How Fast Was Hood To Coast? 3:11 PM

Below is the breakdown in projected times and actual times for the Hood To Coast team that got duped into accepting me as a team member. Projected times are in black and are based on a personal 10k time. The actual times are in red. The team did pretty great. Everyone was actually really brought their shit for the run or everybody was just really horrible at projecting their 10k times.

Hood To Coast 2:13 PM

Hood to Coast is a 190 some odd mile relay race that starts at Mt. Hood and ends at the Oregon Coast at the Seaside Promenade. It's a pretty huge event and I was able to get on a team with Tal, Danny, and Anna.

Basically, you get 12 to a team and each person runs 3 legs(36 total if you used your multiplication tables). Generally, you split up into 2 vans. The first van runs through the first 6 legs and then gets some "chill" time while the next 6 legs run.

Here's van 1 at the start.


To exchange between runners, you pass off a......wait for it......slap bracelet! Yeah, seriously....a slap bracelet! I also totally left my pogs at home. Here's Danny handing off to Debbie. Good slap!


This whole race was unlike what I thought it was going to be. It was a lot of doing stuff. Constantly, doing stuff. Parking(surprisingly, this can be a bitch). Driving. Running. Eating. And, not sleeping.

Tal had leg 1 and the profile is pretty appealing until you realize how steep downhill the entire run is. His legs were pretty thrashed by the end of it. Debbie was real smart and brought a rolling bar to relax the muscles and counter soreness/tightness. Rolling out the muscles became a common theme. I wanted the full on rookie Hood to Coast experience, so I opted not to "roll".

I had leg 6 and overall it was pretty sweet. I really liked how I was the last to go and the handoff to the other van. I didn't like how I was the last to go and everybody was done. You get anxious to run when you see all your other teammates doing their runs. I just wanted to go out and start my leg.

My 1st, 2nd, and 3rd legs were 7.42, 4.15, and 5.35 miles respectively. They ended up going down at approximately 2 PM, midnight, and 8 AM respectively. All in all, really favorable times to run. I didn't have a crazy early morning run or a dead of the night run.

During the race, it was all business. You're always doing something. Driving. Parking. Running. Eating. There's always something going on. The first van exchange was the only time we were able to unwind. Tal was gracious enough to host us at his place for some pasta. What a fine young domestique!


We watched the last parts of Tropic Thunder. From what I saw, Jack Black makes that movie. He probably saves it from being one of the most awful movies around.

The 2nd van exchange was less relaxing. We were to drive the last van exchange where there were fields for us to sleep in. Too bad we took a wrong turn and made it to the exchange point pretty late. Jonathan, Tal, and myself stayed in the car, while Danny, Anna, and Debbie took to the field. I'd say most of us got less than a wink when the walkie talkie went off saying that they would be coming in in a few minutes. It was like Tal switched from off to on. He just ran out of the car, slapped on his shoes, headlamp, and reflective vest and was off. I was still rubbing my eyes and searching for my contacts.

Once our van finished, we drove out to seaside for breakfast and then played the waiting game. I'll be frank. That game sucks a fat set.

We passed the time by walking around seaside. Anna really got excited about taffy.


I'd say the most fun was when we went and just hung out by the water. Literally, Hood to Coast. Rejoicapalooza! Throwing sand, though?


The other van got in and we crossed the line together. Then we headed home. We didn't have any patience to stay for the party/ceremony. We were tired and there's something to be said for spending 30+ hours in a van with the same people and never wanting to see their faces again.....for a couple days at least.