Stage Race Archives

Hood to Coast Relay 2025 Race Recap

September 14, 2025

This year, Team RunRunner Jason completed his epic goal of running the Hood to Coast Relay in 34 hours! As a part of a small team, Jason ran a total of 9 legs and 50 miles over the two day event. The 2025 Hood to Coast will be remembered for being the hottest edition to date being the hottest one to date, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Following the event, he wrote up this wonderful race recap, and shared this: “There’s no way I would have been able to do this, and recover as quickly as I did, without the gradual build up in mileage that TRR Coach Brian Comer has had me doing in preparation for a sub 3-hour marathon. At over 50 years old, I have more endurance now than ever before in my life!”

On the Springwater Trail

I heard a pop, almost like a whistle, before my right foot felt like it was getting pricked every time I ran a step. For sure, I thought I had stepped on a nail. I kept on running anyway, which didn’t work; the nail kept pricking at my foot. I knew I’d have to stop. Sort this out. The problem was that I was running the Hood to Coast Relay and the temperature in Happy Valley, Oregon, was over 100 degrees. I was on the Springwater Corridor, a remote section of the blackest asphalt, and it felt like running on the sun. The last thing I wanted to do was stop and prolong this experience–with no shade. No access for cars. My team couldn’t help. And I was all out of water.

*Jason finishing one of his Hood to Coast Relay legs.*

Oh, and I had about 44 miles to go in the next few days–because I was running the “The Mother of All Relays” in a team of only three people. I had just run Leg 9 and was now three miles or so into Leg 10, which was essentially the start of the relay for me.

Back to reality…

I already felt laid out.

So I sat down beside the trail, on the dead dry grass, and took off my shoe. I inspected the bottom. It wasn’t a nail. It was a stout little wooden sliver, almost an inch long. No blood. It didn’t pierce my skin, which was nice. Except I couldn’t quite pinch it out of the bottom of my shoe with my finger nails, either. This was a big problem. I tried to bite it out with my teeth, before I realized how this looks to other runners: some shirtless, half-naked man with his short-shorts on, eating his own shoe. They’d think the heat really got to me.

Eventually, after about 20 minutes of fiddling with it, I slowly but surely pushed and wiggled the sliver out. When I stood back up, I almost passed out. I now had 3 miles to go to the next exchange, if I didn’t die.

Heat exhaustion (if not death) was a real concern.

This is certainly an issue when the ambient temperature is over 100 degrees and you are running on asphalt, which absorbs the heat and cooks your feet and body from below. Even my water bottle ended up scalding to my own touch. I could tell how close I was getting to the next exchange from the ambulance sirens getting louder and louder.

Our Hood to Coast (H2C) Team: The Running Yeti Its

H2C teams have a long tradition of creative names and we were the “Running Yeti Its.” I was the main Yeti It (which sounds like “idiot”) because I had decided to run nine legs in what turned out to be the hottest Hood to Coast since the race’s inception in 1982.

Normally, runners ran three legs each for a total of 14-17 miles each over two days, Friday and Saturday. This time, I didn’t want to spend so much time in a van. Since the only other option was running, and someone had dropped out with a broken toe, I was “runners” 4 in Van One, as well as 9 and 10 in Van Two, for a total of close to 50 miles. This meant that I would transfer vans at each major exchange, leaving very little time for sleep. I thought this would be fun and exciting, and it was–until the sun fully came out and I was marooned on the hot asphalt trail eating my own shoe.

We had eight people on our team for a relay that took us 196 miles from almost the top of Mount Hood to the city of Seaside, Oregon. See the picture to the right for us in front of our Air Dancer Yeti It mascot before the event.

From left to right in the picture:

Casey “Who’s Going to Carry the Boats” Carroll
Jessica Bailey, our superstar HR event organizer and Team Captain, my sister, and pregnant but doing this anyway
Aaron Schoknecht, Jessie’s husband, who was tall enough to be an alt Yeti It mascot by throwing up his hands at exchanges so we could always find our people
Jason Hagen (me)
Stephanie Hagen, my other sister and Van Two “mom” with 25 years of experience as an EMT, which made us feel safer
Adria Biasi, our physical therapist who kept Jessica and I running, overcoming niggles and injuries. We couldn’t have done this without her. And her ultramarathon friends (and our new friends) from Seattle:
Jocelyn O’Donnell who had run 80 miles to be the overall winner of the One Step Closer 18 hour ultra in Seattle, WA, the weekend before H2C and had the severe blisters to prove it
Walter Hicks, finisher of the Cascade Crest 100

In the above picture, on my red tank top, it said:

Let’s Wake Up Really Early and Run Super Far. – Psychopaths

Luckily, we could get away with 8 people instead of the recommended 12 because we had three people running 6 legs or more: Adria, Jocelyn, Walter and I (Jason). The four of us made up Van One, while myself and Adria ran in both Van One and Van Two.

*Our Hood to Coast Relay team plan, with boxes and the check marks for completed legs.*

Running Yeti Its’ Team Strategy

My family has been doing H2C yearly since 2023, and I had run as two people the year before. This time, I wanted to bridge the vans as a runner in both Van One and Van Two. Adria was willing to try this as well. Jocelyn and Walter represented two runners (six legs each) and remained in Van One with us.

Two things changed the game this year when bridging vans: basically no sleep, and then the heat. When you bridge vans, you do not have much time to sleep because you are always just finished running or preparing to run again throughout the day and night. With the heat, you need to slow down to avoid heat exhaustion. This makes pacing, hydration, and calories key to feeling okay (or maybe just blazay) throughout the relay.

Running Multiple Hood to Coast Relay Legs: My Pacing Plan

For pacing, I tried to keep my heart rate below 130 bpm as a general guideline. A simple rule of thumb for estimating your maximum heart rate is to subtract your age from 220. As a 50-year-old man, my estimated max would be roughly 170 beats per minute. I wanted to remain at a solid “zone 1” or “zone 2” pace, staying well below my max effort.

After I was through Friday’s heat wave, however, I had discussed with my awesome Team RunRun Coach, Brian Comer, how it would be all right to pick up the pace on Saturday. So, on Saturday night at around 2am, on some nice downhills with my heart rate hovering around 120 bpm at a pace of around 9-9:30 minutes per mile with a cool breeze, I decided to “send it,” to speed up, to get up and GO–but I didn’t. Physically, I couldn’t. This was odd. My brain and legs struggled to understand each other.

My Brain: Let’s go! Let’s do this. Come on!

My Legs: Go to hell.

My Brain: There’s plenty of bpm room here to speed up and Brian said I could.

My Legs: No. You don’t know me. I know me.

My Brain: Come on, you pussies!

My Legs: You need to run H2C again in a matter of hours, another 16 miles, you idiot.

My Brain: Oh, yeah.

My Legs: Dude. Stop reasoning. I got this.

Fueling The Hood to Coast Relay

I ate like a toddler or an elderly man on hospice (pick your analogy on either side of that spectrum). Immediately after each run, I drank an Ensure Plus for 350 calories after each run. This was usually followed up with grapes, bananas, Pedialyte, and a lot of water, constantly sipping. I still ended up dehydrated.

Solid foods were minimal, mostly consisting of what I called “Yeti It Pizza”: peanut butter, banana slices, and crushed M&Ms sandwiched inside of two tortillas, cut like pizza. The only ‘super solid food’ I ate were bagels with cream cheese that Adria thankfully made for me. While I had to keep the solid food light to keep my stomach in check, I knew the importance of fueling. In order to consume adequate carbohydrates and protein, I set nutrition targets for every hour or two. For protein, I targeted 20-30 grams every two hours. Ultimately, this proved challenging when combined with constantly drinking water and getting in enough total calories

For fueling while running, on shorter legs, I downed a GU, or the equivalent gel, for about 100 calories every 20 minutes. On my longer legs (or when stacking two relay legs back-to-back), I carried a bottle of ice cold Pedialyte and targeted 100 calories every mile, via either GU or Clif Bloks. Additionally, I would meet my team at the exchanges midway throughout the legs for refills of water or Pedialyte.

Back on the Springwater Trail…

When I finally stood up, having removed the splinter from my shoe, fought off the strong inclination to pass out from the sudden head rush of hot blood, I stumbled into a slow jog. I looked off into the distance and saw that most of the runners had been reduced to a slow walk. I could hear ambulance sirens popping off all over Gresham or Sandy or wherever the hell I was.

I reminded myself that my sisters and friends were waiting for me with a cold wash rag, hugs, and congratulations–if I could just make it through this leg without hurting myself. So I played it safe. When my heart rate hit 150 bpm or above, I walked. This happened about every 0.10 miles. I would walk for a minute to lower my bpm to about 130 (which was, alarmingly, as low as it would go) before plodding along again.

1 Mile to Go!

Finally, with about a mile to go, I witnessed a reprieve in the form of a volunteer or some guardian angel neighbor with a water station, handing out cold water bottles–and hoped this wasn’t a mirage. The station saved some lives out there, I’m sure of it. I took three bottles. I downed one on the spot, used another to refill my own water bottle, and used one more to cool off my head and lower my core body temperature.

This enabled me to finish the leg and hand off to our epic family physical therapist, Adria. She proceeded to throw down an unbelievable pace to the next major exchange. Despite her Camelbak vest not working for the water and having only a hand-held bottle, she steamrolled all the way to OMSI and beyond, down the waterfront and through the city of Portland. By her own normal standards, she paced it easy and played it safe, but we’ve never seen anything like it. Although she felt like a “beotchy” hot mess by the end, she was in good form in no time, if only a little more stiff for the rest of the relay.

Our entire team completed all of our legs safely and without incident in a year when many teams ended up not finishing legs due to the heat. Additionally, many teams were asked to skip legs in order to finish on time. So, we’re pretty proud of our little family of Yeti Its.

*Team Running Yeti Its at the finish of the Hood to Coast Relay.*

Finishing the 2025 Hood to Coast Relay

We finished in 34 hours. Our Team Captain, Jessica, led us through the finish line where we could finally grab our medals, go home, eat cheeseburgers or pizza or whatever we wanted, and finally take some showers!

And then, of course, there was a wonderful welcome waiting for us at our family beach house. See the picture to the left for proof!

Red Rocks of Sedona 2 Day Stage Race Report – Renee Gale

April 4, 2023

Race: Red Rocks of Sedona 2 Day Stage Race

Runner: Renee Gale

Race Date: 03/25/2023

Location: Sedona, Arizona

Results: 36 of 46 overall Saturday, 40 of 41 overall Sunday

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/8776192311

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The Red Rocks of Sedona really are red and it is so beautiful no matter where you are on the trails.
The routes I ran this time in Sedona were less rocky than the race I ran there last year. It had been raining the week before this race and almost all the trail surfaces were nice, compact mud that felt comfy under my feet. Of course that meant a lot of crossing over a wet “Dry” Creek.
I really like the smallness of this race – it makes for a very friendly atmosphere both with the runners and the race staff. One of the race facilitators even recognized me from last November. Also, you get to pick your distances each day from 55k/35k/19k Saturday and 50k/30k/17k Sunday.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Because it had been raining all week, there were flooding issues with the routes on Day 2 of the race that made the original planned course unsafe. The course was re-routed from what was going to be more of one big loop to a course that included an out and back followed by three loops originating near the start line. Being a slower runner, I had to do a lot of hopping off the single track to let others go by both coming at me and coming up behind me. That would not have been an issue on the original planned route.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Not weird but semi-entertaining: after the race, one of the runners sat down next to me on the curb and started chatting, telling me this was his second year at the Sedona Stage Race. He started unravelling a couple pounds of tape from both his ankles telling me that last year he ran this race, that it had been his very first trail race and that he had run the race in combat boots because he has bad ankles. Then he proceeded to pull up a photo of himself with a gigantic bare belly from before he started running. Apparently he has lost over a hundred pounds since then.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I had been dealing with a hamstring injury for over six months leading up to this race. It would get better, it would get worse. I ran a 20 mile race in November and a 50k race in December with this sore hamstring and finally in January, it just wouldn’t let me run anymore. I did some physical therapy, took off a couple of weeks and then when I resumed some running, I had to rely on cycling for cross training. I was only able to run 3-4 times a week instead of 5-6. Also, I didn’t have the opportunity in this training block to run back to back long runs which would have been helpful as this was a 2 day stage race and I had never before run long distances back to back. What I did well was manage the whole PT and cross training to the point that my hamstring finally healed and I was able to run both days without any hammie issues. Another thing that has helped immensely is using poles. My coach made the suggestion thinking it would allow me to stand taller when I hike and run hills, taking pressure off the hamstring. I used the poles throughout both days of running and they even help me mentally. I feel safer from falling as I have certainly had my share of tumbles!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I learned that I can start a race running with sore toes! This was one of my biggest concerns going into the race. After a long run, my second toes are always super sore, especially the next day and the thought of doing a long run starting out with sore toes was making me anxious. What I found out was that the toes were not my limiting factor – it ended up being my quads that gave me problems. I ran 13 miles on Saturday and had planned to run 20 miles on Sunday. By the time I got to mile 12 on day two, I was having serious doubts on getting to 20. My quads were so sore on the downhills that I looked forward to the uphills so that they would get relief. For a couple of miles, I forced myself to keep on going – I really wanted to get to that 20 miles. I would run to the count of twenty, then hike to the count of twenty over and over until finally I just couldn’t anymore. So instead of doing the last loop, I hiked to the finish for a final distance of 14 miles.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The RD requires that we run with the app “Ride with GPS” or an equivalent (Ride with GPS gives voice cues for navigation). The course is minimally marked and it is very easy to get lost. We were emailed the GPX files to download to our devices and didn’t have to buy the app to use the specific race courses. The app worked perfect on Saturday; however on Sunday, I did end up going the wrong way even though I had the course loaded on my phone. I pre-maturely took one of the three loops in the re-route (due to flooding); the app didn’t beep at me to tell me I was off course because the loop was part of the course; I just took it at the wrong time.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It’s just so pretty in Sedona. In the hotel the night before I was listening to the local TV channel explain how, because of its beauty, over 100 movies have been filmed in Sedona, mostly in the early 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Lots of never-ending eye candy on the trail!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Both days, the courses were easier than the race I ran here in November. Most of the trails were compact mud and less rocks than I experience on the bulk of Arizona desert trails. I would say elevation gain/loss wasn’t difficult either. A little less than 100ft gain/loss per mile. There was only about a mile of trail that I had a hard time with because it was a little rockier, narrower and at the edge of a cliff but at that point, my quads were toast and I was mentally tired too. The trickiest part of the course was all the water crossings on Day 1. What is normally a dry creek bed had standing water in it and I had to step my way across on small rocks that poked out of the water. There were multiple crossings and each one had the effect of slowing me down as I had to first find the shallowest path across and then once across, I had to locate the continuation of the trail which wasn’t always evident.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Though small, this organization, Trail Running Escapes, is pretty organized. The race director is so easy to communicate with and very responsive.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I would say not a strong field – this is a small race, I think the limit is 100 runners/day across all distances. Plus it’s fairly new, this being the second annual event. This woman sat next to me right after finishing the race and she was so excited to find that she was 1st female overall in the 30k, that it was totally unexpected and a nice surprise. She asked me if I was “Renee Gale” and when I said yes, she showed me that I was listed as 2nd female overall in the 30k and I laughed! I had signed up for the 30k so the system didn’t yet know that I had dropped down in distance. I ran 14 miles in the time it took her to run 20! Anyway, I emailed the RD and she dropped me down to the 17k race which is nice because I understand that every race is different and sometimes one just gets a DNF.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Sedona is a tourist town so if one decides to run this race, get a hotel as soon as possible. The mid-range ones are expensive, I think I saw like at least $300-$400 a night for your standard hotel. I stayed in a budget-type hotel which was $350 for two nights. The race itself seems pretty easy to get into since it’s small and not well known.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

The aid stations were stocked with water, Skratch, coke, ginger ale, salty snacks, fruit (bananas and unpeeled tangerines), gels (Muir), chews and bars. There were restrooms on day 1 but none on day 2.

Weather and typical race conditions

Both in November and now in March, the temperature starting out was in the low 30’s. This weekend, the high got to the mid 50’s. It was perfect running weather, partly cloudy on Saturday, sunny on Sunday. Earlier in the week, it rained a lot and at first it was looking like it might rain on Saturday. But as the week progressed, the probability decreased and we ended up with no rain.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

From the race website: “All racers will be required to carry their phone with the Ride with GPS app loaded with each day’s route OR wear a watch/device with the race’s GPX/TCX files for navigation purposes. This is mandatory!”

How’s the Swag?

I got to say, best hoodie t-shirt ever: it’s soft, form fitting, tasteful addition of decals, something I can actually wear out in public rather than as pj’s! Also received a belt buckle which I don’t know what I’m going to do with.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I would give this race a 5 out of 5. I love running the trails at Sedona.

Tahoe Super Triple Race Report – Bryan Gray

October 18, 2022

Race: The Tahoe Super Triple

Runner: Bryan Gray

Race Date: 10/14/2022

Location: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

Results: https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/njujfe7yvhstqq29/results?subEvent=

Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/USFFEF1ucub

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The views were incredible.
There were bears on the overnight run and I believe I saw 2 coming into Kings Beach but they were too far to tell for sure in the dark, but I definitely saw 1 in the early morning on the west side of the lake South of Tahoe City.
Crossing the finish line after 125 miles to have the race director shake my hand and congratulate me.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The bib pickup for the Friday marathon and half marathon wasn’t as well organized as it could have been. The other bib pickups were in an expo and had a great setup, but ours wasn’t well organized.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The first marathon runs through a tunnel with one lane closed. The 72 mile ultra didn’t have that lane closed.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

The 2 marathons were great. Under 4.5 hours for the first and under 5 for the 2nd. Seeing a bear in the morning was very cool, and my sister, who I’ve been coaching, ran her first half marathon Sunday and passed me on the course.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

The 2nd to last uphill section is named the Hill from Hell. Don’t underestimate it. It’s shorter than the Spooner Summit climb but much steeper.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Drive the 72 mile route before hand so the support person knows where to be to provide aide.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

All 3 races have hills. The 2nd race has the least hills but there are more of them.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It’s the most beautiful run I’ve done so far. The towns are cute but you also run through beautiful forests

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

This course has a lot of elevation gain and is at high altitude so it’s very tough

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It was well organized for the most part but since only 2 of us did the 125 miler the people doing bib check-in didn’t seem to be ready for me, but when I went to the expo to get my swag they were much better organized.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

The field isn’t extremely competitive

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Hotels are expensive but there are a lot of choices around the lake.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

The first 2 marathons only had 7 aid stations but they had candy, olives, electrolyte drinks, water, and one had rice Krispy treats. The first 46 miles of the 72 is unsupported but the last 26.2 had 19 aid stations with candy, fruit, pretzels, cookies, and rice Krispy treats. The people manning the stations made and brought a lot of the food themselves

Weather and typical race conditions

Weather was perfect this year but it can be very unpredictable from year to year.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Headlights were needed for both marathons and lots of lighting and reflective gear was required for the overnight

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, there are tons of places to cheer on friends and they let friends enjoy the hot dogs at the finish line.

How’s the Swag?

The gear is all great. For doing the super triple I got shirts, a nice travel duffel bag, 2 license plate covers (1 26.2 and 1 72.6), medals for each marathon and a medal for the 72, and a special plaque for finishing the super triple.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I rate this 5/5 stars. It is absolutely not a PR course but is in one of the prettiest places possible.

Run Larapinta Stage Race Report – Tom Scott

August 25, 2022August 21, 2022

Race: Run Larapinta Stage Race

Runner: Coach Tom Scott

Race Date: 08/12/2022

Location: Alice Springs, Australia

Results: 1st Overall, Long Course

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/7645272977

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The other runners – the camaraderie amongst all the participants was the best I’ve ever experienced, and I made so many new friends
The location – the scenery is some of the best in Australia and the Larapinta trail which we ran on was simply amazing running
The organisation – the race organisers take care of everything, so all you have to do is run! Transport, food etc. was all taken care of. They even had recovery gear like compression boots and massage guns for everyone to use!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Honestly there is nothing I would have changed about the race or my experience.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The rocks! The trail is incredibly rocky and technical for some sections. So much so everytime I closed my eyes to sleep each night I literally saw rocks!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

The main highlights for me were sharing time with the others runners on the trails, and the scenery! I feel like my nutrition and hydration were spot on, which is important in long and hot races. Also my recovery between stages went way better than I expected!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Practice lots of technical and downhill running. Also have your recovery techniques sorted out – recovering between days is important to perform at your best and enjoy the event to its fullest.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The rocks! The rockiness brought a lot of people undone (seriously – there were multiple broken bones) who weren’t prepared for all the technical running.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

You run through multiple beautiful gorges and creek lines, as well as along several ridge lines with views for days!

Also summiting Mt Sonder (the highest mountain on the trail) at sunrise on the last morning is simply amazing.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Both the long course and short course version are tough! Any running in this landscape and climate is hard work, and the technical nature of the trail makes it harder and slow going at times.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

This was the 8th running of the event and they’ve got it nailed. All the transportation is great, plus the event dinners after each stage were a great way to relax and meet the other runners. Rapid Ascent so a great job!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

The competition seems to fluctuate year to year, but there have been some seriously good runners in the past.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The race has started selling out quickly so if you want to run, you need to nab an entry as soon as they open. I’d also recommend booking your accomodation straight away to make sure you get a room at the event hotel and a tent at the event campsite for the last few nights.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Aid stations were relatively spare, mainly due to their remote location (water was helicopter dropped to some of them). They all had water, tailwind and some sort of food such as fruit cake or lollies.

Weather and typical race conditions

Mornings are freezing (close to 0 degrees Celsius) and rise quickly during the day and can be anywhere from 20 to 35. It’s also dry heat which can make it feel hotter if you aren’t used to it. Knowing your sweat rate and having a solid hydration plan is important.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

There is a pretty big mandatory gear list and they are very strict with checking you have it all. Therefore you need a decent sized pack and need to practice carrying it all before the event.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not particularly! The trail is pretty remote so not a lot of spots for spectators other than the finish lines. However the cheering from all the other runners makes up for it!

How’s the Swag?

The race entry includes a cool event t-shirt and there is plenty of other swag to purchase if you want.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5 stars, and if you’ve ever thought about doing this race – definitely do it!

Tom Scott is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.

Cascade Lakes Relay Race Report

October 28, 2021August 12, 2021

Race: Cascade Lakes Relay

Runner: Brian Comer

Race Date: 7/30/2021

Location: Diamond Lake to Bend, Oregon

Results: https://eclecticedgeracing.overallraceresults.com/pages/event_summary/492/

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The camaraderie is top notch and really second to none. Something about running through the night while sleep deprived really brings out the spirit amongst teammates and other runners alike. Seeing all the creative costumes, van decorations, and team names is always a sight to behold as well. The team component is unique and gives the feeling of running for something greater, a sensation lost among many once a runner’s competitive scholastic days are over. The times while your van is on break can be both functional and fun. After our first cycle, our van made a side trip to Crater Lake, hiking down and sticking our feet in, which was a lot of fun. The finish in Bend is basically one big party which is always fun and the entire team meets their anchor runner at the end to run across the finish line together, which is pretty cool too. Running in the middle of the night is always a blast and there is picturesque scenery to enjoy throughout the race. I’d say CLR has a leg up here on Hood to Coast both in terms of scenery and in being less commercialized (and in turn, less crowded).

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

This was a unique situation this year due to the Bootleg Fire but the first 14 legs were all relocated to running laps around Diamond Lake, which was a very good and understandable reason to adjust the route but made for a somewhat mundane start that didn’t quite have the same relay feeling as it would have otherwise. Similarly once finishing at Diamond Lake, teams would then have a pause and would have an assigned restart wave at Fort Rock to resume the race. It was nice to enjoy Diamond Lake more than normal and while this wasn’t a problem for our team, other teams didn’t always make it to Fort Rock in time for their restart wave. However major props to the race organizers for closely monitoring the wildfire situation and taking precautions to keep everyone safe while still holding the race in person. Organizing and putting on an overnight relay race is no small task and is quite the feat to pull off in itself never mind factoring in the curveballs that were thrown this year due to the wildfires.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Did I mention the fact that you are running through the night? Being an approximately 200 mile event (216.6 in normal years, 191.3 this year following course revisions), your team is typically running a full day if not longer in order to complete the race. Running in the middle of the night isn’t actually as bad as it sounds. It is actually pretty peaceful running in a rural forest area on a clear night. Some teams particularly embrace the weird as this year one van was converted into what resembled a double decker bus complete with lights and music blasting that resembled a dance party. One of the major van exchanges that usually occurs in the night also takes place with a backdrop of flashing lights with strobe lights across the night sky and of course music (this being the midnight rave at the end of leg 18 going into leg 19). Also expect to find other team’s stickers/magnets on your van, some truly outrageous costumes on the costume leg and your fair share of impromptu tunnels being formed to cheer on an incoming runner.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Overnight relays are really a delight and a highlight on the yearly running calendar. Even on minimal sleep, you can do some pretty amazing things. I enjoy the unique challenges that are imposed in these types of races. We only had 11 runners on our team instead of a full 12 so myself along with 2 others were given the task of running an extra 4th leg for our team. Even though my training has lacked specificity, I was pleased that I was able to stay at a fairly consistent pace throughout the event regardless of various distances and terrain I encountered on each of my legs (not to mention the altitude we were running at was consistently around 5000 feet give or take a few hundred feet each direction). I was able to stay the course and stay tough even when it got hard towards the end as I knew we were doing really well as a team and I wanted to come through for my team. I also like how while still being competitive, there is a great deal of support around you from your own team and others. The volunteers are also amazing and the race wouldn’t be possible without them.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Definitely make sure to have a stash of snacks (both healthy snacks along with other snacks to satisfy hankerings your bound to encounter) and fluids on hand. Hydration is important not just during the event but in the entire week leading up to it. Keeping running clothes in separate Ziploc bags also help keep you organized so you’re not scrambling before your next leg and help mitigate the smell in the van of everyone’s sweaty running clothes. Sleep is hard to come by so get it while you can and also make sure that you are stretching and rolling out regularly. It doesn’t take much for your body to seize up and Charlie-horses to ensue from all the sitting in the van you’ll be doing. Likewise for sleep, take advantage of comfy settings if you have access to them or don’t be afraid to leave the van at designated sleep areas and sprawl out a sleeping bag or blanket to get more comfy. Just make sure you have a way to communicate with teammates or utilize the buddy system so you know when to head back and catch your van when it is time to leave.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

On the first leg, my back started to hurt midway through. I’m certain that this was because when camping the night prior, I was just in a sleeping bag with no sleeping pad underneath. This will help me rethink what I pack and the way I pack. Our team also had the experience this year of locking the keys in the van so make sure to know where “key” belongings are at all times or have someone in the area to ensure things aren’t left unattended. This happened as I was set to run next. Amidst the chaos, I nearly missed the exchange. Fortunately my leg was the last one in the cycle so we had a few hours to work with but a teammate had to get a ride from another team in order to find cell service to call Triple A (this all happened in a rural forest area around 2 AM where cell service was hard to come by). Despite being a Van 1 runner, I was adopted by Van 2 for a few hours in case I was needed to fill in to start the next Van 1 cycle. Fortunately, Triple A arrived and we got the problem resolved before our van was due up to run again. We didn’t get as much sleep on that break as we would have otherwise but it makes for a standout memory and something we can laugh at in hindsight (just not so much in that moment when it was happening). All in all, a memorable way to roll into the infamous rave exchange.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

There are 36 legs and each van takes turns alternating in cycles of 6 legs (like Hood to Coast). Each leg has its own rating based on elevation profile, surface, and distance. Ratings range from easy to WTH (only one such leg this year as the other was scrapped due to the course revisions). There are only two legs in a typical year with the WTH rating. One runs up Mt. Thielsen then flies down the other side while the other climbs up to the west village at Mt. Bachelor. The last 6 legs coming down Bachelor have plenty of downhill coming down into Bend. Surfaces tend to be road, gravel/trail, or a mix. Not so much a problem this year since we had some rain but some of the trail legs can get dusty particularly in the heat.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Absolutely there is lots of scenery to be enjoyed throughout the event as it is a pretty course highlighting some of the finest nature central Oregon has to offer. There is a lot of picturesque mountains in the area while on the other hand there are plenty of lakes to enjoy as well (as suggested in the race name). The rural towns and the forested areas are also a delight to run through as well. Communities along the route really embrace the event and support it whole-heartedly.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Depending on your leg assignments it can be a difficult course but it really varies. Even on some of the legs that have a moderate rating, there can be some deceptive climbs that can surprise those who aren’t prepared for them. I also firmly believe some of the ratings of the legs are given because of where in the race they come up. Towards the end, everybody is tired and that can make every incline seem more steep than it really is.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes I’d definitely describe CLR as a well-oiled machine as the event is well-organized. This was the 14th year of the race so they have logistics down pretty well and were even able to adjust on the fly when it came to making modifications as a response to the wildfires. During the Diamond Lake section, they had organized shuttles to take runners back and forth between the main start area and the other exchange zone along the lake. Course markings are always clear with signs and flagging, depending on where you are on the course and often have helpful volunteers around as well to offer support.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Competition is usually pretty strong. An average year usually has around 200 teams. There were a little less this year but our team placed 4th overall (and 3rd in the always competitive Open Mixed division)! As a team, we averaged 7:22 pace (which would have met the cutoff of 7:30 pace for consideration in the Elite division). There was only one team in the Elite division and they were well out in front by a substantial margin until it dropped back to the group of three teams (us included) that were all relatively close to each other. Start waves are organized by projected finish time with faster teams starting later and slower teams starting earlier. The top 8 teams were all in the last start wave (which this year was 9:00 AM Friday morning).

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

There is a cap to the number of teams so it is recommended to register as soon as registration opens (usually October or November of the year prior). The race website does a good job of listing key dates along the way to be mindful of, such as when registration deposit is due, registration balance is due, deadline for timesheets, registering and submitting shirt sizes etc. so it is always good to review that so you aren’t surprised by anything. Most teams (ours included) usually camp at Diamond Lake the night before so reserving a campsite or two with plenty of advance notice is also helpful. Don’t rely on the resort where the start line is as that fills up quicker and has more limited space than the campground.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There are no designated aid stations with the exception of certain legs that particularly call for them. Carry water with you if you think you’ll need it or if the leg can be accessed by van, have your team supply you with water, energy chews, or whatever else you might want or need. Our team often asks our runner this question at least once, sometimes more if the leg is particularly demanding. More often than not we stop along the way in order to supply our runner with water or anything else they need.

Weather and typical race conditions

Usually it is pretty sunny and warm. We did encounter some rain this year, which was a welcome sight considering the wildfires in the area. There was even some fair share of overcast particularly in the morning which actually made for some pleasant running conditions. It would usually burn off in the afternoon but the cloud cover also kept in the heat we received in the day, which made for overnight temperatures that weren’t too cold as we were out running in the night.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Everyone needs to have a headlamp/flashlight and reflective vest with them in order to participate. They ask for 12 vests and a minimum 2 headlamps or flashlights at team check-in on Thursday night. You may have designated vests with the flashing red lights that people swap around to run in but your personal reflective vest will come in use whenever you’re not running but you step out of the van. Not to mention you’ll run with your personal headlamp or flashlight. Like how it is recommended to have different running clothes for each leg, you may want to bring multiple pairs of running shoes (like a pair of flats or a trail shoe in addition to standard trainers), if not, then a minimum of one pair of running shoes and a pair of sandals for when you aren’t running (which is a good idea regardless of how many pairs of running shoes you bring).

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Actually if you do your homework, this can be considered a spectator friendly race if the spectator is truly dedicated. While the race isn’t typically thought of as spectator friendly, the mother of one of our team members followed along with us this year in her own car and cheered us on. She car camped Thursday at the same place we were camping, then followed along the route meeting us at various exchange zones, then again at the finish. So I learned first hand this year that spectating for an overnight relay can be done with the right preparation.

How’s the Swag?

The swag is great, teams get shirts for every member after finishing along with a results ticket and finisher medal (we got CLR medals this year for 2020 and 2021 as our team was registered for the 2020 race as well). There’s also vendor samples (such as a CBD muscle massage oil this year) along with food and beer (finishers receive one beer token, after which you pay for yourself). Also Thursday night before the race, they have bins full of past year’s shirts that they give away for free. They also sell sweatshirts before and after the event as well.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Five stars – I can’t recommend this race enough. While it may seem daunting or intimidating, it can be very achievable with a solid training base under your belt. Crossing the finish line and getting a team photo after any overnight relay is very satisfying and you’re also sure to make memories that will last a lifetime as this is more than just a race, it is an experience.

Brian Comer is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach Brian, check out his coaching page.

Aravaipa Insomniac Virtual – Adrenaline Series Race Report – Nathan McBride

June 8, 2021May 25, 2021

Race: Aravaipa Insomniac Virtual – Adrenaline Series (6k, 10k, 15k, 25k, 50k)

Runner: Nathan McBride

Race Date: 5/17/2021

Location: Stow, MA (But it’s globally virtual)

Results: 25:45, 44:22, 1:06, 1:55:20, 4:46:26

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1 – I get to do all of the races starting from my driveway
2 – I started the series with my weakest link, the 25k, and rocked it so got that out of the way early
3 – They are using Ultrasignup now for results submission which makes life much easier

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Racing alone is always difficult but it helps that I’m basically running against myself from last year’s series – otherwise there is nothing to complain about since I get to pick all of my own courses!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The pollen season just kicked off in New England…no escaping it so your best chance of running hard is very early in the morning when the world is still dewy.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Compared to the Adrenaline series last year, I pr’ed four out of five races and dropped my cumulative time by an hour and 6 minutes. Totally stoked about that.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

When your coach says rest, rest. I also did a lot of longer warm down runs this week which paid off.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Don’t do a half marathon race on the Sunday before your race series week!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Well I kept the elevation moderate this week, about 1800 feet over the 68 miles, so that helped things but since I designed all of my courses there is not much else to say.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Only my 50k was a scenic course, the rest were all road grinders.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

The hardest of the five races was the 25k course – I did about 1.3 mile start and then 7 2-mile loops for some mental time before finishing up.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Aravaipa does a great job with this series. The rest is up to the runner!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It looks like this specific series has a pretty deep field so I won’t know how I did until all of the results are in.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope! Just register online and you can do the remaining four series!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

I just run with a credit card and either a beer or tailwind or both depending on the distance.

Weather and typical race conditions

Every day this week was hot and dry but because I run in the early am I also get a relatively decent air quality condition.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

I love my Naked Belt…can’t live without it.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Oh yeah – if any of my friends cared enough to come watch. 🙂

How’s the Swag?

Aravaipa does a great job with the swag and they send you the shirts and hats as part of your race fee. Love the trucker hats!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Five out of five. If you have the desire and drive to run your butt off by yourself, this series is for you.

Aravaipa Insomniac Virtual – Sinister Series Race Report – Nate McBride

June 8, 2021April 27, 2021

Race: Aravaipa Insomniac Virtual – Sinister Series (5k, 9k, 18k, 27k, 54k)

Runner: Nate McBride

Race Date: 04/19/2021

Location: Stow, MA (But it’s globally virtual)

Results: I did very well compared to last year (dropped 1hr4m overall)

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/athletes/7460077

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

If you live in Arizona, you may know that Aravaipa hosts the Insomniac Trail Series every year across the length of summer. Last year they also virtualized the entire thing. It’s 6 individual weeks of racing dispersed over 17 weeks. Each week has 5 or 6 races and you can either sign up for as few or as many of the races as you want and then you compete against people over the globe. If you sign up for the Dawnbreaker challenge, you have to do every single race for the week within the week (Monday-Sunday). So last year I signed up for the Dawnbreaker challenge for all 6 weeks so that meant I was competing not only at the individual race level, I was competing at the weekly aggregate level and the entire season aggregate level. This is what I love most about the race series. It’s a war of attrition and you may have to sacrifice a PR in a 10k so that you can run a harder 55k later in the same week. So I signed up again this year for Dawnbreaker for every series. April 19th was the first week of the series and it’s called “Sinister”. The selected distances were 5k, 9k, 18k, 27k and 54k and you could do them in any order. So I did it like this: 5k and 9k back to back on Monday morning, the 18k on Tuesday morning, the 27k on Thursday morning (day after my 2nd shot of Pfizer) and the 54k on Saturday morning. As much as I hate running at top speed, I liked the challenge of a back to back all-out 5k and 9k with only about 30 min rest and the weather was perfect this week for this series.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

There is very little not to like about this series since you are entirely in control of your destiny. You get to pick the course and the order of races over the 7 days. So if you pick a really hard course and suffer a lot, that is all on you. Likewise, if you pick a simple out and back, you may not feel like you gave it your all. If there is anything unfun about this is, unless you have willing friends, you are doing all of the runs solo. It is hard sometimes to go all out when it is just yourself so it’s good to have a time goal in mind or some other motivational trick for yourself.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

For every week I will have one sucky race. I don’t really know which one it’s going to be but it seems that there is always one race that I just completely blow up. This week, unfortunately, it was the 54k.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Compared to last year’s Sinister week, I improved my times in 3 of the races and was slower in the other 2. Overall, I PR’ed the aggregate by 64 minutes (9:53:08) so that will be a huge payoff in the end of the entire season. Good to have that in the bank!
5k – 21:51
9k – 38:55
18k – 1:25:21
27k – 2:00:05
54k – 5:26:56

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

If you are looking for a seasonal training motivator, you can’t beat this entire race series. I am actively training for other longer ultras at the end of summer and this series fits in well with my training plan and keeps me motivated. If I was just grinding it out all summer I would not nearly be having as good of a time. Strategically speaking, the entire series will be 454 miles of racing so every mile counts. You have to be able to run hard in your strengths and hold on for dear life in your weaknesses (mine are anything between 20 and 35k).

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Don’t kill yourself on the first race of the week. 🙂

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Well since it’s a design your own course model, the best thing to know is the runnable places around you. I design my courses to be a hybrid of trails and road and that are rolling enough to use all of my muscles.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Mine are. 🙂

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Some of mine are 🙂

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

They are very organized and the swag is awesome for the entire series – you definitely get your money’s worth. I like the fact that there is a huge Aravaipa community on Discord and Strava and everyone is always talking smack to each other during the series (in a fun way).

Competition – Is there a strong field?

There are lots of pros that do this as well as lots of rookies and everything in between. It’s awesome to hear some of the great first timer success stories that come out of this series.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

No registration cap and its all online so its super easy.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

So I run self supported on all of my runs (or with a credit card). For the 5k, 9k and 18k I didn’t carry anything, just chugged some Tailwind and then headed out the door for warmup and then the race. For the 27k I ate a pack of sports beans about midway through the race. For the 54k I carried two Narragansett beers and a bottle of tailwind plus 4 Oreos and some Swedish Fish. I had the first Narragansett at the 28k along with the Oreos, had the second Narragansett at the 43k with the Swedish Fish and then sipped on the tailwind for the last 10k.

Weather and typical race conditions

April in New England so…since of all of my races were early morning, I generally had temps starting in the low 40’s. Clear week though in terms of rain and snow.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

I live and die by my Naked Belt and I wear an Orange Mud Double Barrel to hold my beer/tailwind. I wear Bose Sports Buds for the longer runs and my go to shoes are Hoka Cliftons (since the Clifton 3 came out). I also have been a Feetures sock wearer since about 2010.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

All depends on which course you pick and how much your friends care to watch you suffer.

How’s the Swag?

Awesome…they hook you up with medals, bibs, shirts, hats, socks…you name it.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

One hundred out of one hundred. Even if you don’t want to run all of the races, you can run ANY of the races and it’s a good time to do something that is part of a large community.

Dopey Challenge Race Report – Amanda R

August 10, 2020March 5, 2020

Race: Dopey Challenge, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Runner: Amanda R

Race Date: 01/12/2020

Location: Orlando, FL

Results: Finisher

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/3005275194

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1.) It’s FUN! I love the Disney atmosphere. As an Annual Passholder, we visit Orlando and Walt Disney World at least 3 times a year. Disney does a great job being accommodating to runners. The race is run well, and with the amount of participants, things go pretty smoothly as far as the logistics of the race go.
2.) Bling is great and I live in my RunDisney race shirts year-round. Gear is great!
3.) The course is diverse and interesting with plenty of distractions to get you through the race if you are struggling.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Because the Jeff Galloway programs are recommended by Disney, there are a lot of walkers. I have no problem with walkers, but the course can get pretty congested at times. If you have a faster corral, this problem is eliminated, but in the 5K and 10K, the corrals do not require a proof of time. There are a lot of walkers in Corral A in those two races. Plenty of people also choose the Disney races as their first, this can cause some traffic problems as well in the shorter races. If you are staying at a Disney resort, event busses pick you up and transport you to and from the start/finish line. This is a courtesy, but can come with some lines. Who am I kidding, that’s just part of the Disney experience! The Dopey Challenge is a monster. The hardest part isn’t the repeat days of running, it is getting up at 2AM four mornings in a row.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

This is weird and good. Seeing Cinderella’s castle illuminated at mile 10 of the marathon as you round the corner on Main Street U.S.A. is one of those feelings I can’t describe. I’m not an emotional person, and I tear up every time. Disney characters for photo stops is definitely weird!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I loved the feeling of finishing all four days, and the joy at Disney is second-to-none.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Register early. Dopey registration starts in April the year before the race. I think that the Dopey bibs were still available in late summer, but if you have family members wishing to run the 5K or 10K, registration in April is a must-do. Staying on Disney property, in my opinion, is the best option for race week.

Biggest tip: work on getting a good Proof of Time so you get a good corral. If you are in some of the corrals at the back, it can be very crowded with tons of bodies blocking everything.

Second biggest tip for Disney challenge weekends: Go to bed early. Finish your race. Eat and go back to the hotel. Do not try to do the Disney parks when you are trying to complete the Dopey. It’s just too much walking.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I meal prep and take most of my food with me. I stay at Disney’s Art of Animation resort. It’s a value, but you can get a suite that has a microwave, fridge and small sink. I then take an Uber to the closest grocery store and buy food for the week. It helps to have food that you fuel well with and it really cuts down on the cost of Disney food. RunDisney is about the experience. Don’t go to qualify for Boston, go to have fun. If you qualify for Boston in the process, great job! The courses are twisty and narrow in places, and many runners will say it’s really hard to run a great time there. I ran a pretty salty half there in 2018. It can be done.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

There are sweepers. The “balloon ladies” are the last ones to start and serve as the barrier to the “party bus” to the finish. The 15 minute/per mile doesn’t apply to all runners, so If you start in corral C and you run 20 minute miles, and still finish in front of the “balloon ladies” you are still a finisher. Proof of Time submissions have to be submitted in the fall before Dopey.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Parks are very interesting to run. There are some boring bits that are highway and roads, but Disney always seems to make them interesting as well. Lights, sounds, and atmosphere are fantastic.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

The course is flat. The most difficult part of running Dopey is the fact that it can be 28 degrees to start the 5K and 78 degrees to start the Marathon 3 days later. The weather is unpredictable. The course is flat, but has some twists and turns in the parks.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well organized. The only problem is the hired bus drivers that take runners from the resorts to the start. I heard some runners were on the bus for 1.5 hours because the bus driver didn’t know how to get to the start. The marathon was delayed for 30 minutes (some of us think this is the reason).

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, because of the shear volume of people. I think there were 900+ in my age group. F 45-50.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Make your race reservation in April along with your hotel reservations. Southwest has great deals on flights. If you are looking to enjoy the parks a bit while you are there, buy a park hopper park pass. Book your dining reservations 180 days before your arrival date. Book your fast pass (skip the line) selections 60 days prior to your arrival date.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Aid Stations have water and Powerade. Med Tents have EVERYTHING. Food Stops in the Marathon: 2 banana stops and 1 chocolate stop. Food Stop 1/2 marathon: sport beans (YUCK).

Weather and typical race conditions

Can be 28 degrees to start raising to 55 or 78 degrees to start climbing to 85 with high humidity. It depends.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Standard gear.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

YES!

How’s the Swag?

Medals are high quality and heavy. Shirts are ok. They were better when Champion sponsored.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5 STARS! Great race! I recommend this race for first time runners and runners who like to have fun. If you love DISNEY, it’s a must-do.

Dopey Challenge Race Report – Bill M

August 10, 2020January 21, 2020

Race: 2020 Dopey Challenge – DisneyWorld

Runner: Bill M

Race Date: 01/09/2020

Location: Orlando, FL

Results: Finished!

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Very well organized and supported events. Buses come to Disney resorts so no driving to/from the race was awesome. Good food available before and after the races, and plenty of Powerade/Water and Sport Beans handed out during. Also had cold wet towels afterwards.
Great swag….long sleeve t-shirts and huge medals!
Tons of Disney characters pre/post race and along the route.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Early starts….on the bus between 3:00-3:30 AM.
Very crowded on half and full marathon days meant 15 minute walk to the start corral.
Waited 45-60 minutes post-race for buses on 5k & 10k days.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Running through the back lots of Epcot often meant running right by the stinky dumpsters of yesterday’s trash. Phew!!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Running down Main Street and through the Disney Castle with hundreds of people cheering you on at 6AM! Awesome!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Better to be early than late, definitely stay at a Disney resort if able for transportation alone.
Don’t try to PR these races, just too crowded unless you get seeded in the A corral at the front.
Be prepared to wait in long lines for portajohns and for long waits before the start. I sat down to save the legs when I could.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Recommend going to the Expo early in the day.
Get to the race extra early if you want photos with the main Disney characters.
Hydrate, hydrate. Very humid days even when cooler temps prevailed.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Lots of turns, occasional speed bumps, bridges, etc. All very well marked or volunteers shouting warnings though.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes, especially days 3-4! Ran through 5 parks during the marathon.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

All flat courses, just several turns. It’s only tough if you do the Dopey, and really only the full marathon was a gut-check.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

VERY well organized.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, lots of Brazilians come in for these races and they won several firsts over the 4 days.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I would register early and make hotel reservations early also. It sells out every year.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Powerade, water, gels and beans. Lots of medical tents for all races along the route.

Weather and typical race conditions

It was high 50s for days 1-2 and then low 70’s for the starts of days 3-4. Got up to mid 80’s on days 3-4. Also very humid, like 94%.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

My waist belt for gels was perfect.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not super friendly as it’s hard to know which roads are open or closed along the route. Spectators flooded the start/finish line, and there were many in the resorts we passed by.

How’s the Swag?

Awesome! See medals below.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 out of 5. Only downsides are the crowds and early starts

Three Days of Syllamo Race Report – Ashley Nordell

August 14, 2020March 21, 2019

Race: Three Days of Syllamo

Runner: Ashley Nordell

Race Date: 03/15/2019

Location: Ozarks of Arkansas (near Mountain View)

Results: 1st Overall, 15:28:41

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

I go to this race almost every year for these reasons:

The people- the same people come year after year, so it’s a bit of a reunion in Arkansas for me. I have become close friends with the RD and his family, so I’m always excited to see them.
The location- Arkansas is a runners best kept secret in terms of trails. The race is on a network of trails up in north central Arkansas, part of the mountains/woods known as the Ozarks. I think the area is beautiful and the trails are so different than what we have out west.
The format- It’s a three day stage race, which is hard to find. The courses often change year to year, but the distance is always a 50k then 50 miler then 20+k. Over three days you get over 90 miles of racing.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Traveling there is hard – we had nightmare flight issues this year, but even on a smooth travel day, it’s a long day of travel to get there.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The panty boys (an aid station). They always come dressed to impress (or not so dressed would be more accurate).

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I would say keeping a good attitude even when it ended up taking us 24 hours to get there and missing an entire night sleep right before the race. I always look at this race as an experience, so it’s all part of the package. I didn’t let the travel issues become a factor in my enjoyment of the weekend.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

This race is known for being low key. It’s a no frills, no whining mentality. People often get lost (minimal course marking), and those that take it too seriously might be frustrated. It’s not a big hype event. It’s about the experience and friendships.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Because of the time of year, it’s often my first time running on dirt or in warm temperatures for months. I often deal with stomach issues because I haven’t been training my body to eat and drink properly over the past few months due to our winter weather. I need to remember to do a few runs where I force myself to eat and hydrate so it’s not such a shock to the system each year.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Because the courses change each year, you can’t really study the course. It’s important to be aware while racing and really pay attention because it is easy to get lost. The courses are rocky and technical. There can be creek crossings, so having more that one pair of shoes for the weekend is helpful.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

I find it to be very beautiful. Lots of oak trees, rocky bluffs, some great views.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It is very technical by west coast standards. Lots of rocks covered by leaves. Definitely need good trail shoes. Rolling terrain. Not huge climbs, but lots of short climbs and descents.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

This was the 15th year – they have it dialed in. But it’s done the same way now as back then. Old school no hype just the way I like it!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It varies every year. It’s not really about the competition as much as the experience.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

It’s easy to register, but the closest airport is over 2 hours away (Little Rock), or 3 hours (Memphis), or 3.5 hours (Fayetteville). It’s in a remote area of Arkansas. You can camp or get a cabin in surrounding areas.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Standard fare – 4-9 miles apart.

Weather and typical race conditions

March in Arkansas can be anything – thunderstorms, heat, humidity, even sleet. Plan accordingly. We lucked out this year with low humidity, sunshine, and 50 degree temps.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

I recommend multiple pairs of shoes (unless you are just doing one of the days). If you run the 50 miler you will need a headlamp for the first hour.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Depends on the course, but there are always aid stations that people can drive to. It’s also a very family and pet friendly event. The start/finish is at Blanchard Campground. There are caves nearby to visit with family.

How’s the Swag?

Socks and shirt. Hammer Nutrition is a sponsor, so Hammer products are available. Post race dinner on Friday and Saturday.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

10/10. My favorite race!!!

Ashley Nordell is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with Coach Ashley, check out her coaching page.

Glass Slipper Challenge – Ashley S

August 12, 2020January 10, 2017

Race: Disney Princess Glass Slipper Challenge – http://www.rundisney.com/princess-half-marathon/

Runner: Ashley S.

Date: 2/20/2016 & 2/21/2016

Location: Disney World, Orlando FL

Distance raced and other options: 10k on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday

Results – 57:17 in the 10k and 2:07.1

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Lots of distractions if you need those! It was great weather once the sun came up, great food boxes afterwards and “party”. The half marathon is listed as one of the best in the US, so you know they’re doing something right!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you?

EARLY wake up time..had to board buses by 330am for 530 start. Since they had not accepted my timing, I was in the last corrals both days and didn’t start until 630.

Weird factor – Not necessarily weird, but a lot more people here (at least to my knowledge) doing run/walk intervals.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I did A LOT of bobbing and weaving for the ENTIRE race. I mean, TONS. Trying to come from so far behind and not have anyone to gauge pace was interesting.

Lessons for others – Make sure you submit your time when you sign up. I have heard a TON of issues on timing. If you are purely doing this for fun, obviously this wouldn’t matter as much.

Aesthetics – Once you are INSIDE the parks, it is beautiful. You run through the Magic Kingdom and all the countries in Epcot. There are characters to take photos with around every mile or so if you want to stop. For ¾ of the race though, you are running on the highway.

Difficulty – Super flat course, very minor elevation changes.

Organized and well run – It was a very well run race. You can tell that RUNDisney has done this a few times.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Registration open in June/July and you have to be on and ready to register AT.THAT.VERY.MOMENT. It sells out in hours. Very expensive race (300$ish). You can start booking hotels obviously whenever. They have buses that get you to and from the race but its a long day.

Aid Stations- Lots of medic tents/water/Clif on half marathon

Weather and typical race conditions – Start was 52 both mornings and windy. Once the sun came up it was warm and 60’s.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends? There are certain mile markers where friends can watch

Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it? ⅗ stars. I would probably only do this race again if my kids wanted to do it. It was fun, but with the travel, expense, uber early mornings, may wait until there is another interest!