12 friends-2 vans-endless fun-unforgettable bonding
“the most fun I’ve had staying up all night with my clothes on,” Robert, Aromatic Blend
This San Francisco Relay is “California’s Longest Party.” Reach the beach from Napa Valley to Sonoma, Marin, across the Golden Gate Bridge near midnight, through San Francisco and Silicon Valley to the ocean in Santa Cruz. With 36 legs challenging participants of all abilities, run/walk, eat, sleep (or not!), repeat.
GGR is not About Being the Fastest
but learning to be a winner by giving your best for the team. Surmounting adversity, running/walking in the moonlight and making special friends are part of the GGR romance. It will take strength, strategy, endurance and cooperation to travel many miles with sweaty bodies. Conquer as a team what few dare to face alone. Quench your thirst for challenge and discovery while celebrating life, running and teamwork.
With Organs R Us (ORU), the GGR
supports millions globally with organ failure waiting for donors. Since 1995, the transfer of the baton between teammates has symbolized the transfer of an organ from donor to recipient. Discuss your wishes regarding organ donation with your family. In the long run or walk, organ donation saves lives.
Fierce rivalry
Google 1 and Stanford defend their many GGR championships against Apple, Facebook, Twitter and others. With four Olympians, the 2000 Sportbrain team set the course record of 17 hrs., 55 min. Team Dean (Karnazes) has won fifteen ultra titles. Google (seven time champions) commented that the GGR was a fantastic team building experience by reinforcing values that employees need to create a winning company.
GGR Historical Beginning
“Nine Indian Tribes Will Participate in Great California Marathon” declared the Sausalito News on April 2, 1927. As “the longest endurance contest ever,” the 480-mile foot race through 7 counties between Sausalito and Grants Pass, Oregon, commemorated the beauty of the Redwood Empire. With signal fires and dancing greeting runners along the way, Mad Bull from the Karook tribe collected $2,775 in gold for finishing in 7 days, 12 hours and 34 minutes.
Much has changed since 1927, yet similarities remain. A Point Reyes fire billowed smoke in Marin and Sonoma signaling the start of the GGR in 1995. Showcasing San Francisco through seven counties, nine teams ran from Napa Valley to Santa Cruz. Runners dance along the way. The “waiting for porta-potty” dance is especially popular.