Nothing says “endurance” like a 200-mile run. But, if you’re not Charlie Engle or Diane Van Deren, you may want to consider sharing the burden of all those miles with a few of your closest, or soon-to-be closest, friends, because when you pack a team of runners in a van for 24 hours straight, it’s hard not to be close – in the physical sense. Of course, there’s a lot more to experience in a relay run than shared blow-by-blow descriptions of your recent running leg in a tightly packed van. Relay races are generally held in beautiful locales, have an awesome finishers’ party, and give you an opportunity to run a race at night. 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! We’ve compiled a list of some regional relay running events to help you get started.
Blue Ridge Relay
Date: September 5-6
Distance: 208 miles
Start Location: Grayson County, VA
The 208 Mile Blue Ridge Relay (BRR208), which is one of the longest running relay races in the United States, takes place in the picturesque Blue Ridge and Black Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. The BRR208 consists of maximum 12-person (four-person minimum) teams that rotate through 36 transition areas as they cover the 208-mile distance of the race. Each relay team member runs three legs of varying lengths and difficulty and will cover an average total distance of about 16.6 miles. The runners rotate in a set order once the race begins and will be obligated to follow this rotation until the final runner finishes in Asheville, N.C.
The BRR208 starts at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Va., which is near the base of Mount Rogers (5729 feet), the highest peak in Virginia. The course primarily follows scenic, country roads as it winds its way through North Carolina’s High Country to the finish in Asheville. The course features some of the region’s most spectacular scenery, including the balds of Grayson Highlands State Park, the New River, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain (5964 feet), and Mount Mitchell (6684 feet), the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
Ragnar – Washington, D.C.
http://www.ragnarrelay.com
Date: September 12-13
Distance: 200 miles
Start Location: Cumberland, MD
With a course that will take you through historic towns and sites and a finish line party in the nation’s capitol, this course is often called “Ragnar’s Best-Kept Secret.” You’ll start running from the town of Cumberland, Md., and your team will head east through thick forest trails and scenic paths. Around nightfall, you’ll run through the quiet streets of many charming historic Civil War-era towns, ultimately passing within the shadows of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Celebrate with your teammates as you storm the finish line together in Washington, DC.
The Tuna Run
Date: October 10-11
Distance: 200 miles
Start Location: Raleigh, NC
The Tuna Run 200 is an amazing overnight relay adventure in which you and your friends Run 200 Scenic Miles to finish at the beach and enjoy tuna and your beverage of choice after a job well done. The Tuna Run 200 begins just outside of Raleigh, N.C., in Lake Benson Park in Garner (the home of “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery) and will finish at the beach in Atlantic Beach on the Crystal Coast.
On Friday morning, Oct. 10, 2014, the first flight of teams will start their 200-mile adventure around 6 a.m. Over the next several hours, additional sets of teams will depart on their overnight journey through eastern North Carolina to the beach. Teams will begin arriving at Atlantic Beach around noon on Saturday to conclude their Tuna Run 200 experience with the best post-race party you could hope for. We will have tuna and beer and the beautiful North Carolina coast and Atlantic Ocean.
Teams for the Tuna Run 200 are generally made up of four to 12 people who split 36 legs. If you have a 12-person team, each person will run three legs over distances varying from three to 10 miles. Each team will provide support vans to drop off and pick up runners at designated exchange zones along the 200-mile route.
The Tuna Run 200 is great fun for everyone – you don’t have to be an ultra runner to enjoy it. For a 12-person team the distances and training are similar to that of a half-marathon. However, if you are an ultra runner you will still be challenged – especially if you choose a four-person team.
Bourbon Chase
Date: October 10-11
Distance: 200 miles
Start Location: Bardstown, KY
Overnight relays – part road trip and part road race – are the perfect excuse to have a great time! The Bourbon Chase is an overnight relay road race along the historic Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The course of the race, which starts at the Jim Beam Distillery near Bardstown, Ky., covers 200 miles through majestic horse country for a finish line celebration in downtown Lexington.
The Bourbon Chase wants you to live it up on their course … responsibly. Although the party doesn’t really start until the finish line celebration, runners have 200 miles and more than 24 hours to get warmed up. Decking out your van and wearing crazy costumes is par for the course. The Bourbon Chase hopes that you not only remember every community through which you pass, but also that those communities remember you! So prepare for the fun. Pick a theme that works with your team name. Go the extra mile and invest in team singlets. Gather up those nutty decorations down in the basement and put them to good use.
Bourbon Chase organizers like to call it a boutique experience and attempt to give each team and every runner thorough attention to detail and the extras that make the Bourbon Chase so special. Teams are treated to two welcome receptions with complimentary drinks, appetizers and live music; a finish line celebration featuring local food, more live music and complimentary bourbon tasting; amazing scenery as you run through horse country, or the exchange points in the heart of charming cities and at historic distilleries; hidden gems you find along the way, like enchanting old churches and old-fashioned soda fountains; and special gifts for the team captain and commemorative shirts for team drivers.
Smoky Mountain Relay
Date: Spring 2015
Distance: 212 miles
Start Location: Brevard, NC
The Smoky Mountain Relay was patterned after the famous Hood to Coast relay (12-person, two-van team) in the Pacific Northwest. As a team member, you will be one of the first to experience the 212.5 miles of trails, forest service and rural county roads that traverse this beautiful area.
The overnight relay run starts at the Pink Beds Park in Brevard, N.C., and ends at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, N.C. The Smoky Mountain Relay course takes runners through some of the most beautiful, pristine and challenging terrain in the Southeast.
Along the route runners will see the magnificent granite dome of Looking Glass and spectacular views from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Mountain to Sea Trail. At night you will run far from city lights, but very close to the Appalachian and Bartram trails along the upper Nantahala River. Along the course, you will run through many picturesque valleys framed by tree-covered mountains and meandering streams.
Speaking of streams, prepare for the opportunity to run through, over and in the streams that cross this route! Thanks to the folks at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, we are able to provide a world-class finish line celebration with hot showers, cold drinks, yummy food and some rockin’ mountain music. Smoky Mountain Relay participants will return home with vivid memories of running, camaraderie and a few brief moments of sleep with 11 supportive friends who all shared in the beauty and mystique of the Smoky Mountains.
The Colonial 200
Date: Spring 2015
Distance: 200 miles
Start Location: Crozet, VA
The Colonial200 Relay is a unique overnight relay adventure in which you and 11 friends run 200 scenic miles through the heart of Virginia. The Colonial200 Relay begins in Albemarle County in central Virginia and finishes in historic Jamestown. Starting at beautiful King Family Vineyards in Crozet, the Colonial200 Relay will take you through the wine and horse country of central Virginia and near many of Virginia’s most historic sites along the way.
Beginning near Charlottesville in central Virginia, the first flight of teams will start the 200-mile relay around 6 a.m. on a Friday morning in spring 2015. Over the next several hours, additional sets of teams will depart on their overnight journey through central Virginia to Jamestown. Teams will begin arriving at Jamestown around noon on Saturday to conclude their Colonial200 Relay experience.
There are many opportunities for fun, history and adventure along the course of the Colonial200 Relay. The beginning of the Colonial200 Relay takes you near Monticello and Montpelier as well as through the wine country of central Virginia. The finish is along the Capital Trail, traveling into Williamsburg near some of the most famous plantations in Virginia (Shirley, Berkeley and Sherwood Forest). Finishing across the street from the Jamestown Settlement, the Colonial200 Relay is a great way to see the rich history of Virginia. Once you have completed the Colonial200 Relay, you can finish your weekend by visiting the many attractions in Colonial Williamsburg, including Busch Gardens.
Teams for the Colonial200 Relay are generally made up of four to 12 people who split 36 legs. For instance, each person of a 12-person relay team will run three legs over distances varying from three to 10 miles. Each team will provide support vans to drop off and pick up runners at designated exchange zones along the 200-mile route.
The Colonial200 Relay is great fun for everyone – you don’t have to be an ultra runner to enjoy it. For a 12-person team the distances and training are similar to that of a half-marathon.
The Colonial 70
http://www.colonial200.com/colonial70
Date: Spring 2015
Distance: 70 miles
Start Location: Virginia
The Colonial70 Relay is a unique one-day relay adventure in which you and five friends run 70 scenic miles through the heart of Virginia. The Colonial70 Relay follows the last 12 legs of the Colonial200. It begins just outside of Richmond in Hanover and continues onto the Capital Trail before finishing at Jamestown Beach Park in historic Williamsburg.
The first flight of teams will start the 70-mile relay around 5 a.m. (maybe a little earlier) on the Saturday of the 200-mile event in spring 2015. Over the next several hours, additional sets of teams will depart on their journey to Williamsburg. Colonial70 teams will begin arriving at Jamestown Beach Park around 3 p.m. that afternoon.
Colonial70 teams will be treated with additional camaraderie on the road from teams that are running the Colonial200 starting outside of Charlottesville on Friday. The Colonial200 teams will begin arriving in Williamsburg as early as noon.
Teams for the Colonial70 Relay are generally made up of four to six people who split 12 legs. For instance, each person of a six-person relay team will run two legs over distances varying from three to 10 miles. Each team will provide their own support vehicle to drop off and pick up runners at designated exchange zones along the 70-mile route.
The Colonial70 Relay is great fun for everyone – you don’t have to be an ultra runner to enjoy it. For a six-person team the distances and training are similar to that of running just a little more than a 10k.
Palmetto 200
Date: Spring 2015
Distance: 200 miles
Start Location: Columbia, SC
The Palmetto200 is a unique overnight running adventure in which you and 11 friends cover 200 scenic miles from the historic Columbia Speedway in Cayce, S.C., near Columbia, to James Island, just outside of historic Charleston. The Palmetto 200 offers a fantastic experience during the adventure to anyone who participates – endorphins that will last for weeks, memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Palmetto Relays are great fun for everyone; you don’t have to be an ultra runner to enjoy them. Distances and training are similar to that of a half-marathon.
Palmetto 70
http://www.palmetto200.com/palmetto70
Date: Spring 2015
Distance: 70 miles
Start Location: Columbia, SC
The Palmetto70 is a unique one-day running adventure in which you and five friends will cover 70 miles from the heart of the Francis Marion Forest and also end on James Island. This is a great way to get exposed to the overnight relay as you will be on the same course at the same time as those who are enjoying the Palmetto200. The Palmetto 70 offers a fantastic experience during the adventure to anyone who participates – endorphins that will last for weeks, memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Palmetto Relays are great fun for everyone – you don’t have to be an ultra runner to enjoy them. Distances and training are similar to that of a half-marathon.
