Reach the Beach: In Pictures and Numbers

This weekend I had the chance to run Reach the Beach, a 200 mile relay that takes teams from Cannon Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to Hampton Beach on New Hampshire's coast. The amount of writing it would take to do justice to the two days would require that you sit at your computer for quite some time. So I'm gonna keep it simple with just numbers and pictures, hoping to capture the experience as best I can. 5- new friends family members. It's amazing how running can bring strangers together and you walk away friends. There's something about running, cheering and sharing cups of coffee at 3am that does that.

26.44-miles I ran between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon

519-teams who crossed the finish line in Hampton

12th- in the Freestyle Ultra division

2.25-hours of sleep I got during between Friday and Saturday

32:15-total hours and minutes it took our six-person team to run 205 miles

5.25-Legs that I ran. I pulled out of my fourth leg, due to increasing discomfort in my calf/knee. My popliteal tendonitis reared it's ugly head.

1768-total elevation gain over five legs

1-special delivery from Stonyfield Farm the night before to stock our team up on delicious Organic Yogurt Smoothies and Greek Yogurt

8:37-average pace for all my runs

2-ziplock bags full of Health Warrior Chia Seed Bars consumed by #TeamSMURFS

43-"roadkills" (people I passed while running. 2-legs I ran pushing through considerable discomfort in my calf. I was determined to finish what I started.

3:48:15-hours, minutes and seconds it took me to run 26.44 miles

6:34- fastest mile

11:19-slowest mile

3.5 dozen-"Relay and Rally" cookies baked for #TeamSMURFS and #TeamPumpedUpKicks

361-Days until the next Reach the Beach. Let the countdown begin

Cannon Mountain, the start of Reach the Beach.

The start, a cool 42 degrees at Cannon Mountain.

Our team was fueled by Health Warrior, Chia Seed Bars.Thanks Health Warrior!

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Shana, ready to kick off for Team SMURFS.

The hand off for my first leg through Bartlett, NH.

Refueling with Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Smoothies!

Coming into the Brass Heart Inn for exchange 10, holy hills on this leg!

A gorgeous day to see some of the most beautiful parts of New Hampshire.

Found Kate wearing her Embrace the Hill shirt in transition 6.

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Meeting up with bloggers you love=the best! Sandra from OrganicRunningMama.com and Christine from LoveLifeSurf.com.

White Lake State Park and transition 11.

Trying to sleep. Stretching out in a sleeping bag never felt so good.

Getting ready to start my third leg, leg 10 up the hills in Meredith.

At the beach waiting for Bill to run in.

If you ever have the chance to run on a relay team, take it! It is an amazing experience. I loved every minute of being on #TeamSMURFS and can't wait to do it again next year!

A huge thanks to Health Warrior and Stonyfield Farm for keeping us fueled along the way!

Have you ever run a relay? What was your favorite part?

-Sarah

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