.

While many of these have been postponed or cancelled, some race organisers have opted to go virtual. Very much the last resort for these race organisers who usually rely on the camaraderie and electricity you get when thousands of likeminded people use their Sundays for self-improvement and to show-off their fresh sneakers come race day.

Virtual races are nothing new. But unlike many, fringe event The Speed Project are trying something different. With their notoriously renegade attitude, there was no way in hell the they weren’t going to host a race this year. Introducing TSP DIY. It’s not your typical virtual race, where you run without the rush of race day and get a medal in the post a few days later, oh no.

The organisers have touted this race as a “decentralised” version of the desert classic, challenging teams to get creative in how they choose to spend their 31 hours and 15 minutes- the current record time from Los Angeles‘ to the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign.

Traditionally The Speed Project is a team relay event, but this year they’ve introduced the solo event. Same rules, just a whole lot lonelier, so it’s open to everyone. Well, everyone with a spare weekend, a disturbingly masochistic mind and 50 odd quid. That’s not including the shipping which SPOILER ALERT: from US to UK is quite a lot!.

Regardless, there’s a badass sort of romance that surrounds this event, both in the desert and its decentralised version. It’s extremely exclusive in that only a few hundred people get to compete each year, and countless documentaries following teams’ journeys show just how breathtaking the usual route is. For me it’s an event right up there with the major marathons on my running bucket list.

I’ll be running TSP DIY in September, and although it’s not the sunnier, sexier event it usually is, it’s gonna an awesome ride!