By Steve Cook
Blanchet House Executive Director
Often called the “Mother of All Relays,” the 196-mile Hood to Coast (HTC) relay is an iconic Oregon endurance team event. It’s high on many Portland bucket lists, along with seeing swifts gather at Chapman School’s chimney, the Pride parade, and multiple annual clothing-optional bike rides.
Blanchet House Executive Director Steve Cook running a race with Mt. Hood in the distance.
This year, Blanchet House is excited to bring a team to join more than 19,000 runners and walkers at the Timberline Lodge start line at 6:25 a.m. We’re eager to celebrate a weekend of chaos, silliness, and camaraderie with our staff, supporters, and volunteers.
Our two passenger vans will be on the road August 28-29, shuttling our 12 participants, split into two groups of six.
From Mt. Hood, our team will head west through Sandy, Gresham, and Southeast Portland before crossing the Willamette River, following Naito Parkway, and continuing all the way to the finish line at Seaside. Each of our runners will complete three legs of the relay, covering about 5 to 7 miles per leg.
What is HTC like if you haven’t experienced it? I explain it as one part relay race, one part road trip, one part rave party, and one part all-night sleepover (without much sleep). You pick your team with love, knowing that you’ll spend a LOT of time with your fellow runners over 36 hours.
Why is Blanchet House Running Hood to Coast?
For many of us in recovery, sports and physical well-being are something tangible we can attach ourselves to. Places like The Recovery Gym here in Portland help community members find strength in recovery, and Go the Distance builds community around running. At Blanchet House, we like to say, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety; it’s community,” and this race is another way for us to come together and celebrate.
Members of Blanchet House’s Hood to Coast team from left to right: Catie, Kara, Austin, Garrett, Eric, Chelsea, and captain Gabby Thuillier.
Cheer On Team Blanchet!
The HTC relay is a great way for you to get involved and support in whatever way you can. Many of our runners are raising money for their race, and you can support their individual campaigns here. Cheer on the team Friday, Aug. 28, around 4:30 p.m. at OMSI.
Our team includes Sobir Bazarbayev, Kara Blatt, Sam Brunjes, Catie Clifford, Steve Cook, Mayako Frazier, Eric Gendron, and Gabby Thuillier, along with members of our Emerging Leaders Board: Austin Blatt, Kelsey King, Chelsea Wilcox, and Garrett Wong.
With fellow team member and colleague Gabby Thuillier, Franny Lown, and generous sponsors, we are able to participate in this special event. Sponsors include Root to Bloom Group (More Realty), Gonzales, Gonzales, & Gonzales Immigration Law Offices, Equilibrium Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Massage, and Speedland.
Lucia Keefe, owner of Root to Bloom (More Realty), sponsoring Team Blanchet is personal. She knows that running can be a catalyst for recovery. Read more about her personal journey.
Our Hood to Coast team logo, inspired by Blanchet House’s popular spaghetti night, was designed by artist Eric Grendron. Eric also has work featured in our annual art show, On the Ledge, which you can view here.
Follow our team updates on your favorite social media channel.
