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RELAY 101
WHAT IS A "LONG DISTANCE TEAM RELAY RACE?"
A relay road race is a team-oriented event. Each team consists of either twelve runners and two vehicles (the vast majority of the teams) or six runners and one vehicle (Ultra teams).
One thing to be very aware of is the course of long distance relays are NOT CLOSED. Runners run along shoulders of roads and both runners and their vans must follow traffic laws. As we are visitors to the towns the relay route goes through, and are sharing the road with other motorists, it is critically important that participants act in a mature and responsible manner. Violation of any traffic, safety, or relay rules can result in immediate disqualification of the entire team.
Teams are self-supporting. Each 12-person team supplies two vehicles, an Active Van and a Resting Van. The active van is the vehicle that carries the runners who are currently running the course; the resting van carries the runners who are eating and/or resting before it is their turn. The active van prepositions itself at a predetermined point called an Exchange to drop off the next runner and pick up the current runner. Ultra teams supply one van which is always active.
As a runner finishes their leg, they hand off the baton to the next runner at the Exchange Point. The active van then drives on to the next exchange to wait for the runner to arrive.
Every sixth exchange is designated as a Van Exchange. This is where the active van and resting van change roles as runners in the first van have finished their six legs and the next van of runners begin theirs. During the late night/early morning hours, the resting van will preposition themselves at the next Van Exchange. During this “down” time, runners will throw out sleeping bags to try to get a bit of sleep before it is their turn to run again.
Teams also need to stock their vans with water, food, sports drinks, and first aid kits. There are no aid stations at the exchanges.
Teams, depending on their pace, will be out on the course anywhere from 19 to 34 hours. Teams start in waves every half hour to an hour with the slower teams starting in the morning and the elite teams starting last in the early afternoon.
PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM
Running a relay is a lot of fun. Most participants are hooked on the relay concept after their first one. There is something special about going for a run at 3 in the morning under the moon and stars. Relays also provide a wonderful bonding experience and unique camaraderie that isn't found in other events. Just read some of the feedback we've received from participants. You also have the chance to be silly by running in a costume or decorating your van. Then there is the finish, where it is a tradition for a team to cross the finish line together. But there are logistics to figure out so planning ahead will make it easier come race day.
The first thing you need to do is to put a team together. You can start by recruiting your running friends to join you. It's always best to get a commitment by collecting their share of the registration. If you don't have enough friends to put together a team, make some new running friends by checking out our Team Matching Message Board.
Next, if you don't have two vehicles, reserve a van or SUV from our partner, Enterprise Rent-A-Car. We have negotiated special rates for WWR Participants.
If you are from out of the area, or would like to spend some days in Steamboat Springs after the relay, make hotel reservations early so you have a wider selection. Visit our Travel Section for lists of hotels.
RUNNER LINE-UP
To qualify as winners, teams must follow all Rules.
- Competitive teams must maintain the order of runners submitted on the Roster at the start. The 195-mile course is divided into 36 legs, and each team member runs three times, every twelfth leg, in rotation (i.e. Runner 1 runs Legs 1, 13, 25).
- If a runner on a competitive team is injured, the next runner in rotation must substitute and others move up. See a further explanation on the Rules page.
- For noncompetitive Helter Skelter teams, a team can have their runners run in any order.
VANS
- Teams divide into two groups with six runners per vehicle. While the Active Van is completing six legs, six runners in the Resting Van can shower, eat, or rest.
- Runners 1-6 will be assigned to Van 1, which will be active on Legs 1-6, 13-18 and 25-30. When Runner 6 hands the baton to Runner 7, Van 1 finishes its six legs and Van 2 begins. Similarly, Runners 7-12 will be assigned to Van 2, which will be active on Legs 7-12, 19-24 and 31-36. When Runner 12 hands the baton to Runner 1, Van 1 takes over.
- These exchanges are called Van Exchanges and occur at every sixth Exchange. (6, 12, 18, 24, 30).
- Captains may calculate and anticipate the timing of Van Exchanges by using pace estimates of runners. To allow for error, Resting Vans should arrive at Van Exchanges 30 minutes prior to the predicted hand-off. Cell phones and 2-way radios are useful for van communications. However, please note that there are some sections of the relay route where there is no cell phone coverage.
START TIMES
Teams starting times won't be announce until after registration closes. To get an idea of the time your team would start, calculate an average per mile pace of your team based on each member's 10k time and look at the following chart.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Restaurants/Camping/Resting
- Exchange 12: There is room to stretch out at the exchange. For food, just up the road from Exchange 12 is the Pot Belly Deli which has a small sit-down section. As it can get crowded and they are physically limited in how many people they can serve at one time, the Inactive Vans can stop at one of the several cafes on the Inactive Van Route through Poudre Canyon.
- Exchange 18: Woods Landing - will have a dinner available buffet style; also has abundant parking with grounds to stretch out on.
- Exchange 24: North Park High School, Walden - runners may sleep outside in Hansen Park, which is across the street from the exchange at the High School in Walden. Showers normally are available for a fee (a fundraiser for a school group).
- Exchange 30: a quarter mile before the exchange, there is a sagebrush field with parking areas to set up a tent or throw out a ground cloth to sleep on.
- Some teams prefer to rent hotel rooms along the route. Rooms are available in Red Feather Lakes, Woods Landing, and Walden.
- Water, drinks, and food should be carried in the team vans, as there are no aid stations like you'll find in shorter races.
- Gas, food stores, and restaurants are available at multiple stations in the larger towns:
Fort Collins
Red Feather Lakes
Woods Landing
Walden (limited options as teams are here after businesses have closed)
Steamboat Springs
Last updated 3/12/2008
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