If you’ve been looking forward to this year’s big summer races, don’t fret, Race178 figured out how to keep people competing from home. Individuals and running teams can still work toward their goals, but this year they’re doing it virtually with the new Run Reno-Tahoe.

The new race started today, but any one person or team of six can still register through May 21. This year, virtual racers will convert activities into mileage to make their way around the 105-mile route. Team Renown R.I.O.T, for example, is in the lead on the first day with one hour of tennis, several hours of cycling, 60 minutes of circuit training, 10 minutes of boxing and 35 minutes of spin class.

“Just one more downtown Reno business trying to turn lemons into lemonade,” said Eric Lerude, president of Race178. “With so much bad news and adversity that everyone is dealing with, we wanted to create something positive and fun for runners and the community in general.”

The course starts in downtown Reno at the Reno Arch and follows Virginia Street to Mt. Rose Highway. The route then heads up and over this scenic byway to the Tahoe Basin, before making a clockwise circle around beautiful Lake Tahoe, finishing in Incline Village.

Runners and teams will track their progress on a map of the entire route. Wherever they stop along the course, they will be able to see that spot thanks to the map technology. Race178 is using the honor system instead of live fitness trackers or GPS. They expect users to record their activity on each day and not combine workouts from multiple days.

“You don’t even have to be a runner to participate,” Lerude said. “Almost any activity will move you along the course: walking, hiking, biking, swimming. There is a way to convert many different non-moving activities to miles including yoga, yard work, steps, golf, basketball, tennis and dancing.”

Registration is $25 per person. Registration closes May 21 and the race closes May 29. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Community Foundation of Western Nevada COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Race178 already has a second virtual race in the works. It will be a 408-mile virtual run across Nevada: Run Nevada on Highway 50, America’s Loneliest Highway. It will start June 1 and close June 28. Registration will open later this month.

“We have had to cancel the Leprechaun Race and the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey,” Lerude said. “We don’t like being in the race cancelation business.”