Nothing says “endurance” like a 200-mile run. But, if you’re not Kilian Jornet, 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 | September 11-12 | 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, NC.
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. | October 2-3 | 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 | October 23-24 | 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, NC, 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. 23, 2015, 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. Finishers can enjoy Tuna and beer on the beautiful North Carolina coast by the 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 | October 16-17 | 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 a welcome reception 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.
