2024 Run Across Georgia Team Relay

Race Cost:
8 Person Team: $1200 / 12 Person Team: $1800 / 16 Person Team: $2400                  

Packet Pick-up: Friday, May 24, 2024, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Rivers End Campground, Tybee Island, GA

Pre-Race Meeting: 30 minutes prior to your start time at the start line.

*ALL team captains must be at the pre-race meeting.

Team Captains must bring the following items to packet pickup:

4 reflective vests
8 blinking lights
“forward facing” light with a minimum 60 lumens (i.e. headlamp)

Team Captains will pick up the following items at packet pickup:

Wrist bands (the relay “baton”)
Bibs
Runner’s shirts
Crew shirts
Safety pins
Additional last minute instructions

Start Time:

Please submit your requested start time by May 18, 2024.

We will consolidate start times and issue a starting schedule on May 22, 2022. During the race, adjust your team to arrive back in Columbus between 3:30 and 7:30 pm on Sunday, May 29, 2024.

Either take a break or double up runners to arrive in Columbus between 3:30pm and 7:30pm on Sunday, May 26th.

Finish Cutoff Times:

7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 26, 2024

The Course:

We have spent much time driving to lay out the RAG route and establish the transition points. The route is scenic, quiet and very rural. Drivers in the rural areas and most of the route will not be expecting runners. All runners must yield to all vehicles. Crew members are to monitor and guide their runners throughout the course. Each runner needs to familiarize themselves with the race course. If a runner gets off course, they must return to the route and resume the run where they left off.

Tracking:

Transitions will be marked with spray paint on the road, an orange cone, a yellow Project 42 Running sign with black arrows, and an American Flag. Each team should check in at the designated spot. Each transition will have a QR code which should be scanned by team members when the teams runner arrives.

Race Wrist Bands:

The official race wrist bands must be worn by the runner actively running.  The wrist band will be the hand-off at each Relay Transition and are a condition to proper team check-in at the Finish Line. The wrist band will be issued to each team at packet pickup.

Accommodations:

We will provide lists of motels, police/sheriff’s departments, fire stations and Port-o-lets that are available to use along the route.  RAG will not provide any accommodations or aid.  Runners can stay, eat and resupply anywhere they can arrange—hotel (not many along route), motel (plenty, but some are interesting), tents, farms, churches, etc.

Crew/Pacers:

Teams must be completely self-supported by their own means or via their own crew.

Please submit the names and phone numbers for anyone that will be crewing for you. Email this by May 18th to vikena@project42running.com.

*Crew Members will be required to sign a waiver.

Relay team runners may not have pacers at any time (bikes, other runners, etc).  Each runner must complete each assigned leg of the course under his or her own power.  Walk, run, crawl, jump, skip, hop or roll to the finish line, but all must be done under your own power.  Participants cannot have any assistance in forward progress on the course.  This includes riding in cars or physical support by other runners or crew.

Racers, crew, and staff must not litter, mar, or pollute the landscape or environment.

Safety Requirements:

All runners will be required to have a forward facing light, with a minimum of 60 lumens, as well as 2 blinking lights and a reflective vest while running between the hours of 8pm and 7am.

All racers and all crew members are required to wear a reflective vest, as well as blinking red lights facing front and rear, anytime they are out of a vehicle between the hours of 8pm and 7am. We encourage everyone to wear the reflective vest 24/7. This is required if you are outside of a vehicle for any amount of time between the hours of 8:00pm and 7:00am- regardless of whether it is 2 seconds or 2 minutes.

Support vehicles cannot trail runners. All runners are required to run opposing traffic unless you are directly behind a police escort. Runners and support vehicles must obey traffic laws at all times.  All vehicles will drive on the correct side of the road at all times. If a driver pulls over on the side of the road all tires must be off the road AND should be far enough off the side of the road that door will not open into traffic. We encourage you to park in parking lots whenever possible.

Always look and listen both ways before crossing the highways. Runners must yield to all vehicles. Remember that drivers will not expect to encounter runners or parked vehicles out on the course.  Remember we are on public roads.

Police:

County Sheriff Departments and Police Departments along the route have been notified about this event.  They are aware of the extra traffic and will be available for assistance.

Moisture Management:

Georgia is hot and humid in May.  Moisture management is crucial for event success.  Do not under estimate the effects of moisture.  Rain is not uncommon this time of year.  Watch out for rubbing, chafing and blisters. 

Vehicle Decorations and Team Names

Vehicles need to conspicuously display a “runners on the road” sign in or on each vehicle. Runners will also be encouraged to decorate their car for the event. There will be a Best Car Award. We ask that the decorations be tasteful and appropriate for all ages.  Teams with offensive names or decorations will be asked to change names and remove decorations.

Runner Rotation:

Teams are required to establish a runner rotation and keep the same rotation/order throughout the entire race.  Teams cannot substitute new runner once the race starts.  Only runners on the registered team may run the race.

To be considered a competitive team, each team must adhere to the following:

1. Establish a runner rotation

2. Maintain the same runner rotation at all times

3. A runner is out of the race if they get injured, sick or tired and cannot complete or start a leg. The runner cannot rest, hydrate, recover and/or medicate and return to the rotation further down the road. The team will automatically become a non-competitive team if the runner re-enters the race.

4. If a runner drops out during their leg, there are 3 options:

   -The next runner in the rotation would continue the leg and also complete their next leg. For example: If runner #8 cannot complete leg 24, runner #1 will complete leg 24. At the end of the leg runner #8 will then complete leg 14. Runners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 would continue in their rotation order until the finish line is reached.

   -The next runner in the rotation would continue the leg and would hand off to the next runner at the end of the leg. For example, if runner #8 cannot complete leg 24, runner #1 will complete leg 24. Runner #1 would hand off to Runner #2 at the end of leg 24 and Runner #2 will complete leg 25. Runners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 would continue in their rotation order until the finish line is reached.

   -If runner #8 cannot complete leg 24, runner #1 will complete leg 24. The 7 remaining runner choose to allow Runner #8 to jump back into rotation at any point, forfeiting their competitive status and becoming a non-competitive team.

Finish Line Celebration:

The finish line is on Broadway in Columbus, Georgia. RAG Celebration will be at the finish line on Sunday evening from 3:30pm-7:30pm. Food will be provided for participants and crew. You are welcome and encouraged to invite your family and friends to greet you at the finish line. Food and drinks for donation will be available for friends and family.

Awards Ceremony:

 Awards Ceremony will start at 7:30pm Awards will be given for the following categories:

1st Place Overall

1st All Female Team

1st Military/Public Safety

1st Civilian

All participants will also be in the running for “best team spirit/car decoration”, and “best t-shirt” swag bags.

Fundraising awards will be awarded after the fundraising period ends. Fundraising incentives are TBD. (We will get those to you as soon as possible).

 General Notes:

All participants must be a minimum of 14 years old at time of race. Participants that are under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Do not underestimate the difficulty of what you are about to attempt. The race is always hotter, longer, harder and more challenging than you can image or remember. Please prepare mentally, physically and logistically for what is about to happen.

Please use public bathroom or Port-o-let along the race route. In the event you must use nature’s bathroom, please make sure it is in an area that is out of the way and cover it with leaves or pine straw.

Please be courteous of businesses and personal property along the route ensuring everyone involved has a positive experience.

Please like/follow Run Across Georgia on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook. Be sure to hashtag #RAG. Let us know if you have a public page so we can follow.

The Run Across Georgia is a “race” against the clock. Due to various start times, the first team to cross the finish line may not necessarily be the “winner”.

Important Dates:

May 18, 2024: All logos for corporate sponsorships must be submitted to rag@bigdogfleetfeet.com in .eps or .ai format

May 22, 2024: Packet pickup and pre-run meeting for solo runners - 4am - Tybee Island Pier

May 25, 2024: Packet pickup for run and ride teams, as well as solo riders - 4-7pm - River’s End Campground, Tybee Island, GA

May 26, 2024: Relay runners, team and solo cyclist begin! Start times TBD

May 26, 2024: 3:30pm-7:30pm - Finish Line Party

May 26, 2024: 7:30p,-8:30pm - Finish Line Ceremony.

June 15, 2024: Fundraising period closes