The Relay for Life by the American Cancer Society is hosted at 3000 locations throughout the USA in May and June. These are track events with one person at a time from a team circling the track, counting laps and trading off with teammates. Each team is requested to raise $1000 in donations, with a minimum of $100 to cover expenses.
Portland to Coast Relay Walk
The walking portion of the Hood to Coast Relay in Oregon grows more popular every year. Each team has 12 walkers in two vans who take turns walking designated legs of the 128-mile course from Portland to Seaside, Oregon. Only 400 teams are allowed, along with the 1000 running teams who start at Mt. Hood. Each walker walks only two 5-7 mile long legs. The endurance comes in riding in the vans, usually for over 24 hours, or when substitutions are needed in the rotation. Walking is enforced. With 15,000 runners and walkers and their 2800 vehicles on small Coast Range roads, this is a challenge of organization, patience, and endurance. Each team must provide three volunteers who are assigned to be the staffing at anywhere or time along the course.
Willamette Valley Relay
A walkers-only relay in July takes walkers from Champoeg State Park, Oregon to Alton Baker Park in Eugene, through the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Each team has 12 walkers in two vans who take turns walking designated 4-7 mile legs of the 140 mile course. Each team must provide 3 volunteers to staff the event. Willamette Valley Relay
The Relay Walk
Added in 2005 to The Relay run, it takes 128 miles from Marin, through San Francisco, to the beach at Santa Cruz. It is billed as "California's Longest Party," with a format similar to Portland-to-Coast.
Rainier to the Pacific
Washington state's version the team relay has 7 person teams on a 100 mile walk in July. The price is about half of the Portland to Coast.
Rainier to Pacific
Breaking Up Your Marathon
Several marathons offer relay categories, with the walkers or runners forming a team and trading off legs.
Relay Survival
A relay is primarily a social event. You have to form and coordinate a team. People drop out due to injury and replacements are needed. You need social skills to survive the event with relationships intact. You must locate and ensure the right equipment is brought along, lodging is secured, and the team doesn't starve or run out of gas. As with doing a marathon, many people say "Never again," while others are hooked to keep doing it year after year and go into relay withdrawal if they must sit out a year.
If you are tempted to form a team but haven't participated at the event -stop, join a team under an experienced captain and see how things go as a participant. Newbies cannot imagine what it is like until they experience it.
Related articles
Relay for Life:
Portland to Coast
Rainier to the Pacific
Willamette Valley Relay
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Across a Continent
Ultramarathon Walks
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Centurion - 24 and 18 Hr Walks
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