Our Communities

The Hood To Coast/Portland To Coast Relays have several community building programs that help us to be good neighbors and contribute positively back to the communities in which our participants live, work and play.

Attention to the human and environmental impact of the world’s largest running and walking relay offers an indication as to why the Relays have begun a dedicated mission to improve upon the relationships of communities in which it passes through.

Since its founding in 1982, The Hood To Coast Relay has striven to become more socially and environmentally active, "but it wasn’t very well known or organized initially," recalls Founder Robert Foote.  In 1997, Hood To Coast along with affected County permit specialists decided to put a maximum cap on the number of Hood To Coast teams that would be admitted to the race every year.  The 1,000 team HTC cap thus put a limit on traffic congestion, noise and the environmental “footprint” the race leaves on communities.

The Relays have grown increasingly active in counties in which the race runs through, pursuing local scout troops, cheerleading teams, boys & girls clubs, church groups and schools for work related to the event in which the race is able to contribute funds back to.  For example:

Since 1988, Hood To Coast has donated nearly 3% of its annual pretax earnings to a multitude of non-profit organizations, partners, and groups.   The Hood To Coast/ Portland To Coast Relays have also been in support of its charity of choice, The American Cancer Society for the past 13 years.  This year, donations to The American Cancer Society from participants, sponsors and the race exceeded $224,000!

Hood To Coast continues to focus on measuring the costs it incurs through course clean-up, recycling, and community involvement projects to better understand the relay’s positive economic and social relations, and realize areas to improve upon. 

Hood To Coast no longer focuses solely on just “making sure participants have fun and stay safe.”  For the last several years, organizers have created an environmentally sustainable program of recycling plastic water bottles at the race Start Area and the Beach Finish Party.  As well, improvements are in place for course clean up, eliminating waste, building proactive community relationships, improving safety, and of course, delivering the greatest and largest running and walking relay experience in the world!

Environmental Investment

The Hood To Coast and Portland To Coast Relays are making a sustained effort to integrate policies and programs throughout all operational aspects to minimize its environmental impact along the 197 mile course. As a benefit to all participants, in partnership with Fred Meyer, special bins are produced for the event, for plastic water bottle recycling at the HTC Start and Finish Areas.  Last year alone, over 20,000 water bottles were recycled at the Finish!

The Hood To Coast/Portland To Coast office has received a RecycleWorks Award and been recognized from 2008-2011, by The City of Portland for its environmentally sustainable business practices.  Through recycling, waste reduction and sustainable purchasing, the HTC office looks to continue to make environmentally conscious decisions.

“We are challenging our participants to engage in more environmentally connected and conscious actions to protect the beauty of the local Oregon terrain we run through,” remarks Hood To Coast VP Felicia Hubber. In future race years, Hubber would like to implement additional environmentally sound projects, such as giving teams who prove they will buy 'green tags' to offset their pollution impact on the course, more favorable start times, as well as implementing online registration options to reduce paper waste. That, in the end, is what responsible management is about: understanding and offsetting some of the effects of participant activities, to create long-term environmental programs that benefit everyone along the course.

Here are six quick and easy to-do tips to make yourself a more responsible runner/walker.  Putting a little effort into being “green” can really be easy!

Reduce Your “Footprint” on the Relay Road:

#1 Use Rechargeable Batteries. Many remote areas of our course don’t have disposal facilities for all of your drained batteries, so travel with rechargeable ones and you’ll save money while keeping thousands of corrosive batteries out of Oregon landfills.

#2 Don't Pack Your "Packages". Limit the packaging you buy or bring, and take re-usable containers for things like toiletries and post-run snacks, rather than one-time travel size containers which just add to waste.

#3 Throw Away Properly! This is a no brainer, but please remember to not litter.  Every little piece adds up.

#4 Use Biodegradable Products. Often available at camping or outdoor stores, biodegradable products make a big difference when traveling or accidentally left behind in the pristine Oregon mountain and coastal forests.

#5 Buy Items That Will Have A Lasting Impact. Think about purchasing team food, snacks and miscellaneous items from locally owned markets, shops and restaurants along the course to support Oregon growers and small business.