Hood to Coast Relay 2008

Okay, so this is my junk! I have run this relay now for....I lost count....well, since 95, and I only missed one year I believe to surgery to my ankle! So, 13 years!?

Anyway, for any of you who may not know WHAT it is...it is 196 miles of CRAZY! This pic is at the top of Mt. Hood, the start of the relay. If you want to see the terrain and legs, go to www.hoodtocoast.com and check it. It's GREAT!

Anyhow, this is a fun team. I captained a "BYUsedToBees" team for 3 years in which we finished in the top 6 each yeat. That was great fun to see former athletes and reunite with them, etc...but it was a lot of work to get mormon women here to run! (always pregnant!!!). It was a lot of work, so I decided I needed to just run with a "fun" team.

This year was a great time. My first leg was short and FAST! My middle leg was LONG and BORING! My last leg was long as well...and my team stopped 2 miles into a 6.8 mile run for support. My friend came to give me water. She asked, "Why do you have blood all over your shirt?". WHAT? I looked down and sure enough, there was blood all over my tank b/c I will sometimes use it to wipe my face/nose. I fought the next 4 miles with a bloody nose - which I later found out was indicative of dehydration. EEK! I have had heat exhaustion before (ended up in ER with IV's in my arm for a couple hours)...it was NOT good, so I'm a bit paranoid about it.

Anyhow, your team finishes in Seaside, OR for a PARTY ON THE BEACH! That is the funnest part of the run! Here, I'm dancing to a live band (okay, I'm swaying, after 18 miles of hell, it's hard to dance :)

Anyway, it was great fun! My fave story is this: It was a mormon team...my dentist is on it and a bishop. Well, the bishop is in my van and at one leg, this team was going around asking us all if we would like jello shooters. She went to Rick and said, "would you like a jello shooter?". He said, "Yeah, i would like one". I looked at him and said, "YOU WOULD???". I was confused! hahaa!!! I told him it had vodka in it, then he quickly changed his mind!!!! It was hilarious!

This is my leg in the mountains...BRUTAL! Everyone should have to run this leg once! :) But all in all, it is a GREAT run that requires good training and mental toughness!

If you haven't run it yet, you should!