How it All Got Started

Growing up in Lake Oswego, OR running a 24 hour relay was like breathing- everybody did it. We participated in our first relay at age 14 and caught the fire. The running, the teams, the costumes, the deliriousness, the achievement- you name it we were hooked. Attending high school and college together we dreamed of doing something meaningful that could align our passions- promoting and fostering good health and overall wellness, exposure to the outdoors and people building. All of this came full circle when we decided to take the fire we caught at age 14 and bring the Epic Relays Series to the country.

History Behind the Name

 

It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. Two inevitable things come of the rain: 1) everything is green, growing and beautiful and 2) when it’s not raining it’s like Christmas. On those clear days when the sun is shining it’s arguably the most beautiful place on earth. In high school we labeled these blessed days “Epic”. On these rare days we’d drive up Country Club Rd towards the Home of the Lakers and say, it is an Epic day, too Epic to be in school- so we’d drive to the beach or the mountains to enjoy the Epicness (much to our parent’s and teacher’s chagrin but don’t worry we graduated from high school and college). When coming up with a name for our relay series we wanted one word that captured “the best possible” and were reminded of those high school days where the best possible was simply Epic.

Epic Oregon Relay – Portland to Eugene, OR

 

The above paragraphs probably lend some insight to the origin of this relay. Connecting our home town of Portland, OR (metro) to Eugene, OR, Track Town USA in a relay was simply about linking favorites and paying tribute to one of our most solemnized heroes. Pre did as much or more for running in the US as any other person ever. Along with Nike (Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight), Bowerman as Oregon’s track coach and Eugene’s running chairman and other notable runners at Oregon the jogging boom in the US was born and the stage was set for what we see today. Set in the summer (an Epic time in Oregon) this relay combines Oregon beauty with an unparalleled running history that equals an Epic Relay.

Epic Cache-Teton Relay – Logan, UT to Jackson Hole, WY

 

This relay was really a no-brainer. Four national forests, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and a serenity that only comes from being in the middle of nowhere- not to mention an Epic finish at the foot of the Teton Mountains. We actually fell in love with this course during college on winter ski trips to Jackson Hole where it’s “steep and deep” and not cold but damn cold. Of course there’s a different but equal beauty in the summer and after our first backpacking trip through the Tetons our mind was made up, an Epic Relay was born.

 

Epic Rocky Mountain Relay – Colorado Springs to Crested Butte, CO

 

Most people think it’s strange that we waited until our third relay to bring our Series to its headquartered state of Colorado. The only thing we can say to that is some of the best things just need a little time. We didn’t want to rush into anything with this relay to make sure we could make it as Epic as possible. We’ve since been told this one is Epic on steroids- guess it was worth the wait. It’s the true Rocky Mountain experience and Crested Butte is the true Colorado experience. It’s one thing to see them from Denver International but it’s a whole other thing to run straight at them, up them and over them to where the trees don’t even grow anymore you’re so high. Where snow stays on the ground 365 days a year and where you can honestly say you’d never be doing this if it weren’t for an Epic Relay. I guess that’s what makes this one so Epic- it makes you do something you’d never do otherwise.