It is with heavy hearts that we must announce that Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival is transitioning to a virtual event. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our event season and the world as a whole. We were hoping for some glimmer of possibility that we could continue with the event at the end of June. However, it has become clear that it would be impossible to safely host the event under the current conditions. The health of our athletes, volunteers, partners and the Sunriver community has always been our most important priority. Although we want nothing more than to be able to see all of you racing in stunning Central Oregon, that is just not a reality this year.

Over the last number of weeks, we have been reviewing all options including postponing the event to a future date, but due to the uncertainty of the current situation, hosting the event at a later date this year is proving to not be a viable option. As runners and triathletes ourselves, we cannot begin to tell you how disappointed and heartbroken we are.

As an organization, during these challenging and unprecedented times, we have chosen to figure out what we can do versus what we can't do. That's what athletes do, right? When presented with an obstacle, you figure out how to go around, over, or through. Although COVID-19 is stealing the opportunity for us to race together physically, we can still race together in spirit. Since we can't offer the live race option, Pacific Crest athletes will now race apart but together from all over the country. We aren't cancelling on you! This will be our 5th Virtual event in 2020 and we have some experience how to still make this special for you. We have learned that our athletes have really appreciated that they have something positive to look forward to and something to train for. Just because COVID-19 canceled our plans, it doesn't mean your goals need to be cancelled. Not to mention, we need an outlet and an incentive to put the training in to develop our physical strength, mental health, reduce our stress, and build our immune system.

All of this is important, now more than ever. So you will still do the distance that you signed up for but you will now do it between June 19-July 4th during the specified time frame at your chosen location with your closest family/friends. You still get all the SWAG including BIG BLING and upgraded merchandise to remind you of the year you raced in such a unique way. You will send us your race photos, videos and results so we can still create an official photo album, race video, finisher's certificate and results listing. We will host virtual awards ceremonies and have prizes and challenges leading up to and throughout the event. We need that sense of community and that feeling that we're going through this together. We need to feel that sense of accomplishment. The emails we have been receiving from our athletes who have participated in our virtual events have been so overwhelmingly positive and have confirmed for us that offering the Virtual option is what the majority of our athletes want and need right now. We will provide specific guidelines for each virtual race and distance including the rules and also how to do each leg of the Triathlon and AquaBike events in the next couple weeks and will depend on whether local pools will be open or not. 

In order to entice you to do the Virtual option for Pacific Crest, we have upgraded all the SWAG and will bust our tails to make this virtual experience memorable, meaningful, fun and something you will never forget.

Sign up for the Virtual Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival asap to guarantee all your correct sizing on all this cool merchandise below!

Here's what you are going to get if you don't defer and/or if you register if you haven't signed up yet. Please register and let's #RaceApartTogether!

All Pacific Crest athletes, get a collector's item big Beach Towel!

It's also important to note that all proceeds from the Kids races will continue to go to Care for Kids, one of our Main Beneficiaries and $5 from each paid adult registration will go to Team In Training to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. When you register, you can also set up a fundraising page to help raise donations and put an even more compelling WHY to your virtual race! Our goal is to raise $10,000 for each organization so help us continue to support these important causes during these tough times.

IMPORTANT: If you have already registered for Pacific Crest, your options are as follows:

1. Participate in the virtual option which we REALLY hope you do! If you have already signed up, your registration will automatically be switched to the virtual option so you don't need to do anything. Not only will you get all the upgraded swag but also the following athletes will receive these race credits to be used at a future Why Racing event or to be used for the Beast Challenge.

2. Defer to Pacific Crest 2021 or another Why Racing event this year. Just email us at [email protected] by Friday May 8th and let us know which option you prefer. We have waived the deferral fee. If you don't defer, all of your correct sizing for all official finishers' merchandise will be ordered for you that's why we need to know by May 8th if you want to defer.

Register! If you have not signed up yet, we hope we've convinced you to join in on all the fun! Here's the pricing details to sign up for the virtual race experience and receive all the SWAG and be part of something amazing! Register here.

We can't control what's going on in the world and the uncertainty of it all can be scary. The only thing we can control is what we focus on and our response. Pacific Crest won't be exactly as we had planned for, but nothing is really going as planned right now. The only thing we can do is to promise that we will do everything in our power to assure you won't regret sticking with it and going virtual with us.

FYI, if you email [email protected], Jennifer Lyman, will be receiving your email, who is our sweet registration director. Please be patient with her as her inbox has been slammed and she will do her best to get back to you as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT: If you have a Comcast email address, many athletes have had difficulties receiving our emails. If you don't hear back from us, please message us on Facebook.  

Thank you so much for your support and your belief in us. We love what we do and can't wait until we are racing together face-to-face.

 

Stay healthy and safe,

Sherri McMillan and your Why Racing Crew