On June 10-11, 2005 thousands of runners, their families and friends, spectators and many others will gather in Madison, WI for the first annual running of the Great Midwest Relay (GMR). The GMR is a two-day, 190-mile relay race, beginning in Madison, WI and finishing at Chicago's downtown lakefront. Portions of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Special Olympics to support their efforts.
The GMR is one of the longest distance races of its kind in the Midwest. The race course is comprised of 36 segments or "legs" created from the scenic streets, trails and bike paths of Wisconsin and Illinois. Relay teams of 12 people each will come from around the country to participate in the GMR. The relay allows for a diversity of participants and teams, from serious runners / fitness walkers to casual participants and teams simply enjoying the experience of such an exciting event.
The event begins in Madison, WI where race officials stagger the team starts based on each team's anticipated finish time, with slower teams starting first. Each 12-person team is divided into two, 6-person groups that will each have one van-size support vehicle. The first vehicle drops the first runner at the start and then proceeds to the first transition area to exchange runners, continuing in this fashion until the sixth runner reaches the sixth transition area.
At this exchange, the second team vehicle is waiting to start its first runner and proceed through legs 7-12. While one team vehicle is running its six legs, the "off" vehicle and its runners are free to drive ahead to rest, stop in at local restaurants, gas stations, etc. This rotation is repeated until the final runner reaches the finish line at Chicago's downtown lakefront. There will also be a post-race bash where individuals will be able to have a great time and enjoy a live band, food and refreshments to culminate this exciting event. More detailed information is available at www.greatmidwestrelay.com.
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