While many of us jog a bit to stay healthy, most of us would think that running for 24 hours over a distance of 180 miles to be a bit over the top. But that is exactly what a team of 12 runners from Price will be doing this weekend.
The group of 12 will be participating in a relay event called the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay. They will cover a course that extends from Logan down to Heber and back north into Park City for the finish.
This is the first time a team from Price has participated in this event according to team member Nancy Cammans. Staci Black has spearheaded the Price team and is the team captain. Each of her team will run legs of the course that can range in distance from three to eight miles apiece. Each runner will also run three legs each spread out over the course of the race period.
Some of the legs of the race are easy to moderate. A few can be down right brutal as the leg that traverses over Deer Valley resort will be. The relay continues through the night. The team will take sleeping bags and camp out somewhere along the route while members of their team continue to take their turns on the road.
The team is divided into two groups of six. In the first half of the relay, the first six will run their legs of the race while the other group rests and prepares to finish off the event. Then the first six will get to take a break and the second six will take over. They will leap frog each other in two support vans, providing drinks, encouragement and support as needed.
It is both a fun and competitive race. Some elite runners will be in the race for personal best times. Other teams, like the one from Price will participate to have fun and just say they did it. Their team name Run!4Fun! reflects their attitude.
Not only are prizes awarded for win, place and show; but many will run in costumes and prizes will be given out for costumes and vehicle decorations and other crazy categories.
Nine of the twelve members are Price residents. Captain Staci Black’s biggest headache through the last six months has been keeping a team together. “I have had three different teams already. Eight people have needed to be replaced. Also the logistics of making sure we have everything and getting everyone where they need to be.”
As of now the team consists of Black and her husband Stewart and her son Corbin. Also on the team are Ed and Kim Rasbold, Nancy Cammans, Wendy Crane Kim Toler, Jared Haddock, Lynette Shumway, Patrick Clifford, and Danny Bush.
Cammans was a bit anxious about the upcoming event. “We have had such crazy weather to train in and I didn’t get my miles in last week so I am a little nervous.” They began their training back in January and have had to endure cold, wet and windy weather. It has only been warm for just a short time so that might affect the group if the heat cranks up during the day.
The race will kick off at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20th and the Price team is shooting to wrap up their race on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.. The team is using this event as a fundraiser for the Carbon High golf team.
[dfads params='groups=4969&limit=1&orderby=random']
[dfads params='groups=1745&limit=1&orderby=random']