Relay Races - Possibly the Greatest Event for Adults of All Time
Read on to find out which one is my favorite
The U.S. is unhealthy, unhappy, and lonely. Relay races cure each of these issues for me personally, and they might for you too. In 2013, my cousin asked me to join his Hood to Coast team. I ran it that year, and then again in 2019, and I've never looked back. It's one of the big events on my calendar every year, like Christmas and my kids' graduations. Why? It's 30 hours of laughter, high-fives, smiles, hugs, physical challenges, and friendship.
Hood to Coast (HTC) dubs itself the "mother of all relays" because it was the first of its kind. Although this is debatable, it was definitely the first road-running relay in the U.S. to go big time. It's so big, Kevin Hart actually did it one year. I think he needs to suck it up and do it again though. You hear that, Mr. Hart? We've got a spot for you!
Before I dive into HTC, know that there are many relay races now. Ragnar is nationwide, and with a little searching, you'll be able to find one near you. Just sign up. Don't have a team? There are always Facebook groups for the races, and people are always looking to fill last-minute spots. Who knows, that group might become your new running buddies. We've expanded our group this way.
So what is it? Here’s how HTC works, and most relay races follow a similar format, though some are longer, and some are shorter. HTC starts at Timberline Lodge at the top of Mt. Hood in Oregon. A team of 12 people runs down the mountain, through Portland, over the Coastal Range, and 198 miles later, finishes on the beach in Seaside, Oregon.
Logistically, each team has two vans of six people. Runner 1 starts off the mountain and runs to exchange 1, where Runner 2 and Van 1 are waiting. Runner 2 takes the baton and heads to the next exchange, and so on. After Runner 6 finishes, Van 2 takes over and runs the next six legs until meeting up with Van 1 again. There are a total of 36 legs, so each runner runs three times. The entire event takes our team about 28 hours. In the middle of the night, we get as much sleep as we can in our van in the middle of a giant field, which serves as an exchange point.
And that is where things get really fun. Often, the first runner starts off the mountain at 5 am, and by the time 6 pm rolls around, people are starting to get loopy. Bad jokes and uncontrollable laughter set in. For some reason, you start syncing up with other teams and see the same people at the exchange points, becoming temporary friends or friendly rivals. Once the sun sets, a party atmosphere emerges. Lighted signs pop out, portable speakers blare every genre of music, and the fun really begins.
The first run off the mountain is crisp, beautiful, and affirms the beauty of the world. There are thousands of grown adults smiling like 5-year-olds on Christmas morning, eager to get their chance to take the baton and run their leg. The second run of the day is often hot, battling August heat. Last year, I passed a couple of people who simply said, "Tell my team to come get me, I'm out." You might say this is a reason not to run. For me, it's a reason to train harder and push myself. If you are in Van 2, your second run might be at the foothills of the coastal range, running as the world quiets down. Your final leg will either be in the dead silence of the mountains, sometimes at 2 or 3 am, or in the dairy farmlands of the coast. But that third leg is always magical. You're running out in the mountains or countryside, often seeing the world quiet, which is rare in our modern world.
Running is usually a solitary sport. That is one of the reasons I love it. It allows me to check out, turn off my brain, and reset. To be any good at running, you simply have to put in the miles. Like many things in life, there are no shortcuts to running. Either you put in the miles, and it becomes easier, or you don't, and it's a struggle. It's also a great equalizer. All you need are some running shoes, and you're ready to go. There are no "greens fees" or expensive Peloton equipment with subscriptions. There's just you and the road. And the road doesn't care how fast or slow you run.
But on relay days, thousands of solitary runners get to be part of a team working together. Hundreds of teams hang out, have fun, and share in the fun and misery of using porta-potties in a field in rural Oregon. We get to push ourselves against each other in a fun way. As I said before, teams often sync up, running neck and neck through the whole race. You might pass someone on another team and revel in the glory, only to see their team member pass yours in the next leg. I'll often set a near PR for my 5k or 10k on a relay leg, even though it's hillier than any regular race. It's that extra push to not only run faster for myself but for the other five guys and gals in my van.
These relay races create hidden communities that you might become part of. Hood to Coast has the Century Club. You gain entry by running 100 legs. At three legs per year, this takes 34 years of running. Then there are the teams that become legends out of sheer fun and goofiness. The 9 Pink Tacos are a team of nine women who all run four legs and have only one van. If you're that much fun, you have to make the race harder.
I'm personally fascinated with longevity. How long can I keep running? My cousin and I have been fortunate to become friends with Jeannie Rice and Gene Dykes, the women's and men's world record holders in the marathon. They field a team where everyone is over 70 years old. I found out that the oldest person to ever complete three legs of Hood to Coast is 84 years old. So, I'm shooting for 85.
Obviously, I could go on and on about relay races. If you aren't in the Pacific Northwest, fly in for Hood to Coast or Google relay races near you. With the popularity of HTC, relay races have exploded. There's nothing like spending a smelly day or more with fellow runners. And there's nothing like running with a team.
Learn more or sign up for a HTC Relay right here.
I’m running it for the first time this year and this post made me so excited!