Microsoft recently launched a virtual reality device called HoloLens that superimposes a virtual world over the real world, and, as a result, there has been some discussion in the media about virtual or augmented reality.
It got me thinking…would marathons in the future be in virtual/augmented reality? Will Dublin 2025 be run by competitors on treadmills in their homes around the country, or indeed the world, with their mobile phones strapped to their foreheads and their treadmills linked to the internet to record their official finishing times?
Believe it or not…a little research later and I find that the future is already here…have a look at http://www.virtualmarathons.com/about-1.html
The site boasts “Say hello to Virtual Marathons and goodbye to the crowds and 4:30 a.m. wake up calls. You'll even have the medals to show off and the T Shirts to wear with pride!”
I can think of a couple of benefits of running virtually…imagine…food/drink whenever you want, ideal temperatures and conditions and not having to use those portaloos (yuck!). You could do a marathon and all your training in the comfort of your own home…
…except…
Doesn’t that miss the point?
One of the best things about marathons is the crowds, the “adventure” of travelling to different locations, the excitement of the day itself, the weather, the scenery…the shared experience…the actual reality.
Wouldn’t it be a bit boring if you could choose the ideal conditions and virtual running partners to train with all the time?
I find some of the best things about running are not running itself… in fact someone once asked me what was the worst part of running up a certain hill, to which I replied, “the running part!”.
The best things are the friends you make, the banter, the constant slagging, the ever-changing weather (except hail – hate that!), the scenery (even in bad weather), the meeting for breakfast after a long run.
I consider myself to have been very lucky to have made the best of friends and have had some of the best of times through running.
We’re hitting the road next weekend for 12 miles…really looking forward to it, whatever it brings, because I know it will be another experience to add to all the others I’ve gathered over the past nearly 8 years and I will be actually there and not virtually there…
Keep it real…
Ronan
It got me thinking…would marathons in the future be in virtual/augmented reality? Will Dublin 2025 be run by competitors on treadmills in their homes around the country, or indeed the world, with their mobile phones strapped to their foreheads and their treadmills linked to the internet to record their official finishing times?
Believe it or not…a little research later and I find that the future is already here…have a look at http://www.virtualmarathons.com/about-1.html
The site boasts “Say hello to Virtual Marathons and goodbye to the crowds and 4:30 a.m. wake up calls. You'll even have the medals to show off and the T Shirts to wear with pride!”
I can think of a couple of benefits of running virtually…imagine…food/drink whenever you want, ideal temperatures and conditions and not having to use those portaloos (yuck!). You could do a marathon and all your training in the comfort of your own home…
…except…
Doesn’t that miss the point?
One of the best things about marathons is the crowds, the “adventure” of travelling to different locations, the excitement of the day itself, the weather, the scenery…the shared experience…the actual reality.
Wouldn’t it be a bit boring if you could choose the ideal conditions and virtual running partners to train with all the time?
I find some of the best things about running are not running itself… in fact someone once asked me what was the worst part of running up a certain hill, to which I replied, “the running part!”.
The best things are the friends you make, the banter, the constant slagging, the ever-changing weather (except hail – hate that!), the scenery (even in bad weather), the meeting for breakfast after a long run.
I consider myself to have been very lucky to have made the best of friends and have had some of the best of times through running.
We’re hitting the road next weekend for 12 miles…really looking forward to it, whatever it brings, because I know it will be another experience to add to all the others I’ve gathered over the past nearly 8 years and I will be actually there and not virtually there…
Keep it real…
Ronan