Drake Road Races' competitors have always shown tremendous dedication and grit in their training and racing, perhaps more so in 2020 than any previous 51 editions of the event.
 
Facing the challenges presented not only by running a half marathon, 10k, 5k or mile, competitors also took on the adversity created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, delays and the races eventually moving to a virtual format.
 
Despite those hurdles, more than 1,000 of the hardiest runners in the world competed in the virtual Drake Road Races this week. Those runners, who hailed from 32 states and three nations, covered nearly 6,000 total miles without the raucous support that usually lines the Drake neighborhood's streets to cross their finish lines.
 
"To say the last seven months have been filled with twists and turns would be an incredible understatement," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "The unwavering support of so many of our loyal participants has buoyed our entire staff and been the highlight of the year. It's with this reassurance that we look ahead to 2021 and the next century of the Drake Relays with confidence and excitement for the many world-class events ahead."
 
Runners submitted their finishes online to compile a virtual leaderboard with daily prize winners awarded during the 10-day virtual Drake Road Races. Below are the overall winners who posted the top times.
 
5k
Men - Isaac Basten, 14:33
Women - Brooke Mullins, 17:25
 
10k
Men - Daniel Pinkerton, 37:59
Women - Stephanie Freund Mortenson, 45:13
 
Half Marathon
Men - Jay Pennington, 1:21:48
Women - Whitney Noe, 1:32:41
 
Grand Blue Mile
Men - Aaron Rowe, 4:39
Women - Whitney Noe, 5:44
 
Grand Blue Mile - Masters
Men - Timothy Ives, 4:51
Women - Sara Schwendinger, 6:01
 
Registration for the 2021 Drake Road Races will open on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in a virtual only format with the lowest prices of the year. Planning is underway for both a virtual and in-person event. More information will be shared when available.