HOOD TO COAST

A BRIEF HISTORY OF "THE MOTHER OF ALL RELAYS"

Race founder, Bob Foote, needed a new challenge. As a 35 time marathoner and 13 time ultra-marathon runner, Bob, as well as many of his running friends were looking to test themselves in a fresh new challenge.  That's when Bob's creative mind starting churning and came up with the idea of running from nearby Mount Hood, the backdrop for the city of Portland in which he lived, to another of his favorite weekend get-aways...the beach!  A group of Bob's running friends and competitors would form relay teams, handing off every 5 miles, starting at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood and finishing in the quaint coastal town of Pacific City. As a dedicated runner, Bob knew it was something he would definitely enjoy.

The first Hood To Coast Relay took place, August 7th, 1982 on a full moon, with 8 teams of 10 runners.  Bob made simple spray paint marks on the road to indicate exact exchange points, (being a perfectionist architect, this meant exactly every 5 miles). This translated to one exchange point being in the middle of a very busy intersection in Portland!

Word got out of Bob's adventurous relay event, and the race began to take on a life of its own.  As Hood To Coast grew each year, it necessitated much safer exchange points with available parking, resulting in varying leg lengths that continue today.  In 1989, the event outgrew capacity for the town of Pacific City and moved to the beachside city of Seaside, Oregon. The distance of the event then increased to 200 miles, with teams growing in size to 12 members, in order to accommodate the extra mileage.

Hood To Coast has filled on "opening day" of registration for the past thirteen years!

In early 2006, Felicia Hubber, Bob's daughter and a long-time runner, came on board the Hood To Coast organization.  She currently serves as Race Director, and has taken on much of the responsibilities for the race; having participated in HTC six times, and attended or assisted in the race 27 of the last 30 years. Thus the Hood To Coast tradition as the "Mother of All Relays" continues for many years to come!

2012 will celebrate the 31st Annual Hood To Coast Relay 

The Largest Running Relay in the World!