Jared Ward and his teammates will take turns dashing around a short, shady course they hand-picked in Provo, Utah. Almost simultaneously, an avatar mimics their movements across a computer screen — and races against other avatars representing rival teams from all over the globe.
This unique sort of marathon relay competition is just another way for an elite race to feel more like a real competition in this time of COVID-19.Runners compete Saturday in teams of three, with racers from places like Zimbabwe, Peru, Ecuador and across the U.S.