FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

2004 Runners at the Finish Line Expo.

What is the Colorado Relay?
What is OB Wilderness?
How do I register a team?
Who do I write our team's registration fee check to?
When is the last day to register?
What if I have fewer (or more) than 10 runners?
How do I find a team to run with?
Does my team need to provide two official volunteers?
Who has to sign the waivers?
Can I run with a pacer?
Can I get a donation receipt?
I'm worried about running at night, what can I do?
Leg 11 looks gnarly. Do I need trail running shoes?

What is the Colorado Relay?
The Colorado Relay is a 24-hour, 170-mile team relay race from Georgetown to Carbondale, CO. Most participants run on teams of 10 and are responsible for three specific legs of the race. Alternatively some teams have 5 runners (Ultra Teams) and others have between 6 and 12 (Non-Conformist category). Categories.

What is Outward Bound Wilderness?
Outward Bound Wilderness is part of Outward Bound USA, the Nation's leading, nonprofit adventure-education organization serving and supporting four wilderness schools, two urban centers and a primary and secondary school-reform program. Outward Bound programs emphasize personal growth through experience and challenge in the wilderness, boardrooms and classrooms in the United States and around the world. Students develop self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, environmental and community stewardship in all of the Outward Bound programs and courses. To find out more, visit the Outward Bound Wilderness website.

How do I register a team?
To register, click on "Registration" at the top of this page. This will bring you to our registration database where the team captain will create a login and a password for your team. Simply enter your team information and submit your non-refundable entry. Your login and password will allow you to access your team information at any time to further update, make changes, etc. After we receive your entry form, we will email the team captain an invoice for the registration fees.

Who do I write our team's registration fee check to?
Please submit your team payment with the invoice that is e-mailed to you after we receive your team registration in the database. You can make your payment by credit card or by check (payable to the Colorado Relay). Details about where to send the payment details are on the invoice and at the bottom of every web page. Make all checks payable to:

Colorado Relay
444 Ponderosa Dr
Evergreen, CO 80439

When is the last day to register?
The Colorado Relay Classic (170 miles) is limited to the first 150 teams who sign up, so register early. We will reach our team limit early early in the summer. Please note that registration fees increase on several key dates throughout the year. Please see "Registration" for these dates.

What if I have fewer (or more) than 10 runners who want to participate?
If you are looking for additional runners to join your team, please take advantage of our team matching system. Just post a message including your e-mail address and solo runners are sure to contact you. You can also look for runners without a team who are posting messages. The "Non-Conformist" Category has been created for teams who lose (or gain) runners at the list minute or teams who want to alter their running order or number of legs run. Teams can contain 6-12 runners who run in any order, with no set number of legs to be run.

How do I find a team to run with?
If you are a solo runner and are looking to join a team, please take advantage of our team matching system. Just post a message including your e-mail address and a team is sure to contact you. Be sure to continually check back and scan other runner's messages.

Does my team need to provide two official volunteers to work on the course?
If any one runner on your team lives within 100 miles of any point along the course, your team must provide two Official Volunteers to work at an assigned position along the route. Please enter your Official Volunteer's contact information into your team registration form. Your Official Volunteer's will be contacted by our volunteer coordinator in August with further details and responsibilities. For more detailed information on Volunteers, see the Volunteers page.

Who has to sign the waivers?
Anyone involved with the Colorado Relay on race day must sign a waiver. This includes all runners, van drivers, personal volunteers, pacers and Official Volunteers. The waivers are to be submitted to the race organizers (at the start line), by their team captain, on or before race day. You can download a participation waiver form off this website. Please see the Waiver Page.

Can I run with a pacer?
Team vehicles MUST drive ahead to the next Exchange Point. They CANNOT trail or pace the active runner along the route. However, during all dusk, dark and dawn hours (when reflective vests and headlamps/flashlights are required), a runner may have a pacer on foot. The pacer must follow the same rules and requirements as the runner. Ultra runners may have a pacer throughout the race. Please see specific Ultra Team Information for details. Remember, any pacer MUST sign a waiver form and be entered into the DB or risk disqualifying their team or being assessed a time penalty.

Can I get a receipt for my team's donation?
Your team captain will receive a thank you note for all donations made to the Beneficiary of the race. You may specify how many people on your team (and other donors) get a letter. These letters are sent directly to the team captain and that person distributes them. This note can be used as a receipt to enable you to deduct the donation properly in your taxes.

I'm worried about running at night, what can I do?
Lots of people get worried about night running. Hopefully it will ease your fears to know that in the eight year history of the Relay we have never had a problem with dangerous animal encounters. Certainly some legs are more prone to animal encounters than others and it certainly always matters the time(s) of day/night that you're running your legs. Please take precautions and report out any incidents you have with dogs (the most common) or other animals.
 
Here are some precautions to take:

• Arrange for a pace-runner. Find a friend to run with you. Even a late-night leg might get takers. Pose the question as the option for an adventure. You'll certainly learn who your friends are. Perhaps you know someone who wanted to do the race but can't do all 3 legs or you can research running clubs in your area and request someone to run with. Also, check with other runners on your team to find a friend to pace you for a leg. If all else fails you might explore running a different set of legs on your team if a leg concerns you.
• Always keep your headlamp on. This helps lions distinguish you from a deer. Lions typically don’t want anything to do with humans. "I lived and trained in a canyon with one of the highest mountain lion populations for two years and never had a problem."
• Make plenty of noise. Animals typically only attack when startled, so let them know you’re coming. A bell is a good way to do this.
• Run “heads up.” Try to avoid getting tunnel vision. Know what’s going on around you. We strongly discourage the use of walkmen/Ipods at night.
• Find another runner on the route. There are times when you don't have another runner close by, but if you do, ask to run together.
  

Leg 11 looks gnarly. Do I need trail running shoes?
It’s not too gnarly. I rode it with the race director 4 weeks ago and the majority of it is great single track trail. Because it’s the Colorado Trail it gets plenty of use and plenty of “tending”. However, like most high alpine Colorado trails, it has areas of broken rock, roots, erosion control (water bars, etc.) and you just have to be careful and focused. I think if you are used to running on roads and you don’t pay attention you could go down. However, if you run some trail you’ll be fine and so will your shoes. That said, a little extra support isn’t bad either.