Author’s Note: I never thought this would be the case, but I am a runner. It happened by chance, mostly because of my friend Frank’s family connection to the Ragnar Relay race series. The challenging distances, mildly competitive age groups, team format, focus on fun, quality products, exciting travel and adventure, was a great place to start a running career, albeit a late one.
A random collection of running (and one biking-272) race bibs.
I graduated onto a few marathons (my first being the Cape Cod Marathon; later NYC), a handful of half’s, and a few dozen local 10K and 5Ks. Two years ago, I ditched the headphones and running watch. I use the “training” time to get off the grid and let my mind wander. The motivation for running is more therapeutic than for fitness, the latter being an excellent benefit. I run a few local races each year, a Ragnar or two and add a few other races via same day registration. Otherwise, I keep an eye out for a new race, location, or challenge to keep running fun, fresh and exciting.
That brings me to the Marathon Sprint Relay format. It’s no secret to increase bodies (registrations) at marathons, most races have added – or are in the process of adding – a team relay option. For a few more logistics, race directors can add runners of all abilities to fill the gaps if marathon registrations are low. Most relay formats feature 2-5 runners that each run one “leg” (section) of the marathon route. While it makes a lot of sense to expand race day options with marathon relays generally, I suggest races take it a step further, and make the Marathon Sprint Relay format the norm. At the very least, give it a “tri.”
A “minor” hand-off/exchange area along the Ragnar Adirondacks course.
A marathon “Sprint Relay” is a more “competitively equal” version of the 2-5 person marathon relays already offered at some marathons. This format requires teams of 3 running 3, 3-mile (5K) legs — hence the “tri” references — with, one leg, presumably the last leg being 2.2 miles to build excitement near the final stretch. The runners would “hand-off/exchange” a bracelet or baton every three miles and these designated hand-off/exchange areas would be located at each mile marker already on most marathon courses.
The Marathon Sprint Relay would attract runners of all abilities especially if the same age categories (divisions) as the marathon and half were established. Additionally, the format would attract running teams from high schools (cross country and track teams compete in 5Ks), nearby colleges (cross country and track teams compete in 5Ks), or us middle-aged runners who are looking to change it up and/or for a new challenge.
Here is the proposed format (9 “legs”):
A “major” hand-off/exchange area at Ragnar Adirondacks in 2013.
Runner A runs miles 1-3 (Runner B hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 3)
Runner B runs miles 4-6 (Runner C hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 6)
Runner C runs miles 7-9 (Runner A hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning mile marker 9)
Runner A runs miles 10-12 (Runner B hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 12)
Runner B runs miles 13-15 (Runner C hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 15)
Runner C runs miles 16-18 (Runner A hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 18)
Runner A runs miles 19-21 (Runner B hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 21)
Runner B runs miles 22-24 (Runner C hand-offs/exchanges at the beginning of mile marker 24)
Runner C runs miles 25-26.2
More runners = more spectators cheering them on = more fun had by all! Thanks Team Fox for getting me across the finish line in New York City’s 26.2 in 2015.
I have pitched this idea to a handful of northeast marathon race directors with initial interest. Jack Afarian, Race Director for the Cape Cod Marathon Weekend, said, “your idea does carry some merit,” echoed by Joe Connolly, Director of Race Operations, RunVermont, “you propose an interesting idea, something that has not been on the table in the 18 years I’ve been on the staff and I’m not sure has ever been proposed.” I have to thank Joe again for actually taking the time to run through the scenario at the current Vermont City course during our exchange! Susan Rancourt, Co-Founder/CFO, Rhode Races, also shared, “this is definitely something I am interested in doing and have been debating a relay component for years.” Thank you all for taking the time to respond.
The common challenge each race director shared is the logistics of transporting the “returning” runners to the next designated hand-off/exchange(s) to run their next leg. If a marathon course was being designed today, incorporating this format into the course would be easier.
Unfortunately, it seems most current marathon courses do not have the secondary roads along the course needed to get vehicles (official race vehicles or personal vehicles) to the designated hand-off/exchange areas. A solution to this problem would be to allow, like Ragnar Road Relays, each relay team a “support vehicle” (with official race sticker/bib for race officials to allow in certain “drop off areas”) responsible for getting runners near the hand-off/exchange areas along secondary roads. That way, race officials would not be responsible for figuring out how to transport runners finishing legs at different times to the next location.
A random collection of finisher medals. To this day, I’ve only “showed” (aka, 3rd place) in one running race ever, Ragnar Cape Cod 2017.
Admittedly, those logistics could face resistance from race officials. Also, first-time relay racers may not understand the relay race “flow” at first, but the thousands of runners who have done Ragnar, Peak to Brew, Vermont 100 on 100 would not be deterred. Plus, it would provide those seasoned relay runners a “mini relay” just as competitive to those aforementioned enormous relay events, that do not require as much travel, time off or cost.
One way to determine interest is to pilot test the format with a handful of relay teams. I’m sure local running clubs would be willing to send a few 3-person teams, followed by a focus group after the event to gauge experience and feasibility of opening it up to a larger audience.
I don’t know about you, but I’m up for a new running challenge. Would you be interested in running a Marathon Sprint Relay?
