PORTLAND, Ore. — Dubbed "The Mother of all Relays," Hood to Coast kicked off on Friday for its 42nd year. This time around, runners and walkers have to deal with cooler temperatures and rain showers.
Relay teams took off from Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood early Friday morning. People from all 50 states and more than 40 countries are participating. Runners will travel through the Portland metro area and will reach the finish line in Seaside on the Oregon Coast on Saturday where there will be an all-day celebration.
KGW spoke to several relay teams before they took off from the start line. One of the teams, called the Red Dress Express team, has participated in Hood to Coast since 2000.
"We love it. It's so much fun!" one of the team members said.
Fitting with their team name, the group was decked out in red from head-to-toe with red dresses and accessories.
Another team, made up of nine runners, dressed up like bees with yellow and black knee-high socks, black sweatshirts and even bee antennae headbands.
"We are so pumped," said a team member, who was also wearing a yellow tutu.
They aren't letting the wet conditions deter them from having fun. When asked about how they plan to handle the rain, the same team member said, "The rain is going to carry us all the way to the coast."
Several people from KGW are also taking part in the relay.
Hood to Coast started in 1982 with eight relay teams. Since then, it's grown into an event with thousands of runners and walkers.
Fundraising teams have raised money for the Providence Cancer Institute each year for cancer research, treatment and patient support services, according to the relay's website. In 2023, $960,000 was raised and $7.4 million has been raised since 2014. This year's goal is to raise $1 million.
