Long-distance relays are an adventure. Running in the middle of the night down rural roads, stopping at roadside diners to refuel, and driving/running through places you normally wouldn’t makes a relay a road trip and race all in one. And nothing says “endurance” like a 200-mile run. Relay races are generally held in beautiful locales and have an awesome finishers’ party. So, if you’re interested in trying out a relay run for the first time, or maybe looking for a new relay for you and your team to enter, you’re in luck! In this issue of Endurance, we’ve compiled a list of some regional relay running events to help you decide which is best for you and your team. We even help with one of the really important decisions you’ll need to make in forming your team: naming it! You’ll want a catchy name for your new team, so check out our list of funny relay team names for inspiration.
In addition to a preview of regional races, we give you an in-depth look at a local favorite, The Tuna Run. Starting just outside of Raleigh in Garner, home of “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, the Tuna Run runners finish up at Atlantic Beach on the Crystal Coast. This amazing overnight relay adventure concludes with one of the best post-race parties you could imagine by the beautiful North Carolina coast and Atlantic Ocean. In his article “Scrambled Tuna Legs,” cancer survivor Jason Norton recounts his team’s adventure in last year’s Tuna Run.
Those new to relay runs will want to read “Great Gear for Your Next Relay Run” by Inside-Out Sports’ Chase Williams, who recently participated in Saucony’s Race to Kinvara relay in Ireland. The Race to Kinvara is a 250k relay race where teams from 12 countries competed against each other. Williams shares some great tips on shoes, compression socks, foam rollers, hydration belts and nutrition. One helpful piece of advice Williams offers is having at least two to three pairs of running shoes to rotate – perhaps one pair for shorter runs and one for longer runs. You might also want an extra pair of shoes in case it rains, since wet shoes can lead to nasty blisters and calluses.
Another important topic we cover is how to recover. You might think participating in a relay sounds like a fun day of running with friends, and it can be – as long as you remind each other to do a dynamic warm-up and cool-down stretch before and after each leg of the relay. Brian Beatty’s article “Relay Running: Run, Recover, Run, Recover” covers the basics of recovery. Check out the “Core Corner” for Elizabeth Towe’s favorite dynamic warm-up that’s easy to do before each leg of your relay. A good warm-up and cool-down stretch will reduce the tightness and groaning factor as you get in and out of the van throughout the race.
As always, we feature a great recipe from Brandon McDearis. In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, this month’s recipe is fresh salsa. Have you ever wondered why those salsas at the Mexican restaurants taste so fresh and delicious? Well, more than likely, they are made in-house with fresh ingredients. This recipe is super simple and its uses can go way outside the box.
Now that the weather is warm, you’ll want to consider upgrading the old bike in your garage. It’s important to do your homework before buying a new bike. Our cycling columnist, Thomas Henson, Jr., gets you started on the path to new bike ownership with his column “Right-Sizing Your Bike.” Be sure to check it out before deciding what type of bike you want.
Don’t forget to check out our calendar section for event previews and www.sportoften.com for North Carolina’s most comprehensive list of races and events.
