Blue Ridge Relay Training Plan

Last weekend Shannon, my sister Monique, and I ran the 2010 Blue Ridge Relay on the Carolina Godiva Mixed Team.
We had no idea what to expect. In retrospect, it would have been good for us to do some "relay specific" training to prepare for this unique challenge.

So before I give my race report, I thought I would share my training plan for Blue Ridge Relay rookies.

The Running-Down Blue Ridge Relay Training Plan

1. Rent a van, and park it in your driveway. Dump the contents of your recycling bin and garbage can inside of it. Add a few days of dirty laundry and mix well. Put a humidifier inside and let it run.
2. Get a box of food. It does not matter what it is, because you won't want to eat it.
3. Rent a porta-john and put it next to the van. Request one that is already full and not cleaned yet.
4. Get an old pair of sunglasses and scratch up the lenses with sandpaper. These will be worn at night and in the morning to simulate fog.
5. Assemble your team of 4-12 people, and sit in the van for several hours.
6. Wait until the first person closes their eyes and starts to fall asleep.
7. Immediately drive 3-10 miles away, and pull over on the side of a busy interstate with cars flying by at 80 miles an hour.
8. Push the sleeping person out of the van and tell them to run back.
9. Return the van to the driveway and wait until the runner finds their way back. Return to step #6 another 35 times.
10. If you don't live in the mountains, you will need to simulate the 13% inclines/declines by pounding your legs with a rubber mallet.

Next up... 2010 Blue Ridge Relay Race report!