From a Pro:
Wild West Relay would surely be beautiful to run (I love Leadville and all running in the Rockies).
Major decision for any relay run: Are you going to have fun, or are you going to race?
Totally different mind-set for the two. Yes, racing can be fun, but it creates tension.
Generality: Pictures look like a lot of dirt roads and the Rockies. Do you already
run on dirt of some kind? Are you comfortable with (slight) altitude stress (equal
effort will not produce same pace)? Higher/drier Rockies air means you need to drink
more. I used about 1.5 times as much water in the Rockies as I do at home (sea level
in Puget Sound).
Can you get big roomy vehicles (a van allows you plenty of room for gear
and stretching out the legs as you go). Make sure at least two people per
car are familiar with the vehicle. It can be dangerous when a thunderstorm
pops up and you are in a strange vehicle.
The choice A thingie:
a) Save something for the next leg as far as effort goes.
b) Plan to have a half-mile or so warm-up before each exchange, or agree the
runner can start the leg slowly as the muscles get loosened up (again).
c) Get refueled/rehydrated immediately after your leg ends--not thirty minutes
later, immediately.
d) Stay off your feet as much as you can.
e) Start each leg in control, warm back up
f) Might need to be able to run with a hand-bottle or fannypack hydration
system--check on how close the crew/team support car can be out on the course.
Training? The distance isn't outrageous. It's the starting and then stopping for an
extended period that you aren't accustomed to--
a) take a three or four week stretch, one or two days each week do a 3-5 miler
in the morning and again in the afternoon.
b) run Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning
c) anything else that stresses your mind and body in some cyclical sort of way
Remember you might be running at o'dark in the morning, might want to do a
night run or two--flashlights (hand-held or head-lamps) is a different sort
of running.
Long-distance relays are wonderful events and can be fun adventures--all have made great memories for me.
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