Due to restrictions of COVID-19 many running and triathlon events are going virtual, with competitors like Ms Alcorn competing from afar.

During the last six months, Ms Alcorn has competed in virtual running events including the Gold Coast Marathon this month.

"The event was to be held on July 2-3 but COVID-19 changed all that, so they went virtual, offering a 5km, 10km, 21km, and a marathon (42.2km)," Ms Alcorn said.

"In the past month I have completed in all four races. The 5km was a fun run so no results have been published, but the 10km I placed in the top 10 and the marathon I am currently in fifth place and I managed a PB.

"My last marathon was a 5 hours and 40 minutes, so to drop almost two hours off that time which is pretty incredible."

Ms Alcorn said guidelines set for the race included running on road surfaces not on treadmills.

"To record the race they have an app called run keeper and I connected my Garmin watch to the app, it recorded my runs and posts it to the event," she said.

"After each event you can see where you are sitting. I wasn't crazy enough to not like my time and do it again, it was about being more capable then what COVID-19 has restricted us to.

"So even though training hasn't been as much as I wanted it to be, its still a really good way to stay motivated."

Ms Alcorn, who won the women's event in the 2019 Dirt N Dust triathlon, said she prepared for the virtual event by competing in Iron Man virtual triathlons.

"Iron Man have produced a virtual club and they had a race every weekend from the middle of March, so I did the first eight," she said.

"It has been keeping me motivated enough to keep doing something, because there is not much more happening."

Ms Alcorn believes that virtual racing has become revolutionary, and it is happening in a lot of sports this year including the Mount Isa Rodeo.

"I think this is a new way of racing, that allows a lot more people to participate. I certainly think there is a long way to go to make sure people aren't cheating or getting someone else to run for them, but I think this will be something that a lot of coaches and clubs will be able to utilise in the future, so this could be revolutionary.

"I am glad to be a part of it and provide feedback to work out those kinks. I think this is something that can definitely work well into the future but I do miss the adrenaline of doing it with a lot of other people there.

"I hope we don't lose those other races just because virtual races is something we can be doing. We don't want to lose that social interaction, we need to be pushing each other to new heights and I don't think you get that same feeling virtual to when you are in person."

This time of year, Ms Alcorn is usually preparing for the triathlon world championships.

"It is devastating," she said

"Early April they made the decision to cancel the International Triathlon Union, it's been a blow that I don't have the opportunity to compete this year. Although my husband will say it's a positive thing because we are in a better position as I haven't gone to Canada or New Zealand. But it is what it is, and every athlete is in the same position.

"It will come back, it's just a matter of waiting it out and being the person who sticks to the dream even though it is on hold at the moment."

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