This summer has been so busy that I haven't had much time to think about or anticipate what I'll be doing in 15 days: running Hood to Coast with Nuun! Now that vacations are over and marathon #7 is in the books, I've actually had a chance to sit down read my leg descriptions and think about this what is about to happen. I've also started the arduous task of "Family-Prep." Which has included organizing babysitting, meal planning, pumping, meal making and freezing and more pumping all logged carefully in a spreadsheet with explicit instructions. Phew. The preparation might actually be harder than the race itself (and I haven't even started to think about packing)! Here's a look at the race details:

The race starts at the base of Mt. Hood and travels 199 miles to finish in Seaside, Oregon. It's a combinations of highway, road and trail. Some legs are run during the day others at night. After we were selected to be on the Nuun HTC team we were asked to pick which "Runner" we wanted to be. I took a look at the chart and the overall rankings for mileage and difficulty and knew I wanted to be runner #5. Maybe I'm a little crazy, but I saw those little hill icons and thought: that's me. I want that challenge. I put in my request and I am runner #5 on Team Watermelon; I'll will be running legs #5, #17, and #29.

My first leg takes us from Brightwood, OR to Cherryville, OR on Highway 26. It starts with a is a slight decline with a gradual climb of 400ft in elevation over the last three miles.

My second leg is #17 and takes us from Scappoose High School to St. Helens High School along Highway 30. The route is pancake-flat, which is fitting since there are pancakes and food (and showers!!) at St. Helens High School when I finish!

My final leg it #29 and will be another challenging run through "winding wooded sections of Highway 202," according to the leg description. It includes 550ft climb in elevation over 3.5 miles. But then an almost equal loss in elevation down to the exchange.

As much as it will be an experience it is also a race and I plan to run it as fast as I possibly can. I'm sure that my times and paces won't be record breaking for me, those hills are gonna be a challenge for sure. I have no expectations for the race other than to run my hardest when it's my turn and cheer my hardest when others are running.

As for the experience as a whole, I'm want to go into it with an open heart. I am so grateful that I've been selected to be a part of this team, I know that there are some amazing women who I'll be rubbing shoulders with over the course of the time I'm out there. Women who do things I admire: like train for the olympic trials or be mom to nine kids or homeschool or run with scoliosis. I know every woman there has a story. I know I have a lot to learn and I hope I have a lot to give too.

Have you ever run a relay? What were your legs like? How did you pace yourself? Do you have any packing suggestions?

--Sarah

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Hood to Coast: The Run Down...or is it up?

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