Running a Relay...6 person Style

Subtitle: "We Must Be Crazy" and "Deep Introspection"

It's the end of August, so what does that mean here in Portland?  Hood To Coast Relay time.  I have never run the Hood to Coast relay myself, but it is all the chatter around here every year.  I thought I'd take this opportunity to look back at the Relays I've done the past 3 years.

Here's the "Normal" scenario...Let's look at Hood to Coast.
Hood To Coast
TOTAL TEAMS: 1,050 teams of 12 runners (min. 8) in 2 vans
RACE COURSE: Hood To Coast is 198 miles long.
TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: The 2013 event will include 12,600 runners (About 1,000 Teams)

And a little explanation from Ragnar Relays
You and 11 of your craziest friends (or 5 of your crazier friends for an ultra team) pile into two vans and tag team running 200(ish) miles, day and night, relay-style. Only one runner hits the road at a time. Each participant runs three times, with each leg ranging between 3-8 miles and varying in difficulty.

Here's my Scenario
TEAM SIZE: 6  (See note above *You and 5 of your crazier fiends) in 1 Van
RACE COURSE: About 200 miles long
TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 150-250 Teams of 12, 6, (or even crazier 5,4,3,2,1)
Each participant runs three times, with each leg ranging between 6-16 miles and varying in difficulty.

Let's start in 2010.  We shall call this year "Too wide Eyed to know better"

While sitting on the Strip in Las Vegas, having just completed, my first Half Marathon, my college room mate and friend, CK2 asked if I'd like to join her and her husband, JK, on a 200 mile relay in 6 months.  I had heard of these relays, and thought it sounded like fun.  My training partner, JT piped up and said "I'm in"..and so began our journey into Overnight Relays.

Our team "SIX PACK" was made up of the following cast.  CK2-mama and wife, JK - Husband, Myself, my training partner - JT, CK2's other college friend (and now mine as I mentioned in an earlier post) - EB, and JB - her brother.  We believe he is a runner in denial. As you can see a small team of six fairly newbie runners (except for EB). Destination - Woodstock, New York for Ragnar Relay NY (They no longer offer this route).

For six months we planned, we made spreadsheets of our legs (we are about 50% running nerds too), we made travel plans, and converged in New York to all pile into 1 mini van (not a 15 passenger van), and start our journey.

The MINI Van

We started out with so much energy and joy.  But that energy started to fade, and the joy turned to illness,  frustration, and a lot of wondering if we could actually do this.  As a 12 person team, you get two vans that leap frog, after 6 runners in the van have completed their 1st of 3 legs.  So at any given time.. One van is resting, showering, eating, etc.  With a 6 person team, you run 2 legs back to back, and then switch runners.  The van only stops long enough for the runner to return.  There are no showers, no resting outside the van, no eating at restaurants.  It is 30 hours in and out of the van like a revolving door.

Enjoying the Run in New York

EB had the first double leg, which ended up being longer than a half marathon.  We all took our turns, and by the time we got back to EB for round 2, our team was starting to unravel.  Dehydration, lack of salt, puking, then more puking.  These long hot double legs were taking their toll.  We were scrambling in the van. Rearranging the so "perfectly" made spreadsheet.  Who would fill in?  How many legs could a healthy runner pick up, and still do their own legs?  We made it through the night, barely.  I was on my morning leg, when I noticed the van coming towards me.  This is not right! The van should be ahead of me.  I should be following it.  They pull over, roll down the window, and say "get in!  We are just going to drive to the next major check point, get some rest, and run a few legs from there.  We've already let the race officials know."

What? Are you kidding me?  I'm feeling good this morning. I'm not fast, but I'm moving and enjoying it.  I didn't fly across the country to not run when I can.  I argued, and told them to just let me run my legs, and they could decide what to do after that.  JB agreed that I should be able to at least run my run, and off I went.  JT met me at the halfway point of my leg.  He explained that no one wanted to get so hurt/ill that they ended up in the hospital.  I agreed, but wanted to still finish my run.

I'm not really sure what happened in that van while I was running, but by the time I was done, the SIX PACK was ready to continue.  And with that, onward we went.  When EB crossed that finish line, we were all smiles.  We had done it, and conquered all of our pains and illness and doubt.  The best Part.  We came in 3rd in our Division.  Woo Hoo.  Awesome Bling for that!

SIX PACK finish in NY

After all of that, you'd think team SIX PACK was done.  But like all runners, we were planning the next one very soon.  We decided to try the West Coast in 2011.  So the "Much wiser" SIX PACK planned for Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage.

We knew what we were doing this time.  We got a 15 Passenger van.  So much more room.  We knew what we were training for.  And after a year, we were all much stronger athletes too.  We packed the proper nutrition, had super awesome outfits, and the race went down perfectly.  Just Kidding.  It's never quite what you plan.  We still had to rearrange our fabulous spreadsheet, when someone just couldn't make their body do , what the body wasn't ready to do.  But this time we didn't panic.  And trying to recall the race 2 years later, my memory is of a pretty good run.

With a logo and "official" uniforms we were ready for this one, and finished in style.

Of course we were "All In" for 2012.  Setting our sights higher, we opted for the Wild West Relay - "Get Your Ass Over The Pass" - Yup, Here is a brief course description.  "Starting in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Fort Collins, and finishing in the beautiful Steamboat Springs. Much of this very scenic and remote course runs through National Forests or on dirt roads." And Not 1, but 2 Mountain passes. Pass 1 -"After crossing the summit of Sand Creek Pass (10,269 feet), the road descends to the Laramie River. Pass 2 - "Now Get Your Ass Over the Pass! - Rabbit Ears Pass - and the Continental Divide (9573 feet)"

So smart, aren't we?  We are all strong runners and triathletes now.  We all live below 1,000 feet.  Who cares if we need to run at 10,000 feet.  "WE GOT THIS!" And the best part is, at the end, we can stay in a beautiful condo for a few days, on the mountain in Steamboat.

You can see where all of this is headed right?  Oh wait!  I forgot to mention, JB will not be joining us this year.  We will now be a team of 5.  New team name "SURVIVE WITH 5"

SURVIVE WITH 5 - and another cool team logo

The 5 of us converged in Colorado, ready, but also nervous to start this race.  In a slightly different fashion, the rules of this relay for a 6 and under team are to rotate single legs.  So the individual runs are shorter, but instead of say 3 long runs, you'd do 6 short ones.  Of course we had 5 people for 36 legs.  This was a whole new animal.  We had no idea the effect elevation would have on our muscles for this prolonged activity.  The up hills and down hills were unrelenting.  The scenery BEAUTIFUL!!!!.  One of the most beautiful runs I have ever done.

Flying into the exchange.    "Deadman Hill" They weren't kidding.       Getting up the hill.         Need Compression now!

But somewhere in the wee morning hours, this team had hit its biggest wall ever.  Some could just not continue, some were not quite sure, and some wanted to keep going.  A discussion ensued for what seemed like an eternity, and in the end we called it QUITS.  Yes.  I said it.  We quit.  This was the first time in my life I had not completed something I had set out to do.  It was a quiet, long van ride to the "End".  We would be spending the next few days together, but I think we were all unsure what to say.  It took a few hours before we could all talk again.  But we did.

The next day we set out on a hike to the top of Steamboat, and RAN down.  A noncompetitive, totally freeing trail run.  It was absolutely amazing.  And just what we needed to bring the TEAM back together.

Trail run in Steamboat.  Amazing run with great friends.

We didn't sign up for a relay this year.  We may again sometime, we may do something different.  These three very different experiences were all great and tough in their individual ways.  I love my teammates, and can't wait for our next adventures together and individually.

So Cheers to all you Hood To Coasters.  I hope you have a great run and a wonderful experience. But no matter how your actual run turns out, I know you will look back, and be so grateful for the experiences, as I have been.