Hood to Coast 2023 Race Report and Takeaways
It’s really hard to put this event in a box. In all technicalities, it’s a 200ish mile relay race with 36 stages. And due to its nature, it really can't be compared to any other "standard" race distances, such as a Marathon, a 10km, or a 5km race. To some, it’s a fun run. To others, it’s the highlight race of the year. And maybe for a team of 12 runners with 12 different viewpoints and expectations, it’s going to be a little different for everyone. This year is my 7th year running it in a row (6 if you exclude the virtual hood to coast from 2020). As I get a little older and get more miles underneath my feet, my own viewpoint of the race has changed as well. At first, the sheer distance seemed insurmountable. As I grew as a runner, it turned more into a fun run. Now after doing it several times and seeing it from the perspective of both Vans multiple times, I take on more of an ambassador role. Of course I'm still going to try to run fast, but that's going to be ...