This year’s Long Beach Marathon weekend, normally held in October, has officially been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced today.

Runners can still participate online for a “virtual run” where they will be sent a t-shirt, medal and swag bag if they run the race on their own by submitting a photo or link to a tracking device showing the date and distance ran. Or, they can defer their registration to the 2021 race.

Until now, race organizers had tried to plan their way around the pandemic, with more safety protocols and alterations to the marathon, event manager Natalia Mendez said.

“We know many of you share our disappointment that the Long Beach Marathon cannot take place this year—it’s difficult but a necessary precaution that we support,” Mendez said.