The Ultimate Relay, Hood To Coast

Living in Oregon for over twenty years now I have seen hundreds of clients take part in one of the most incredibly organized running events imaginable. The Hood to Coast Relay is an annual event that starts on the majestic Mt. Hood and culminates 197 miles later on the sandy beaches of Seaside Oregon.

The 29th edition of this amazing event will take place in late August again next year and Train2move is looking to get a team entered. I have been involved in this relay in the past and it is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had athletically. I actually found this to be a much more rewarding experience than running a marathon.

The main difference is obviously the team aspect. Your team consists of 8-12 runners split into 2 teams. My teams have always had 12 members on them. You get into vans with 6 members each. Van one begins at the start and each member takes a turn running a leg. The legs of the race range from about 3.5 miles up close to 8. There are obviously significant elevation changes throughout so some legs are more “infamous” than others for their difficulty. It is actually quite a bit of fun to decide who is going to run which legs. Once Van one has had all of its runners go, then van 2 takes over and you continue that pattern until you reach the beach.

It is interesting to be one of the runners out in the dark at 2am on some back roads in Oregon. If you ever get the chance to be a part of this event I highly recommend you try. If running is not your cup of tea, then go for the Portland to Coast. It is the same event held at the same time but designed for walking groups. My Wife has participated in this event and loved it.

Stay tuned to find out if our team makes it into the relay next year. If we do we will take you with us every step of the way from the training to the finish line.