10 Tips for a Distance Relay
How to get ‘er done while having fun
By Ethan Coffey
As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine
Long distance relays are becoming more popular every year. Why? I have no idea. I have never done another event that has kicked my butt (and mind) like the Blue Ridge Relay (BRR). And yet, I have competed in the ultra division of the BRR for the last two years. I’m also on a team for the Hood to Coast Relay (H2C). Am I just a masochist? Maybe.
After running 6 legs of the relay, you might need a little help from your friends ... just to get to your team van.
For anybody who has never run a relay like this, the idea is relatively simple. In the BRR, the 211-mile course is split into 36 legs. Each team can have between four and 12 runners. Those teams with four to six runners compete in the ultra category, and teams with seven to 12 people compete in the open category. There are also categories for masters runners and mixed teams, which need to be at least half female.
Other relays may have different categories, such as the corporate category at H2C. Each team assigns a running order to its members. The order must stay the same for the entire race, and every team must hand off at every exchange zone. Since each leg varies in length and difficulty, this means that with a little planning, each runner can be assigned to a set of legs that matches his or her ability. Of course, if somebody gets sick or injured (which happens frequently with people racing three or more times in one day over challenging terrain), each remaining runner moves up a spot, which can wreak havoc on a team’s strategy. Teams usually have one or two vans, based on how many runners they have, that shuttle the team members who aren’t currently running to the next exchange zone. Start times are generally staggered throughout the day, with the slowest teams starting hours before the fastest teams. The goal is to have all the teams finishing at around the same time.
So, with the warning that you should only attempt one of these if you want to trash your body and have a hell of a fun time doing it, here are some things I have learned that may help you avoid some agony and enjoy the event even more.
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