Sunday, August 31, 2008

Portland to Coast Relay

Unlike anything I've ever done - I participated in a relay race with 13 other women walking a combined 127 miles from Portland to Seaside. We had fun training individually and doing our 6am Saturday team walks. We had two teams of 7, each member walking either 3 or 4 legs each ranging from 4-8 miles. After 32 straight hours we made our way through cities and towns and over the Coastal Mountain range to the beach. We were loopy from being in cramped vehicles, beyond exhausted and completely unaware of what day or time it was...but we FINISHED and we had a BLAST!!

Teammates loading up the vans at 3am...no, that time is not a typo. Our team was assigned a 4am start time, so we had to have the vehicles loaded and be downtown in time to check-in and begin the race. This was the first night of no sleep!
All 14 of us at the start line in Portland...the reflector vests were required at dark, but not very conducive to picture taking!
Me and Kim (my walking partner) at the exchange before our first leg...we've been awake all night and waiting...we're finally ready to go!
Keeping the pace along the roads through St. Helens. My 3 legs totaled almost 20 miles - Whew!
A ragged but happy bunch on the beach at the finish! From the talented quick changes in the porta-pottys, to the chocolate milk "power drinks", to Debbie's endless singing of oldies, to road kills and re-kills - it was great fun and fantastic memories. Great job "Celestial Soles"...let's get training for next year.


3 comments:

Leah said...

Wahoo-great job!!!

brooke romney said...

Way to go! That actually sounds like fun.

Holly or James said...

Wow! That is WAY impressive! Great Job Mandy!