What time does the race begin on Day 1, and what time does it typically end on Day 2?

Team starts are staggered throughout the day: slower teams (10+ min/mile pace) start first with elite teams (sub 7 min/mile pace) starting hours later. The first wave of teams will start between 5:00 and 6:00 AM and the last wave between 11:00 AM and noon. When a team starts is dependent on its average pace.

What happens if my team falls behind pace?

Teams need to maintain a minimum of a 10:30 pace in order to arrive before exchanges close. Teams that do not maintain this pace will need to either withdraw from the relay, start runners concurrently, or drive ahead and skip some legs to get caught back up to the field. We’ve found that if a team falls behind pace, it happens about halfway through the race. It helps for teams to accurately enter their times so that they are given an appropriate start time. Teams that cannot realistically maintain a 10:30 pace should plan on having runners running concurrently.

When will starting times and volunteer assignments be made?

Both team-starting times and volunteer assignments will be given the week after registration closes, which is three weeks before race day. The total number of teams and volunteers available for the relay must be determined before the final number of volunteers and exchange can be determined. Volunteers will pick their own assignments online in a first-come, first-serve process. Starting times and the online selection of the volunteer’s assignment will be announced shortly after registration closes.

Do I have to have a complete team before I register?

No, but you must have a captain. The rest of your team (and volunteers, if applicable) can be entered into the online database after registration. Captains have until three weeks before the relay date to make additions/changes to their teams.

When entering my team in the database, does my team have to registered in our running order?

No. A list of your team’s running order won’t be due until the morning of the race.

After registering a team, can the fields (team name, email addresses, 10k time, etc.) be modified or changed?

All fields in the online registration may be edited by the person who logs in (presumably the captain) — except for the team name and the volunteer option. If a team wishes to change their team name or volunteer option, the captain would need to contact the GMR director directly.

Can a standard team have more than 6 runners but less than 12?

Yes, a standard team can have between 7-12 runners. It will be considered a standard team category and will be charged the standard registration rate.

Can an ultra team have less than 6.

Yes, an ultra team can have between 4-6 runners. It will be considered an ultra team category and will be charged the ultra registration rate.

Can the signed waivers be brought to the start?

Yes, the preferred method is for waivers to be turned in at the start on race day. Waivers will be needed for all people involved with your team, including runners, volunteers, and non-running drivers.

What if there is a catastrophe, such as a forest fire before or during the event?

Green Mountain Relay will do everything in its power to hold the relay as advertised, but due to the nature of the event, extenuating circumstances not under the control of the event organizers, may necessitate course changes, or even cancellation, for the safety of the participants. These circumstances include, but are not limited to: weather and other forces of nature, last-minute road closures and construction, or forest fires. As the event has already had many expenses that cannot be recouped, if any of these events do occur, the event will not be rescheduled for that year, and no refunds, credits, or discounts for future races will be offered.

I read that “signage” is provided, but I was uncertain as to how well the routes are marked. Are they marked well enough that it would be difficult to get lost or go off course?

Every turn will be marked with signs. Detailed maps with written directions are also available to download and print out, and it is strongly recommended that each runner study his or her leg before the start. Carrying the map for each leg is a good idea too, since we are not responsible for the destruction of  signs due to weather or tampering.

I know that the night runners are required to have a reflective vest, a flash light, and a red blinking light, but how dark and how alone are most runners?

Our relays travel through rural and isolated areas, so the only well-lit sections of the course will be those that pass through small towns. The Green Mountain Relay takes place on or near the summer solstice for maximum daylight.

Unless the team is way ahead or far behind the main pack of teams, runners should not feel particularly isolated.

Has there ever been any concern or issues with animals (wild or domestic) in the middle of the night?

Encountering fauna is always a possibility, but the amount of vehicle traffic and runner traffic resulting from the race is going to be significantly more than usual in the area, and animals typically avoid this increased activity. We recommend wearing “bear bells” (essentially jingle bells that you can attach to your shoes or a belt) and carrying pepper spray that attaches to your hip if you are particularly nervous about wildlife.