Portland to Coast Walk

Craziness… absolute craziness I tell ya! Soooooo much fun! I was recruited by a team that had someone drop out at the last minute (2 weeks before) and I was scared out of my mind that I would drop dead on the side of the road. No need to fear! I had the most awesomest time ever!
Between counting road kill, cheering on my team mates, sleeping in a crowded field (for 3 short hours), covering myself in dollar store glowsticks for my 3am leg I can’t wait for next year! Apparently, my 13 minute mile is no match for the serious power walkers though, they were flying past me in a borderline run like a swarm of hungry locusts. Next year, I’ll be back and I’ll actually train so I can kick your wiggling little butts! I’m coming for you too Nike… WATCH OUT!!!

There’s an entire goddam country to do your wiggle walking in. Is it absolutely necessary to clog up a major highway? Why don’t you go out in the middle of Nevada or across the salt lake or something?

‘The Mother of All Relays’ which also claims to be the largest walk relay in the world. And guess what… for about 2 miles of the 127 mile race, I was the leader (suck it Nike!!!)
This is one of Oregon’s great events and it is held in tandem with the Hood to Coast running relay. The walk relay starts early (4:00a on Friday in Portland under the Hawthorne Bridge) and the runners start nipping at our heels beginning Friday afternoon when they begin their race at Timberline Lodge.
This was my first time as a participant and what I learned and experienced could fill a book.
I’ll share just a couple high and lowlights…
**Holy crap it is big — 50 states and 40 countries represented. The walk relay has 400 teams; roughly 4,800 walkers! And a whole lotta vans (teams are split in half with six walkers in each van).
**My god it is early — meeting my teammates at 2:00a was brutal. We were in Van 1 and had the first start time at 4:00a along with about 30 other teams in the first wave.
**Sunrise/​Sunset — my first leg was along Front Avenue and Highway 30 past the St. John’s Bridge and Linnton. The first walker on our team was crazy fast so I left my checkpoint in first place. I got the motorcycle with the flashing light as a pace car. Insanely cool!!!
**Competition — Most people are in it for fun, but there are competitive teams and lets face it competitive people. Most teams log ‘Roadkill’ and lets say some people walk a fine line between walking and running. After my initial thrill of leading the race I was passed, repeatedly, by walkers and I tell you each one was a stab to the heart. It is a good thing no one could hear the stream of invective I was letting loose in my head. My second leg was at night as the sun was going down in Birkenfeld along highway 202.
**Sleep is more important than hygiene. I surprised myself by learning to sleep anywhere. And showers frankly are optional in my book. Sorry vanmates!
**If the porta-​potties a rockin’… no, I didn’t see anyone having that much fun, but I have a new appreciation for our little portable commodes. Being at the beginning of the race, I can tell you there is nothing as sweet as a minty fresh porta-​potty. They were well stocked and plentiful.
**Team spirit — (see photos) — the vast majority of teams had funny names and the vans were decorated with lights, posters and totally themed out. Some of my favorite names — Wonder Women (they were all dressed like Wonder Woman), Our Drinking Team has a Walking Problem, 11 thongs and a Granny Panty, No Teacher Left Behind, Tutus and Tattoos (this was a law firm and they all wore tutus!), Hell on Heels (stilletos everywhere) and every pun about walking imaginable.
**Driving and walking don’t mix — there was just some scary stuff happening on the roads. Every years there are a few pedestrian and auto collisions and it is amazing there aren’t more. Factor in little to no sleep, country roads and distractions and you feel happy to make it out unscathed.
**Locals — at several of the exchange points, local school groups or neighbors had food and drinks for sale. They were incredibly cool and friendly and it is a great fundraiser.
**Exchanges — difficult under the best of circumstances. So hard to gauge when you think your walker will arrive (legs are between 4 and 8 miles). The exchanges are crowded, there are cars everywhere and then you need to switch back and forth with your other van. At our last van exchange at 2:30a our van left us hangin’ for 1−½ hours. We were not happy campers.
**Bonding — like a backpacking trip through Europe, you will love or hate your vanmates by the end of this experience. Lack of sleep, stress and general mayhem forge an amazing bond. I feel so lucky that I had a great team and my experience was phenomenal.
**Seaside — woo-​hoo you survived and cross the finish as a team on the beach! Well organized for team photos, getting your medals, music, freebies and a chance to celebrate.
Now, I should probably take that shower.