Each team has 12 runners divvied up into two vans. Each runner runs a total of three legs, which vary anywhere in length from 4 miles to 7. So, the runners in van one run legs 1-6, then an exchange happens where van 2 then begins running and legs 7-12 are run. Then a transition again happens from van 2 back to van 1. Etc etc. We have an estimated time of about 30 hours to complete the course, which is pretty slow. However, we bagged a 9:45 AM start time so we should finish well in daylight. There's nothing more discouraging than finishing after dark!
We're at the stage in life where we recruit runners more for character than speed. When you're in a van for 30 hours with the same people, character flaws can magnify themselves like fingernails on a chalkboard. With 1,000 teams (12,000 runners - yes, TWELVE THOUSAND!) tensions can be exacerbated. Fortunately, we've never had any issues in our van but it's not totally uncommon to see a team unraveling somewhere on the course.
I've run Hood to Coast, hmmm - without counting my medals (everyone gets a medal and by golly we earn them!) I'm going to guess about 10 times, this may be my 11th time running. There's been a lot of fun memories through the years. Here's some of my favorites:
- Once in the middle of the night as the van was moving someone noticed the door was ajar and fully opened, and then yanked the door shut. A little too hard. The safety glass shattered in an explosion of little glass pellets. I swear I thought we had been hit with a shotgun blast!
- The time our friend who was a new Christian was eager to share her new faith and lifestyle. In her zeal she saw a guy screaming obscenities at his apparent girlfriend. Fired up, she yelled at him "hey you bleepin bleep, quit being a bleep and get off of your bleepity bleep bleep - don't you know that God loves you?" Got a good laugh out of that!
- One of our runners happened to meet then governer John Kitzhaber on the course. They ran a few miles together and chatted, while Kitzhaber's bodyguard (who had a rather large fanny pack that looked like the kind they make to conceal a 9mm Glock) kept watch. Unbeknownst to Ray, Kitzhaber's security team had him take a detour off of one of the more vulnerable sections of the course. Ray's babbling away as Kitzhaber and crew slowly outpaced him and ran into the distance. Ray realized that he was off the course and lost! He had to stop at a house and get directions.
- Out in the middle of the coast range early one morning some local dogs were happily astounded by the hundreds of runners and scores of vans along their otherwise deserted road. 3 or 4 dogs were shadowing the runners in joy and delight, but as they loped along the road they began blocking traffic. Vans started stacking up behind them while they cavorted around. Horns only intrigued them and drew them to the vans like fans to a beer vendor at a Blazers game (well, like Blazers players to beer vendors at their own games). Eventually the dogs mosied off but they had created a huge traffic jam.
- It's not uncommon to see someone you know along the route, with an athletic community and that many runners chances are high. A few years ago at an exchange I'm looking for our runner and realized that I'm standing next to my next door neighbor!
Well, there's a lot more and I'll post after the race but back to packet pickup. It's a studied atmosphere of pre-race tension. Everyone tries to look nonchalant but here's what's really happening - everyone is checking each other out. How good of shape is that guy in? What pace does that gal run? I think I can beat that guy.
Not one to shrink from the concealed competition, as we waited for the doors to open and the packet distribution to begin, I stook slightly askew stance with one foot planted about 3 inches behind the other. I flexed my forward quadricep on my right leg, and then with my left rear calf put it into a position so that the calf turned into a cow. Then I started to cramp. Looking as casual as I could with beads of sweat I reversed the stance and and tried to look casual yet intimidating. Finally, to my great relief; they opened the door and let us in.
Most runners are beginning to carbo load, but for me - I'm starting to ibuprofen load!
