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. August 30, 2007 at 2:05 pm

    How do we sign up?

  2. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    Good question. Comment here to sign up.

  3. Steve Evans
    August 30, 2007 at 2:16 pm

    Can we do an eating marathon instead? Say, of banh mi sandwiches?

  4. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    Steve,

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

  5. August 30, 2007 at 2:22 pm

    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.

  6. m&m
    August 30, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    Sign me up!

  7. August 30, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    I’ll get a Segullah team together.

  8. Mark IV
    August 30, 2007 at 3:00 pm

    Since this is a Mormon event, I think we should be allowed to have our running done by proxy. I call first dibs on Alan Webb.

  9. Sarah
    August 30, 2007 at 3:42 pm

    I’m so confused… doesn’t everyone live all over the place?

  10. Xena
    August 30, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    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. :)

  11. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 4:05 pm

    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.

  12. August 30, 2007 at 4:14 pm

    Can I do the elliptical instead of the treadmill? Much easier on the knees!

  13. August 30, 2007 at 4:26 pm

    Xena, if we’ve got a spot open, you’re on! I’ll let you know.

  14. m&m
    August 30, 2007 at 4:32 pm

    Oh, do teams have to be based on blogs?

  15. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    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.

  16. mmiles
    August 30, 2007 at 4:46 pm

    Do we have to run the legs in order?

  17. Geoff B
    August 30, 2007 at 5:29 pm

    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.

  18. MCQ
    August 30, 2007 at 5:31 pm

    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.

  19. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 5:34 pm

    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.

  20. Jacob
    August 30, 2007 at 5:54 pm

    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.)

  21. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 6:08 pm

    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. :)

  22. August 30, 2007 at 6:08 pm

    sheesh, Geoff. You Iron Man.

  23. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    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?

  24. Steve Evans
    August 30, 2007 at 7:28 pm

    I think your idea (and your sandwich) stinks!

  25. Kaimi Wenger
    August 30, 2007 at 7:28 pm

    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.

  26. August 30, 2007 at 9:34 pm

    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?

  27. Ray
    August 30, 2007 at 9:41 pm

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

  28. Melanie
    August 30, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    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…

  29. MCQ
    August 31, 2007 at 3:33 am

    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!

  30. Geoff B
    August 31, 2007 at 9:27 am

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

  31. August 31, 2007 at 9:45 am

    I’m completely out of shape and still interested in participating – in the running competition, that is.

  32. August 31, 2007 at 11:35 am

    So how do you determine the winning team? Whomever finishes first? Whomever has the shortest collective time?

  33. August 31, 2007 at 11:45 am

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

  34. mmiles
    August 31, 2007 at 11:51 am

    I REALLY want to join a team that needs people. Please?

  35. Lupita
    August 31, 2007 at 1:13 pm

    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.

  36. August 31, 2007 at 1:20 pm

    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 …

  37. Geoff B
    August 31, 2007 at 2:02 pm

    Kaimi, M* has put together a team. See here for details:

    http://millennialstar.org/index.php/2007/08/30/taamp_s_relay_team_race

    This sounds like a lot of fun. We’re looking forward to kicking some T&S posterior.

  38. August 31, 2007 at 5:34 pm

    I like this idea a lot. Please sign up the Exceedingly Curious blog.

  39. August 31, 2007 at 7:44 pm

    We’re going to have a ZD team, though details are still being worked out.

  40. MCQ
    August 31, 2007 at 8:38 pm

    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.

  41. Ray
    August 31, 2007 at 8:47 pm

    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.

  42. Amy
    August 31, 2007 at 9:03 pm

    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.

  43. mmiles
    August 31, 2007 at 9:17 pm

    Amy–Are you related to Gina?

  44. Kaimi Wenger
    September 1, 2007 at 7:53 pm

    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?

  45. Amy
    September 1, 2007 at 10:41 pm

    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

  46. September 4, 2007 at 4:19 pm

    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

  47. Adam Greenwood
    September 4, 2007 at 4:37 pm

    If T&S doesn’t need me, I would be happy to fill in with someone else.

  48. September 7, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    We’d be happy to have you at OT, Adam. We’re still short 2 people.

  49. Amy
    September 7, 2007 at 10:45 pm

    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

  50. September 16, 2007 at 10:53 pm

    Our Thoughts is now in. We could get only three of our permabloggers to participate. We recruited 2 others.

  51. September 20, 2007 at 4:16 pm

    Have the dates been decided? My team keeps asking, but I’ve not heard.

    Are we going on the 28th and 29th of this month?

  52. Kaimi Wenger
    September 21, 2007 at 11:02 am

    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.

  53. September 25, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    What teams are there? I would be willing to do a bit of walking, but only if it’s a way of bringing defeat and shame to rival teams, preferably headed by Frank.

  54. September 28, 2007 at 1:44 am

    Does anyone still need a runner? Contact me… clbruno at hotmail. I’ll do the run tomorrow since today is the Sabbath here.

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