HOW TO RUN GLR

Form a Team and Register (January - May)

Create a team of 10 by inviting your closest running friends and/or frenemies.  Remember that you’ll be around each other for the whole weekend so be sure that you can mostly tolerate each other! Also, each team needs 3 vehicles to navigate the course so be sure that you get that figured out as you invite people to your team.  Regardless, create a team that is up for an adventure and are ready for anything!

Since we adjust finish times based on the age and gender of your roster, a team of any combination can compete in the field. We do have two divisions, open and mixed, that allows for added competition opportunity. 

Registration typically opens up in January each year. Once you have a team, return to the website to get registered. You will not immediately pay. We will send you an invoice 24 to 48 hours after registration, and you will receive payment information to finalize your registration. That includes mailing in payment by check/money order. Due to large processing fees, it is unreasonable to pay by credit card online.  We can accept credit card payment if needed but you’ll need to reach out to us to do so.

Camping is provided for Friday and Saturday nights of the relay. We typically camp on open fields at a nearby school, and participants will have access to bathrooms and showers in the building. If camping is not your thing, then you’ll want to find suitable lodgings asap. There are typically motels in the areas surrounding our course but they fill up quick. Also, some teams will try to find a central location and find a rental unit for the weekend. That is all up to you if you don’t want to use what is provided. 

Once regular registration concludes in May, captains will be given a link to send to their teammates. The link is for each member of the team to register and sign the waiver. Only participants that complete this form are permitted to compete race weekend. Any last minute changes in the roster will need this form filled out to be eligible to race. 

GLR is a proud supporter of the Michigan Special Olympics as well as other local organizations that assist us with making this race happen each year. To add to our donation, we offer teams and businesses an opportunity to sponsor a leg of the relay. This can be a fun message to promote your team, honor a teammate or loved one, or just a message of support to everyone racing. Regardless, 100% of funds raised from the Leg Sponsorship program go directly to the Michigan Special Olympics and representatives from the Macomb County Chapter always come out to hand out food, awards, and to receive the donation during closing ceremonies on the last day of the relay. Please consider being a leg sponsor!

The only meal that is provided during race weekend is on Sunday at the finish line. We typically serve up pizza from a local establishment and non-alcoholic beverages. Besides that, you are on your own. We often encourage teams to give their business to nearby restaurants, especially those that are leg sponsors. Some teams will cook for themselves, but you might find yourself too exhausted at the end of the day to do so. That is on you to plan. 

As far as supplies are concerned, obviously bring your camping gear and any personal items needed. During the race, most teams will keep a water jug in each car as well as food to keep their energy up. There is not enough time nor the resources around us to stop for a meal. While our course marshals have med kits with them, it is best to bring one for your team. Most common injury during race weekend are blisters. In addition, it is also recommended to make sure that spare tires are functional and to bring a tire repair kit. 

Typically the leg directions and all other race documents are released about 3-4 weeks before the race. Each day has about 18-20 legs and distances vary from 2 to 10 miles each. Everyone has a minimum requirement of 24 miles for the weekend. It is up to the team to decide who each leg. We will provide a spreadsheet that will help you keep track of total miles to make sure you stay within the race rules. 

On the Sunday before race day we will host a meeting for captains to attend. We typically run this meeting in the Rochester, MI area. Specifically, we have been using the O’Rena at Oakland University. If you or any other representative are unable to attend, you must submit a request when you register to have your team packet shipped to you. This team packet contains your race bibs, vehicle tags, race shirts, pins, etc. There is no packet pick up on race day. So be sure to plan accordingly. We do air the meeting live on Facebook so that no matter where you are, you may get the critical last minutes instructions from the directors. 

So you did it. You made it to race day! If you have planned accordingly then you should be all good to go for race weekend. LOL. Just kidding. Remember that this is more than just a running race. Captains are responsible for making sure that their team is following race rules, following running and vehicle directions, planning for detours, concurrent running if needed, and staying patient and ready for anything to happen. For many, they consider this weekend to be the best weekend of the year for them. It takes a lot of work to get there, but they payoff is worth all the work. Come join us and see what its all about!