HOOD TO COAST
For those of you who have done the Hood to Coast you’d understand. For those who haven’t there is always next year.
Last week my wife and I were to be part of a Hood to Coast realy team for the 24-hour relay race from Mt. Hood to Seaside, Oregon. Neither of us had ever done anything like this before. With my foot still recovering from Plantar Fasciitis, I decided that I would contribute to the effort by driving one of the vans.
When you’re thrown into a race at the last minute, along with people who you never met before this could be a recipe for a nightmare weekend. I envisioned myself staring out the driver’s side window just wanting to get the hell out of this mess; glancing into the review mirror to see twisted faces of spite staring back at you, and knowing that they are “talking about you” the entire time.
I was really nervous going into this because I had heard from others who had participated that the driving was difficult, and here I was driving a van with people I’d never met before. What were they expecting from me? What if I get into an accident? God, I wish my foot didn’t hurt so I could run instead.
My apprehension was put to rest once we arrived and got going. In fact, it was one hundred and eighty degrees different. This was a weekend that I will never forget. To travel 197 miles in 24 hours on little to no sleep with seven other people crammed into a van with sweaty running clothes, shoes, boxes of Powerbars, gels, cooler full of smoothie drinks sandwich meat, and of course, Redbull.
We started at the second to last start time; it is very strange when my wife, who had the first leg in our van, was running at one o’clock in the morning. And to make matters worse, our team was running in last place. So, for her leg, she literality had to run by herself in the dark with a flashlight.
So, for the rest of the night we were running just ahead of the clean-up van, and I think it was getting everyone a bit down. But it didn’t last long as the new day dawned with both teams running with a vengeance as they ended up passing 186 teams to end up 93rd over all and 13th in the mix team division.
People said that this was an event different from anything else. And, you know, they’re right. It’s different from doing triathlons, it’s different then going for a long, long run by yourself where you get into that “thinking mode” about life. This truly has it all: working with others, and learning to push yourself harder then you thought you could go in your entire life. And it’s about meeting new people, and making new friends.
And finding out a hell of a lot about yourself.
We can’t wait for next year.
For those of you who have done the Hood to Coast you’d understand. For those who haven’t there is always next year.
Last week my wife and I were to be part of a Hood to Coast realy team for the 24-hour relay race from Mt. Hood to Seaside, Oregon. Neither of us had ever done anything like this before. With my foot still recovering from Plantar Fasciitis, I decided that I would contribute to the effort by driving one of the vans.
When you’re thrown into a race at the last minute, along with people who you never met before this could be a recipe for a nightmare weekend. I envisioned myself staring out the driver’s side window just wanting to get the hell out of this mess; glancing into the review mirror to see twisted faces of spite staring back at you, and knowing that they are “talking about you” the entire time.
I was really nervous going into this because I had heard from others who had participated that the driving was difficult, and here I was driving a van with people I’d never met before. What were they expecting from me? What if I get into an accident? God, I wish my foot didn’t hurt so I could run instead.
My apprehension was put to rest once we arrived and got going. In fact, it was one hundred and eighty degrees different. This was a weekend that I will never forget. To travel 197 miles in 24 hours on little to no sleep with seven other people crammed into a van with sweaty running clothes, shoes, boxes of Powerbars, gels, cooler full of smoothie drinks sandwich meat, and of course, Redbull.
We started at the second to last start time; it is very strange when my wife, who had the first leg in our van, was running at one o’clock in the morning. And to make matters worse, our team was running in last place. So, for her leg, she literality had to run by herself in the dark with a flashlight.
So, for the rest of the night we were running just ahead of the clean-up van, and I think it was getting everyone a bit down. But it didn’t last long as the new day dawned with both teams running with a vengeance as they ended up passing 186 teams to end up 93rd over all and 13th in the mix team division.
People said that this was an event different from anything else. And, you know, they’re right. It’s different from doing triathlons, it’s different then going for a long, long run by yourself where you get into that “thinking mode” about life. This truly has it all: working with others, and learning to push yourself harder then you thought you could go in your entire life. And it’s about meeting new people, and making new friends.
And finding out a hell of a lot about yourself.
We can’t wait for next year.
posted by Bradj at 11:18 AM
2 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Just found your blog...
I've done HTC 6 times and want to do it 6 more times so I can run each leg.
Someday I'll be able to say "I've run from Timberline Lodge to Seaside. It took me 12 years, but I did it!"
I was at Pac Crest, too. That is my FAVORITE event every year. I love it. I've done the 1/2 iron du twice and the 1/2 iron tri twice and plan to be back again in 07. I'll use it as a gauge for my training in prep for Ironman Canada in August 07.
See ya out on the roads....
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