From Classmates to Relay Teammates

Known as the Mother of All Relays, Hood to Coast begins atop Mount Hood and winds through Portland, across rural Oregon, and all the way to the Pacific coast. Over approximately 26½ hours, team members took turns running individual legs ranging from three to seven miles. Ben completed three legs, while Heath took on four.

For Ben, the highlight was his overnight leg, one of his favorite parts of the race.

Heath's first leg stood out. As the second member of the team to run, he was still descending Mount Hood. "It feels like you're flying with that extra speed," he said. "It comes from having gravity do some of the work for you." Combined with the breathtaking views from that vantage point, it was one of the race's most memorable moments.

Beyond the running itself, both alumni enjoyed the relay's unique culture. Teams traveled between exchanges in vans. “You kind of go dark," Ben said, describing areas without cell service where runners relied on walkie-talkies to communicate between their team's two vans. Participants came from across the country and around the world, and runners exchanged team stickers as they met along the course. Heath appreciated the connections made throughout the event. "Everybody bonds really quickly," he said. The pair were also impressed by the elite talent on display, including teams sponsored by Adidas and Nike, calling it humbling to watch those runners compete.

The relay also supports fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society, and the team's 12 runners raised more than $32,000. Surprisingly, Heath said fundraising was the part of the experience that made him the most nervous, even more than the race itself. He was touched by how supportive his friends and family were of both him and the team's efforts on behalf of the organization.

Asked what advice they would give others considering the relay, both emphasized embracing the challenges along with the rewards. "Often with races like this you hear people say it's the most fun you'd never want to have again," Ben said. "In this case, it's the most fun you would want to have again!" Heath's advice was simple: enjoy the process and enjoy the people.

Looking back on their time at Calvert, both alumni pointed to favorite middle school athletic memories. For Ben, it was cross country with Mr. Buck. He recalls one course with a particularly steep hill, noting that "it was good training for this race!" For Heath, it was competing in the Middle School squash nationals. He recalls traveling with Mrs. Lears and the team to Yale University, where the group found early success. The memory has stayed with him over the years.

For Ben and Heath, Hood to Coast was an opportunity to challenge themselves, support an important cause, and share an adventure with friends old and new. Heath says he has "recently caught the running bug," and the relay was never meant to be the finish line. Both alumni are now preparing to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., on October 25.