Many South Jordan residents had already signed up for the city’s annual Earth Day 10K race when the COVID-19 pandemic caused closures to recreation sites all over the state. That left parks and recreation officials looking for ways to provide their residents with something to do, even though facilities in the city were closing left and right.
That’s when program director Brad Vaske thought of something. What if he took the Earth Day race and made it virtual? Runners could send screenshots of their times and routes — gathered through an app or their smart watches — and run the race on their own time.
The 10K was originally scheduled for Saturday. But in its virtual form, it went from April 20-25.
Shifting the Earth Day race gave rise to an entire virtual race series provided for South Jordan residents who currently don’t have the opportunity to run in large groups. This week alone, there’s a 5K available at Bingham Creek Trail, and a 6-mile bike route at Sky Park.
The virtual race series is just one of the ways the South Jordan Parks & Recreation department has adjusted to life in the coronavirus era. It also launched a virtual soccer program in partnership with the Real Monarchs, and a virtual story walk for children who stroll along the Jordan River and read from their favorite books.
“The main goal of this whole thing is to provide something for the community to get out and enjoy on their own and be with their family or somebody like that, and still maintain social distancing but stay connected with the city as a whole,” Vaske said.
Vaske said when he brought up the idea of running the race virtually to runners already registered for the original, they were not only on board, but also excited they still got the opportunity to run. He’s even come across people signing up for the virtual races who hadn’t ever done the regular races due to schedule conflicts.
And Janell Payne, the city’s associate director of recreation who doesn’t consider herself a “runner,” is going to participate in some virtual races as well. She won’t be submitting her times for public consumption.
“I don’t want to advertise that,” Payne said. “But I might share a picture of me passed out at the end of course or something like that instead.”
(Photo courtesy of South Jordan City) South Jordan resident Seth Hansen kicks a soccer ball through a pair of cones. He submitted the photo to the city as part of its virtual soccer program.
Participants in the races, soccer or walks have the opportunity to take photos of themselves and send them to city for a chance to win prizes. For the races specifically, that might be the only competitive aspect of running them.
“I’m not really awarding best time or anything like that,” Vaske said.
The current circumstances have forced the parks and recreation department to come up with creative solutions that still keep their residents involved with the community at large, but also keep them as safe as possible. That’s got the department thinking it’s possible some of their virtual programs have legs beyond the pandemic.
One of the programs that seem likely to stay on the city’s catalog after the pandemic ends is the virtual race series, officials said, because it allows runners — casual or serious — to participate when their schedule allows.
“I think it’s been nice, in a way, to be thinking outside the box and trying these things because some of them we’ll probably add and keep doing while we do our normal programming, too,” said Emily Stephens, recreation program supervisor.
There’s no telling how long South Jordan will provide its virtual slate of recreation options. Like other parts of the state, it’s making decisions based on directions from public health officials, mayors and the governor.
But certain events in the near future — like Summerfest, which features events like Battle of the Bands, a parade, and a chalk art contest — might be affected if the pandemic lasts that long. The department is already thinking about what to do with those events if that happens, but some could end up not happening.
“We’re working through those and trying to come up with creative solutions,” Payne said. “But there’s some that I feel like, just do their nature and defined time and crowds, won’t be realistic. But we’re still pushing through, trying to come up with creative solutions or adjustments or alternatives.”
