Hood to Coast Relay: Leg 31 "The Final Carnage"

Did you know that the Hood to Coast Relays let in +200 teams this year? Multiply that by 2, you have the number of vehicles on an already crowded highway.  We were in bumper to bumper traffic from Mist, OR (leg 24/25 exchange) to the next major van exchange at 30/31.

Finally, we arrived to the van exchange and the Honey Buckets were calling to us.  Taunting us with their long lines of runners that had not yet pooped today. Partially stashed with toilet paper. Need to wipe...do you feel lucky? 

"You know you have to go...if not now, smack dab in the middle of your leg, running uphill.  Don't get DQ'd for taking a dump in a bush.  Poop now."

 Hmmmm.

Will I make it?

Got. to. go!

The realization that we were running our third legs hit...as well as an adrenaline surge.  Pictures ensued:

 Me, Casey, Kim, Susan, Tonia, Harmony, and XLMIC complete with 1 maternity tight.

Traffic was making us nervous, so my van-mates departed to the next exchange.  We had ZERO cell service, so I had no idea when I would be receiving the relay slap bracelet from Lisa.

Ready rock leg 31

AfterNUUN Delight had been in front of us most of the race, so I stayed to side of the relay exchange and watched for Jen (nuun) to receive the bracelet.  I figured I'd take her spot once she took off.

As I was sipping my nuun, I heard "TEAM (9-8-1)!!"  What?  I ran to the exchange area looking for Lisa.  There she was!  It was 11:51 a.m. and we were 30 minutes ahead of our projected exchange time!

I grabbed the bracelet and took off.  Leg 31 was only 4.0 miles and rated "MODERATE", the easiest of my 3 legs. The first part was downhill and felt glorious!  I had barely taxed these muscles...bring on the incline.

This was my most beautiful run as well...or maybe that's because I could enjoy my surroundings and not go cross-eyed climbing a hill?  Parts of the highway were shaded, protecting me from the already rising temps. After 3 miles, I approached a series of hills and my hamstrings pretty much flipped me off.  I told them to suck it up; this was it.

I ran to exchange 31/32 knowing Kim would be surprised by my early arrival, so I began yelling her name. "Kim! Kim!"

Luckily my tall buddy Mel on AfterNUUN Delight saw me coming and sprinted to our Nuun Platuun van.  She even brought me water.  Love, love her.

Kim hustled from the van after being prompted by Mel and I handed off.  DONE.  Sub 8 min/mile pace finally.

 A pose with my running buddy Harmony post-leg 31

 Tommie Copper sleeves felt oh-so-good on my taxed calves

Kim post leg #32

Susan killing leg 33.  7 miles of "Hard" running.  This girl was in game-mode.  No deterring her mission.  Just hours before she was this sweet image:

Harmony preparing for her final leg #34 (which she dominated) and looking like a hydration model below:

Tonia arguably had one of the hardest legs #35: 8 miles of "Hard" running and her quad was shredded from earlier runs.

Rock star driver Coach Casey knew T was hurting, so he ran the last 2 miles with her.  You get it right?  He IS a stud.

 

Our very own anchor XLMIC was ready to bring it home with leg 36. She put her game face on.  I think she was channeling a tiger here. Grrr, baby. Very Grrrr.

This was it!!  When XLMIC took off we sprinted to the van in order to race to the finish line...

We were already picturing her sprinting across the line, rolling in the sand and heading directly to the Pacific Ocean.

Sadly, the traffic did not wane, and we could not make it to the finish line in time to join our teammate.  This was truly heart-breaking.  We didn't see the "Start" nor would we see the finish.

Texting like madwomen, we relied on our Van 1 teammates to inform us when XLMIC crossed the finish line:

 27 hours and 59 minutes
(Average team pace:  8:24 min/mile)

 

To quote XLMIC, "I blew my wad!"

There you have it.  An adventure of a lifetime.  Only one Hood to Coast post remains:  The Beach Party!