For the first time, I have a full team before Christmas. Shockingly, I actually have an alternate runner (possibly two), should I need him. Usually I’m scrabbling during the final month (or week) to dig up a runner or two. Guess it’s a Christmas miracle! Now on to the logistical stuff. Many captains agree that managing to get 11 other runners to agree to the craziness of an overnight relay race is the toughest part. In many ways I agree, even though runners love to run, they don’t always love to commit to team events for selfish or selfless reasons. While I do worry every year that I’ll be a runner or three short, it’s the team preparations that usually … Continue reading

I’ve signed up for the race, now what? I’m not sure how many times I’ve heard this as both an avid runner and a relay team captain. As one of the slower runners in my local running group, I get paired with beginning runners often. After a few weeks of following me through our regular running trails and paths while listening to me talk about my weekend job with the local race timing company, most of these race neophytes sign up for a weekend 5k or if they’re really ambitious, a 10k. They excitedly tell me they’ve signed up for a race then a few minutes later ask the inevitable now what? For the average runner my standard answer is … Continue reading

The finish line has been packed away for a while. Many teams and team-mates have gone back to their regularly scheduled running agendas be that regularly or taking a break until next time. Veterans have long stashed their medals in a drawer or wherever their other multitudes ended up and even the newbies have stopped wearing theirs everywhere deemed halfway appropriate for bragging. The race is officially over and so it the finishing high. For some this time just marks the end of one training cycle and the beginning of another. For others it was a nice blip at the beginning of their summer racing schedule. But for some of us, it’s the big letdown- it was the race we … Continue reading

Note: Names have been changed for my safety (although he’ll know who he is  ) “I haven’t been training,” Casey says as he jogs up to cool down with me after a group interval session at our gym. “Hmmm? What’d you mean? You’re here more than I am.” “I haven’t been running at all.” I glance at him and wait for the punch line. This is the guy who teases me mercilessly for not being able to figure out where my knees should be during deadlifts and thinking that my lips are a great third contact point for wallballs. He and I are barely serious about our workouts until it’s actually time to start the work. “Well, a couple … Continue reading

I am afraid of the dark. There, it’s out there, commence the ridicule. Seriously, I am afraid of the dark and the first Hood to Coast I ran, my husband made sure to let the entire van know. This was also the same year there were two females and five males, so you can image how much ridicule I did endure. Not to be a total wuss, I ran my night leg by myself and except for the coyote, it was a great experience. But, more on that in a minute. That first year I was teased mercilessly until I did get out and run by myself, so imagine my surprise when a few years later I found out that … Continue reading

“Did we just run over a skunk?” Josh asks groggily from the rear seat of the van. “No, Kaylee’s farting again. Shouldn’t have eaten that last burrito, babe,” Mark snarks as he elbows Kaylee in the ribs. “Am not!” She retorts and moves up to the next seat. “Eww! Nate took off his shoes! That’s the skunk!” “My feet do not stink!” Nate huffs back, but puts his shoes back on. “I think it’s Matt’s shirt.” Matt turns and pulls his shirt off Nate’s shoes and hangs it out the window after a quick sniff, “yeah, it could be, I can’t find my deodorant.” “Again!” choruses the rest of the van. The above scenario was my first experience with the … Continue reading

For the past three years (and again this year), my team has used two minivans for the Epic Oregon Relay. This saves us in rental fees, but limits luggage space. Two years ago we had both ends of the packing spectrum on our team. Van One got “Mandi,” who arrived dressed in her running clothes and carrying a blanket and $40- that was it. Van Two was blessed (cursed?) with “Kenny,” who brought his own roof pack full of extra clothes, blankets, pillows, tarps, ground mats, camp stove, coffee maker (yes, coffee maker), food, water, juice, first aid kit, and safety gear for the whole van. As he was the last to arrive at our rally point, we had packed … Continue reading

We’re excited for the launch of our new website and hope you’ll enjoy playing around, reading the updated content and viewing the gorgeous photos from our relay courses. Creating EPIC adventures is what we  do and we are passionate about creating the best experience possible for our runners. Hopefully you’re joining us for one of our 3 team relay adventures this summer! And remember if it’s not EPIC… well then it just isn’t.