Virtual Strides

What Virtual Strides does

Virtual Strides is a virtual running events business that has been operated since its 2014 founding in Melbourne, United States; in 2024 it was acquired by Medal Dash, the legal entity under which it now operates, and Virtual Strides participants are being migrated to the Medal Dash platform. The combined business sells time-and-distance virtual race registrations (5K, 10K, 13.1-mile) that participants complete on their own schedule at any location using their preferred fitness tracking device, with themed physical race swag shipped to registrants typically within 48 hours of sign-up. The catalog is differentiated by exclusive licensed event series, including a Peanuts-themed lineup (Snoopy Run, Charlie Brown Christmas, Swing Into Spring, seasonal events), a Smokey Bear 5K/10K/13.1 partnership with the US Forest Service, and a Whataburger-sponsored WhataRun series, with proceeds tied to charity partners such as K9s For Warriors, Make-A-Wish, Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, and Feeding America.

The platform runs on a Shopify-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (medaldash.com) with multi-currency support (USD, AUD, CAD, GBP) and multi-language options, distributing globally across at least the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Beyond the core self-serve registration flow, the business has layered a Group Event Package for organizations of 15+ participants with invoicing and unique group codes, a separate Medal Dash Swag merchandise store, and a community layer anchored by the Medal Dash Insiders Facebook group plus active presences on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube. Race verification is manual and participant-driven via self-posted results rather than any disclosed native tracking infrastructure, and no proprietary technology stack, AI/ML capability, mobile app, or API surface is described in the source material.

The revenue model is a straightforward per-registration transaction fee on individual and group sign-ups, with no disclosed subscription tiers, enterprise contracts, or pricing benchmarks beyond a 20% promo code offered to migrating Virtual Strides runners. The company is privately held with 1–10 employees, no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and no public financial reporting; founder/CEO Mark Petrillo is the named leadership figure. The operating model is capital-light and community-led, leaning on licensed IP, charity affiliation, and organic social media as its primary marketing and retention channels.

Name

Virtual Strides

Legal name

Medal Dash

Website

https://virtualstrides.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Virtual Strides, now operating under Medal Dash following a 2024 acquisition, sells self-serve virtual running race registrations (5K, 10K, 13.1-mile) bundled with shipped race swag, serving 350,000+ individual participants globally through a Shopify storefront with licensed branded event series and charity tie-ins.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Virtual Running Events

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual & Hybrid Participation Events (App-Based, Remote/Hybrid Races) (MPAKAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA), Ticketing, Registration & Event Technology (Badging, Apps) (BPAFAGAL), Endurance & Running/Cycling Training (HSADAAAG)

Keywords

• Virtual running events
• Charity fitness events
• Licensed themed races
• Remote race registration
• Group running programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Virtual Race Registration Fees: One-time transaction fees charged per event registration. Participants pay to sign up for virtual running events and receive race swag packages shipped to their doorsteps. Race swag usually ships within 48 hours of registration. The company generates revenue through individual event sign-ups and group registrations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Virtual Strides (now operating under Medal Dash) sells virtual running event registrations where participants complete 5K, 10K, or 13.1-mile distances at their own pace and location, with themed race swag shipped to their doorsteps. The company offers licensed branded event series (Peanuts, Smokey Bear, Whataburger), group packages for 15+ participants, a swag merchandise store, and a community program, with a portion of registrations supporting charitable causes.

Product overview

Medal Dash is a virtual running event platform offering a unified portfolio of timed-distance challenges (5K, 10K, 13.1-mile) that participants complete on their own schedule and location. The core product centers on virtual run events with themed races (licensed Peanuts® series, seasonal events, brand partnerships like Whataburger and Smokey Bear) bundled with physical race swag shipped to participants. The platform integrates group event packages for organizations of 15+ participants, a swag merchandise store, and a community program (Medal Dash Insiders Facebook group). All registrations include charitable giving components supporting nonprofits such as K9s For Warriors and Feeding America. Established in 2018, the platform has served over 350,000 participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medal Dash Virtual Run Events Virtual running event platform allowing participants to complete 5K, 10K, and 13.1-mile distances at their own pace and location, with race swag delivered to their doorstep. The platform has served over 350,000 participants since 2018.
• Peanuts Event Series Licensed virtual run event series featuring Peanuts characters including Snoopy and Charlie Brown, with themed events like Snoopy Run, Swing Into Spring, Summer Vibes, Spooky, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Group Event Packages Group registration program for 15+ participants with unique group/club codes, invoicing options, and team captain support for companies, clubs, schools, and organizations.
• Medal Dash Swag Store E-commerce store offering event-related merchandise and race swag items for purchase.
• Medal Dash Charity Initiatives Charitable giving program where event registrations support non-profit organizations including K9s For Warriors, Make A Wish, Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, and Feeding America, with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised through the program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350,000+ participants served since 2018
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• K9s For WarriorsminorOthersCharitable nonprofit partnership where Medal Dash raises funds through event registrations. K9s For Warriors provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
• Make-A-WishminorOthersCharitable nonprofit partnership where Medal Dash raises funds through event registrations to support Make-A-Wish's mission of granting wishes to children with critical illnesses.
• Families of Freedom Scholarship FundminorOthersCharitable nonprofit partnership where Medal Dash raises funds to support education assistance for the families of September 11 victims and survivors.
• Feeding AmericaminorOthersCharitable nonprofit partnership where Medal Dash raises funds through event registrations to support food banks and hunger relief programs across the United States.
• Peanuts Worldwide (Peanuts IP)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerExclusive licensing partnership for Peanuts-themed virtual race events including Snoopy Run, Charlie Brown Christmas, Swing Into Spring, and other seasonal Peanuts events.
• Smokey Bear (US Forest Service)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed partnership for Smokey Bear-themed 5K/10K/13.1 virtual race events.
• WhataburgerminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSponsored partnership for Whataburger-themed virtual race events (WhataRun 5K/10K/13.1).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eventbrite: Publicly traded general-purpose ticketing and registration platform; adjacent overlap with Medal Dash's e-commerce registration flow but serving a far broader event taxonomy beyond endurance sports.
• RunSignup: Largest US race registration platform powering thousands of in-person and virtual events; overlaps with Medal Dash's registration/technology layer but serves a much broader portfolio of race organizers rather than running its own branded events.
• Strava: Dominant fitness tracking network for runners and cyclists; competes for the same participant mindshare and provides the GPS tracking layer that Medal Dash participants use, but does not sell its own themed race swag.
• Race Roster: Race registration and event management platform for endurance events globally, competing with Medal Dash's registration infrastructure but focused on organizer tools rather than proprietary themed races.

Direct peers

• Moon Joggers: Virtual race platform offering themed distance challenges with medals shipped to participants and charity tie-ins, operating the same self-serve, swag-bundled virtual run model as Medal Dash.
• Yes.Fit: Virtual fitness challenges app and store selling distance, step, and time-based challenges with themed medals and apparel shipped globally — directly comparable product/market to Medal Dash's themed virtual races.
• Gone For a Run: Long-running virtual and in-person race event company selling themed 5K/10K/half-marathon registrations with shipped medals and swag, directly overlapping Medal Dash's core virtual race catalog and DTC e-commerce model.
• The Conqueror: Virtual challenge platform letting users complete real-world distance goals mapped to themed routes (real and fictional), shipping medals and apparel — a near-direct competitor to Medal Dash's themed virtual run experiences.

Emerging players

• Charity Miles: Free charity-driven fitness app that converts miles logged into corporate donations, overlapping Medal Dash's charity-fundraising angle in endurance activity but without the swag/registration commerce layer.
• BibRave: Running race review and ambassador community that drives discovery and registration across endurance events; overlapping audience with Medal Dash's runner base and useful proxy for content/community-led growth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MedalDash
• Facebookfacebook.com/virtualstrides
• Instagraminstagram.com/medaldash
• Pinterestpinterest.com/medaldash
• TikToktiktok.com/@medal_dash
• Xx.com/VirtualStrides
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virtual-strides

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virtual Strides