Announcement: The Great Bloggernacle (sorta virtual) Marathon Relay

Each relay team will consist of 5 runners. Over the course of a 48-hour period, each team will, collectively, run and/or walk a marathon (26.2 miles). Here are the current (draft) rules. Feedback is welcome.

1. Each team consists of 5 runners and/or walkers. Ideally, big blogs could field a team of permas. For smaller blogs, commenters might join in, or other bloggers.

2. The team will, collectively, run and/or walk a marathon ( 26.2 miles) over 48 hours. [Date TBA, in about a month or so] [How does Sept 28-29 look for people?]

3. There are 10 legs of the relay. They are:

1. 4.5 mi
2. 2 mi
3. 3 mi
4. 1.5 mi
5. 2.5 mi
6. 1.5 mi
7. 3.5 mi
8. 0.7 mi
9. 2 mi
10. 5 mi

(Total: 26.2 mi)

Hopefully, that gives a good mix for both experienced and less experienced runners / walkers.

4. Walking is just fine. Really! This isn’t the Olympics. Time will be kept, but really, we’re all just here to have fun.

5. The legs don’t actually have to be run in order or connecting. That would just be too complicated, logistically. So, Person 1 can run Leg 7 early in the morning, Person 2 run leg 5 later that morning, Person 3 run leg 1 in early afternoon, etc. You just have to have all done by the end of the 48 hour period. (This is where “sorta virtual” comes in).

6. Running or walking must be done, like a regular relay, on the road. Gym miles just aren’t the same as road miles. If in doubt about distance, use google maps pedometer.

7. No team member can run more than three laps. Also, if possible, try not to have the same person run the two longest legs.

8. You’re on the honor system as far as times. If you want to track yourself, such as with NikePlus, that’s fine too, but not required.

9. Take lots of pictures. Half the fun is talking about it with your friends.

10. There is no hills / climb requirement, because that would be too complicated to calibrate among teams.

In other words, run on the the flattest road you can find.

11. The winner will receive . . . bragging rights. And eternal glory. And that’s about it. No cash prizes, sorry.

(12. No making fun of Kaimi’s mile time.)

Any questions?

And by the way, the T&S team is going to completely trounce the BCC, FMH, and MM teams. Just sayin’.

54 comments for “Announcement: The Great Bloggernacle (sorta virtual) Marathon Relay

  1. Steve,

    Good idea. The running and walking will be followed by an eating marathon. Cuban sandwiches will also be an option.

  2. I’m not terribly fast (12 minute mile when I was running, and I haven’t really run in a year), but I would be willing to do one or more legs of distance up to 3 miles (preferably totaling less than 5, but negotiable) if there’s a team that would have me (note that having me on the team doesn’t require having to listen to me, so you’d be pretty safe).

    Having almost a month to train, I could be up to 5 mile distances by then if I get my shoes on and run.

  3. Kathy, I can be on team Segulla. I’m going to be doing a practice triathlon on the 29th and will be running a 5k, so put me down for the 3 mile slot. :)

  4. Sarah,

    Sure. That’s why it’s a virtual relay.

    I can run leg 1 in San Diego, on Friday morning. Kathryn run leg 2, in Utah. Ardis, leg 3, also in Utah, but in a different location than Kathryn. And so on.

    A bit artificial? Sure. But being as spread out as we are, it’s hard to do otherwise.

  5. They don’t have to, M&M. You’re free to assemble a team of, well, anyone who really wants to be on a team with you. :)

    My thought was that blog divisions seemed like a natural source of potential teams. But it doesn’t have to be that way. That just seemed like one easy way to mark off some initial groups.

  6. If I can’t organize an M* team, I’ll join the T&S team, if you’ll have me. I can do five miles at under an eight-minute pace.

  7. Having run in a completely non-virtual relay somewhat like this, I can testify of the fun that it is, but to me, most of the fun is to be had by running together. Therefore, I suggest that those that happen to be in the same city on the same team run their legs consecutively, in the same place. It’s just more fun that way, plus you can time each other, and provide water stops.

    Kaimi: Why are the legs so uneven? .7 miles is hardly worth running.

  8. McQ: I suspect that each team is going to have some mix of runners and walkers, more experienced and beginners. So I tried to create a variety of distances, so everyone could participate.

  9. Can I use one of those motorized scooters? You know, like the ones at the store for the disabled??

    (Yeah! I’m already hearing the “Booh”s and “Hiss”es.)

  10. M Miles:

    Nope, they don’t have to be run in order. That would be too complicated, I think.

    Geoff:

    We’d be happy to have you, but I’m going to look first to see how many of my co-bloggers want in. It will be more fun, competition wise, if we can both field teams. :)

  11. McQ,

    To add to the mix, and half-incorporate Steve’s suggestion (#3):

    I’ll wager you one sandwich (banh mi, Cuban, or otherwise) that the T&S team can beat the BCC team.

    Whaddaya think?

  12. Steve,

    There is nothing stinky about a good Cuban sandwich. A Cuban cigar, maybe, but we’re not wagering those. Unless McQ is more edgy than I had thought.

  13. Hey, what about the representative evangelical Baptist of Bloggernacle? You know . . . the Baptist at our Marathon

    i ran the Teton Dam marathon in Rexburg. and we even had a recent team for a 40 miler. Will have to pass this year because of LotoJa, among other things.

    But one of these days, I would like to join in on the fun, so I can whip Steve & BCC’s butts! :)

    How about that Kaimi?

  14. Would Todd (nice, if unintentional) supply the barbecue? If so, is there any good barbecue in Idaho – if Idaho exists, that is?

  15. I second Steve’s idea of an eating marathon. If you could please bring your free food to grad student housing at the University of…

  16. Kaimi: The fact that you think you can beat BCC is laughable. Have you even read the list of BCC bloggers? We have the Witch King of Angmar! Beat that!

  17. Kaimi, it looks like M* may be able to field its own team. We just need a few more people.

  18. If SunstoneBlog participates, will we be required to run/walk in the legitimate and mainstream course? That could be a problem…

  19. Come on, no prizes?? That’s what paypal is for!!
    It would give some of us non-permas something to do, besides virtual cheering/handing out water cups/stocking the portas with tp, etc.

  20. Come on, no prizes?? That’s what paypal is for!!

    Okay, Lupita, the address for PayPalling prizes is AEParshall atAOL dot com. Commence your participation at will …

  21. Rory #33: Ha, I like that! Maybe Sunstone bloggers should run only on side streets, not main streets, and only on the left side of the road.

  22. Actually, MCQ, from what I have heard, the Sunstone course should begin a bit left of center, veer suddenly to the left (where it would go directly over a huge pothole) and appear to move gradually to the right thereafter. If it actually does move right at all should be discernible only at the finish line.

  23. I’ll start a team for those who aren’t attached to any blogs. Send me an email…

    amyadair at gmail dot com

    We will come up with a team name when we get 5 people.

  24. Sounds good so far, everyone.

    Todd, we’ll be happy to have you next time. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure to add a new rule, “11. Non-member participants will be baptized prior to the race.” :P

    Vada, Geoff, Rory,

    Sounds good. The more teams, the merrier.

    And, let’s see.

    Who are our team-less participants, so far? Amy, M&M, and John? Hmm – that may be the start of a team right there?

  25. I do not know a Gina…but that’s my married name. DH has more cousins that I can count.

    No emails yet – get on the ball here people!! :P

  26. Exceedingly Curious is proud to announce we’ve recruited Paradox (of Enduring to the End — templeboundparadox dot blogspot dot com) to our team. That makes two of us.

    We still have three openings, so anyone looking for a team is welcome to sign on. If you’re interested, leave a comment here: http://exceedinglycurious.com/2007/08/exceedingly-curious-needs-runnerswalkers/

    I’m a ten-minute miler (I have old knees), so will not talk smack. However, wasn’t there a fable — something about a tortoise and a steeplechaser?

    September 28 and 29 is good for me.

    John

  27. I here for the taking. I’m super slow – like 15 minute mile slow – but I get out there and do it.

    amyadair at gmaildot com

  28. John,

    Yes. The 28th and 29th it is. It looks like there will be at least a few teams, too.

    I’ll put up a reminder announcement, later today.

Comments are closed.