The 2016 Hood to Coast has come to a close and the 2017 lottery selection is already underway. So this is a perfect time to review how the weekend went and how the StowAway met the needs of two teams in the race.
The Hood to Coast is a one of the longest and largest relays in the world. In fact, the Hood to Coast has filled its limit on opening day for the past 18 years. According to the Oregonian, there were 1,050 teams of twelve people running nearly 200 miles from Mt. Hood to Seaside.
Each twelve-person team is allowed two vehicles for the Hood to Coast (no larger than a standard-sized van). With those limitations, you can see why some teams might run the Hood to Coast with a StowAway MAX Hitch Cargo Carrier for their gear. The StowAway simply slips into the hitch receiver, adding extra space without adding an extra vehicle, plus with the swing away frame you can still access your team’s gear in the back of the rig without it really slowing you down.
Here’s how two teams of Nike employees used their StowAways for this popular event. Team One put much of their gear and clothes into their StowAway. Team Two used their StowAway as a giant cooler filled with ice, snacks, and water bottles. Which was perfect use for a hot day!
- Look how the StowAway can be used as an ice chest!
This year’s Hood to Coast had some brutal temperatures, especially for the Pacific Northwest. The high for the run this year was a grueling 96 degrees. However, the temperatures no matter how high or how low stopped these devoted groups of runners. Easy access to their drinks and snacks really helped keep the teams of Nike employees going.
Emma Gray from the Sloth Squad, a member from one of the many other dedicated Hood to Coast teams, spoke about this epic relay. She said that the heat on Leg One and the lack of sleep were brutal. Emma described the best part of the Hood to Coast was experiencing the amazing camaraderie and endless support (and wickedly awesome humor) of her team. “It was SO fun!” replied Emma.
While Hood to Coast is completed for this year (and let’s be honest we aren’t all going to be running on one of the teams…ever) there are ways that we can be prepared for other explorations for this fall. Here is a “how to” packing list for running, races, relays, pumpkin patching, whatever the task may be!
Adventure Packing List
- Water
- Carbohydrates
- Electrolytes
- Sunscreen
- Rain Jacket/Poncho
- Change of Clothes
- Change or Shoes
- Flashing Vest
- Sleeping Bag
- Baby Wipes
- Trash Bag
- Pain Relievers
What would your fall packing list include? Regardless, consider the StowAway Carrier for help transporting your gear for all of your activities. It has lots of room and the hitch mount swings out for easy access to the back of your vehicle. Take a look around the StowAway product line to see if there is something that might fit your needs.
In the meantime, for a more specific and comprehensive packing list for Hood to Coast check out this blog and their amazing “how to” packing list:
Run Oregon blog Hood to Coast Packing List