Frequently asked questions

A virtual race is an online event where you complete a set distance by running, walking, or cycling at any time and place you choose. It's perfect if you can't join a group run but still want to support a cause and earn a medal! Just register for a virtual run, complete the distance whenever and wherever you like (even on a treadmill), and send us your finish time via email or social media. We'll mail you a finisher’s medal and race bib as soon as possible. Try to wait until after your run to open it!

No. While many participants complete their run all at once, it is not required. What we are doing here at Medal Chasers is providing motivation to help with your personal goal setting, while raising money for causes important to the world we live in. If that means you need to break up your run into multiple segments, so be it.

You can track your distance and time however you prefer. The most accurate method is using a running GPS watch, but there are also many free fitness apps available for iPhone and Android devices. To log your progress, we recommend using the Medal Chasers App, log your miles, track your progress, view lifetime stats, and earn finisher certificates for completed events. Finisher photos can still be submitted through our website on the finisher gallery tab. You can also, email photos at medalchasersvrc@gmail.com, or through our social media pages.

We usually ship medals within 2-5 days after you register. We want you to have your medal on the day you run your race. All medals are shipped via USPS mail. Orders under 16 oz go by First Class mail, and those over 16 oz go by Priority Mail. You'll get an email with a USPS Tracking Number once your medal ships. For international shipping, there's a fee of $7.95 for Canada & Mexico, and $10.95 for European countries. Shipping is free if your order is over $75. We currently ship to the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, France, Norway, and Germany. We're working on expanding to more countries. *Sometimes, due to high demand or manufacturing delays, there might be slight shipping delays. We'll update each race's registration page and our Facebook page if this happens.

We donate to our featured charities at the end of each event. We commit to giving at least $6 from each registration to charity. This applies to all registrations, even discounted ones and contest giveaways. Every participant makes a difference. There's no minimum or maximum donation amount. Whether we donate $1,000 or $10,000, it's more than the charity would have without us. Our largest donation so far is $13,000 to the Pinky Swear Foundation. Our virtual runs raise both awareness and funds for great causes. If you want to maximize your contribution, please donate directly to the charity.

Medal Chasers is not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, but don’t let our tax classification fool you. Just because we are not officially classified as a charity by the IRS does not mean we can’t raise funds for many worthwhile organizations that are. While a portion of your registration fee will be donated to charity, we are not a 501(c)3 charity and are therefore unable to provide tax receipts to each individual registrant.

If you don't want to join a race but still want to help, visit our charities page. You'll find links to the featured charity’s website where you can donate directly. This way, your donation is instant and tax-deductible. We believe there's no need for a middleman when you want to make an extra donation.