Hood to Coast

The annual Hood To Coast Relay is an overnight, long-distance relay race held in the U.S. state of Oregon, annually in late August, traditionally on the Friday and Saturday before the Labor Day weekend. It is one of the longest and largest relays in the world (with 12,600 in Hood To Coast Relay, 18,000 total participants, including Portland To Coast Walk Relay and High School Challenge Relay). The Hood To Coast has filled its team limit for the past 26 years, and 19 straight years on Opening Day of the lottery.

The course runs approximately 320 km (200 mi) (the course length changes by 1-5 km each year due to small changes made by race organizers) from Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Mount Hood, the tallest peak in Oregon, through the Portland metropolitan area, and over the Oregon Coast Range to the beach town of Seaside on the Oregon Coast.

Walkers and high school teams may choose to compete in the Portland To Coast Walk or Portland To Coast High School Challenge respectively, both of which are held in conjunction with the main relay and start in downtown Portland instead of Mount Hood.

Hood to Coast added a Chinese counterpart called Hood To Coast China, or "H2C China" in conjunction with Yao Ming's company, Starz Sports. In July 2017, the inaugural Hood To Coast China (limited to 200 teams) started on the mountain at Genting Resort Secret Garden (site of the 2022 Winter Olympics), traversing rolling grasslands and an entire course closed to vehicles, finishing 109 miles later in Zhangiakou, to create acclaim within China.

The relay was started by Portland architect Bob Foote, who was then president of Oregon Road Runners Club. The first relay in 1982 drew eight teams that ran 165 miles from Timberline to Kiwanda Beach near Pacific City, Oregon. The relay grew rapidly to over 400 teams by 1986. In 1989, the finish area was moved to Seaside where it remains today.

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