Transcon Total Distance: 3361 miles

Region 1 (GVRAT 2024) : 672 miles

Region 2 (GVRAT 2025) : 678 miles

Region 3 (GVRAT 2026) : 679 miles

Region 4 (GVRAT 2027) : 668 miles        

Region 5 (GVRAT 2028) : 664 miles

Transcon Tracker: https://gvrat.racing/gvrat2024/results/transcon-results/

Ways to complete Transcon

I didn't participate in GVRAT24. Can I start now?:

The Great Virtual Race Across The States (GVRAT) consists of the 5 sections as shown above in the table. Each GVRAT is run from May 1 through September 30 each year. 2024 was the first year, and we are currently in GVRAT25.

The original intention was that a participant would compete in GVRAT for 5 years, and in the process complete a transcon across the USA. Many individuals chose to continue across the USA after finishing GVRAT24 and signed on for region 2, and then region 3 and so forth. These regions were referred to as "Transcon R2", "Transcon R3", etc.

Since it's now 2025, new participants should start with GVRAT25 R2. When you finish it, you can go back to Transcon R1 and begin activities there. Over time, you can catch up to the others because there is no end date for the different transcon regions.

What's the difference between GVRAT and Transcon? What do I get in each?

GVRAT follows in the tradition of previous GVRAT that began in 2020. We started with the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, then we had the Great Virtual Race Along the Trace, and now the Great Virtual Race Across The States. GVRAT is a race run against all others in the race, and tracked daily on this site. (See RESULTS and choose Tracking).

You receive the new shirt each year, the tracking, the milepost emails from laz's adventures on his transcon (the path we're following), and when you finish before October 1, you'll earn the new finisher's buckle for each year. In addition, regardless of when you finish the section within the timeframe, you'll earn the two medals/puzzle pieces for that section. The puzzle pieces can be displayed on the wooden map of the USA (purchased separately). ORDER DISPLAY MAP HERE

TRANSCON: The different sections of the transcon can be participated in one after the other as you choose. There are no date limits on completion until December 30, 2028. If you choose a Transcon region, the price is less because you don't receive a shirt or the finisher's buckle for that region. You do earn the two transcon medals/puzzle pieces for each region for display on your map if you choose to purchase one.

What if I’m running in a transcon region and now it's time to run GVRAT?

Since you are running ahead of the current GVRAT section, if you choose to participate in GVRAT and receive its amenities, you'll need to sign up for each year's GVRAT, and enter miles there instead of the transcon region you are currently in. The miles entered in GVRAT will be added to your transcon mileage and tracked separately. (The GVRAT miles you log in Runsignup will not appear under your Transcon Region in Runsignup) We track the results in the backend and publish the results in Transcon Tracker. This is to save you from adding your activities to two different events.

Scenario 1: I JUST WANT TO DO GVRAT EACH YEAR

Register for the current year's GVRAT and complete logging the required miles by September 30. You will log your activities on Runsignup and track your results on gvrat.racing

Upon registration, you get the current year's shirt, finisher buckle if finished before Oct 1, and Transcon medals/puzzle pieces for the current year regardless of when you finish the region.

You return the following year to do that year's GVRAT and repeat the same steps as above. By 2028, you will complete Transcon.

If you miss any of the GVRAT events you can go back and pick up that section of the transcon by registering for the respective Transcon region after you finish the current year's GVRAT.

Example: If you're just starting in GVRAT25 R2, after you finish, go back and do Transcon R1. You won't get the buckle or shirt, but you'll get the needed transcon medals/puzzle pieces to display on your wooden map (purchased separately)

Scenario 2: I completed GVRAT 2024, and want to continue entering miles

After completing GVRAT 2024 by logging 672 miles, register for Transcon R2 (highlighted below)

Submit your results for Transcon Region 2. When you search for your name under ‘Find a Participant’ click Log Activities for Transcon Region 2. Here’s an example.

After you complete Transcon Region 2 by logging 678 miles. You can continue to Register for subsequent regions and logging activities under that region.

Scenario 3: I DID NOT complete GVRAT 2024 by Sep 30, and want to continue entering miles

You may continue entering miles for GVRAT 2024 (Transcon R1) and log the goal distance of 672 miles. Upon completion you get Transcon region 1 finisher medal.

Now you may register for Transcon Region 2

and log activities under Region 2

I continued logging miles in GVRAT 2024 / R1. What do I do?

If you continued entering miles in GVRAT 2024/ R1, over the goal distance of 672 miles, DON’t worry. All your miles will be counted towards TRANSCON.

Check your Trancon Status here: https://gvrat.racing/gvrat2024/results/transcon-results/

For example:

If you are entering miles in GVRAT 2024/R1 and your Transcon status says R2 In Progress, register for Transcon R2 and enter your miles under R2. That way you will be get your finisher award for R2 upcon completion.

Here’s the tricky scenario

You are midway through a Transcon Region and want to do GVRAT 2025

Example:

Let’s say Sam completed GVRAT 24/Transcon Region 1 on Jul 15, 2024.

Sam gets his GVRAT buckle and the Transcon Region 1 medal.

Sam wants to continue logging activities.

Sam registers for Transcon Region 2 and starts logging miles.

Sam has entered 678 miles (Goal distance for Region 2) on Jan 15, 2025 and successfully completes Transcon Region 2.

Sam registers for Transcon Region 3 and starts logging activities for Region 3.

It is May 1st, 2025 and Sam wants to register for GVRAT 25. He wants to keep his GVRAT streak going…

Some of you will fall under this scenario. In this case:

Sam registers for GVRAT 2025. Since Sam is already midway throug Region 3, he will continue entering activities under Region 3 until Apr 30, 2025. Let’s say Sam logged 350 miles under Region 3 (Region 3 goal distance is 679 miles) . On May 1st, Sam will start entering his miles under GVRAT 25

You do not enter mileage in two events. Only 1 event at any point of time! NO DOUBLE DIPPING!

Sam logs the goal distance of 678 miles, to finish GVRAT 2025. Sam completes GVRAT 2025 by 31st Aug 2025 and wants to continue with Transcon. What happens here.

Sam’s total distance logged so far is 2378 miles.

And that puts Sam in Region 4 (His GVRAT’25 miles was sufficient to complete Transcon 3 that he stopped midway and the rest adds to Region 4)

Transcon Region wise distance.

Sam has completed 2378 miles off the 2697. In this case, after completing GVRAT 25, Sam will register for Transcon Region 4 and log 319 miles (2697 minus 2378) under Region 4 to complete Transcon Region 4.

Sam completes Region 4 on Nov 1st, 2025. Sam registers for Transcon region 5 and completes it by Feb 1, 2026 to complete the Transcon.

Sam will be able to continue to enter GVRAT 2026, 27, and 28 so as to keep his streak of GVRATs going, and to receive those shirts and buckles.