Reach the Beach and Hood to Coast

16:47 sounds good. i think that's what we ran to win last year. upon finishing be sure to do three things on the beach.

get in the ocean

hit the keg immediately

get the baba yaga girls drunk

Rookie,

For your sake, and mine, you better hope that we find 3 more guys quick or we'll all be running 4 legs!

I've never done leg 1, but have done leg 2 twice, including a sub 29 6.2 miles last year. I don't know how accurate that is, but I'm calling it my 10K PR.

I'm running leg 5 (if we get 12 guys). If not, the dynamics change and I may take a differnt leg.

See you in PDX!

as luck would have it, our teams are starting at the same time.

No, we're not elite, but starting with them sure beats starting in the last wave like last year. At least, we'll get to watch the studs go flying by (there are women on my team, after all ;-) ) -- AND catch a glimpse at the early exchanges. So, hilly, I will probably get to see you start -- but I'm sure our team will be well behind already by leg 3.

What does ATC stand for? Atlanta Track Club, last year's runner-up? I'll be impartial in my cheering, I promise, but it IS hard to resist the charms of a NJ guy ;-) We'll just have to scope them out before hand to see who's trash-talking ;-)

As for the winning time -- 16:47 won it last year -- BUT the course is a couple of miles LONGER this year, so I don't know if the winners will hit that time this year.

hmmmm, I wonder if I should pass that quote on to the baba yaga girls? I'd bet Robin & the others would be interested.

Gee, I just wore my old singlet for yesterday's track workout (I've only run for them once, but you've got to stick together!)

I ran on an 11 runner team (and ran 4 legs). It was *different * because you were "off-rotation" with everyone else, but otherwise it wasn't that bad.

First, recalculate all the distances figuring in that you must continue to run in order 1-10 three times, then have the first 6 people run a fourth leg. (e.g. the person who runs leg 1, would do his 4th leg at 31).

You'll have to try to put your fastest or strongest runners on legs 1-6 as they'll likely have to double (unless they get injured and you get to move up another person of the same gender).

With a mixed team, however, you ALSO have to figure out how to have women run at least 17 of the 36 legs (I think that's what the official rules say). So, theoretically, you'd be fine if you put 3 women in the first 6 legs, and saving the others for legs 7-10.

Get out the maps and calculator and figure it out before hand as it would be a nightmare to try to do it during the race. Also, be aware that you *won't* be switching vans at any of the "normal" places -- so 1) don't get lost 2) make plans to use those facilities -- food, showers, etc otherwise you will have to do without.

good luck -- and you'll get to feel really studly when you finish all 4 legs (of course, the macho Sunday morning run won't be possible ;-) )

The course is longer? I thought that they had adjusted the length of some legs, but that the overall distance was the same. Or is this perhaps the start of your pre-race tactics to completely psyche out the H2C rookie?

The course is definitely longer this year. Apparently, legs 35 and 36 have grown by 0.7 miles and 0.8 miles respectively. However, the HTC website maps (and those in the handbook) do not include the change. The website maps do indicate the distance change, but they are not changing the maps. A friend of mine who is on a Portland based team told me about the change. They told the local teams at the race packet pick-up, but the out-of-town teams will not know of this change before race day. The total length of the race is now 197.80 miles.

which McMenamin's does everyone go to? when? is anyone going to be hanging out Wednesday night? We get in early Wednesday and would like to relax a little.

This year they also moved legs 9-11 almost entirely onto the Springwater Corridor bike path -- 9 and 10 are longer, 11 shorter --

So by my count the race is now 197.8 mi long, 3.1 miles longer than last year. 16:45 would be a good time indeed -- abt 5:05 per mi. Anyone runs that, well, they'll probably win.

Traditionally, the Bucknell Alumni have led a charge to the McMenamins Tavern (a.k.a. the T & P) at 1716 NW 23rd Ave. Met them there last year, fun times.

However, this year, one of our guys has learned of a new place downtown that may be fun -- called Dante's (SW 3rd Ave & W Burnside). Seven members of Team Allegra -- the "New Jersey guys" -- who will be staying in Portland Sunday night will be holding court there. Bring your A game.

Allegra is not all Jersey, only 5/12 if I'm not mistaken. Don't want anyone thinking this is a Garden State thing.

HTC website now explains course changes in Legs 35 & 36 on "Hot News" portion of website. The maps haven't changed, but the change is explained.

what do you guys think of the 5-15-25-35 quadruple?

Very badass set, there...Tough one, but on the plus side, with all those uphills, you'll be marginally less sore afterward b/c they're low-impact.

- 5 is a total bear, don't believe the book, it's uphill almost the whole way.

- 15 -- can seem longer than it is b/c you're just going straight on a 4-lane highway at night.

- 25 is a snap. Downhill at start gives some decent momentum and it's over soon. But lack of cell phone service and abundance of traffic in that area means you have a vaguer-than-usual idea of when your 24 guy is coming in.

- 35 is one of the tougher ones, and it's so late in the going that general fatigue comes into play. Longer this year too.

I think if you take the foot off the accelerator a little on legs 5 and 15, if possible, you may get the time you lose paid back and then some on leg 35.

Good luck...

Fifteen is a good leg. It's not that long (5.3?) and there are only a couple of small hills (not that you'll notice them in the dark anyway).

I did a 3-14-25-34 rotation one year, which wasn't that bad. 25 is really easy and short -- plus, since YOU won't have run leg 1, you'll be just flying by these poor, crippled people. It's almost sad to see them. Nice and short, though not as flat as it might seem.

I'd try to get leg 34 instead of 35! 35's a pain. It's long and basically flat, but it's very boring, on gravel and it's super long. Plus, now they tagged on another .7 miles just so the parking situation is better! Even if you NEVER run with water; I think you might want to consider it if it's hot.

If you guys are doing quads, though, SOMEONE's going to get stuck with 35 as their 4th one. The only consolation will be afterward when they can brag about it. Good luck!