Spokane to Sandpoint Relay set to hit town on Saturday

SANDPOINT — More than 1,000 runners and walkers will be taking part in the 7th annual Spokane to Sandpoint Relay starting on Friday, Aug. 15 in Spokane and ending on Saturday at City Beach in Sandpoint.

The Spokane to Sandpoint Relay is one of the premier running events in the Pacific Northwest, beginning at Mt. Spokane and finishing 200 miles later at beautiful City Beach.

Although the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay includes decorated vans, costume contests and overall shenanigans, there is also a lot of training and hard work that each runner must endure. On average a runner will run three legs of the race, covering 14-18 miles within 22-36 hours. Participants run day and night, braving all of the elements, including extreme temperatures and sun during the day and often very cold nights. A course record was set in 2013 by Six Runners Short, of the Manitou Running Club at 22:21:59, a 6:42 pace per mile.

Courtney Drewsen, one of the race organizers, said the spirit of the race is what she loves most.

“No matter if a team is very serious and competitive or they are just out there for a good time, teams have a once in a lifetime experience,” she said. “And they come back the following year for more.”

This year there will be two solo runners competing in the race. David Lund from Spokane, and Heath Wiltse from Coeur d’Alene. Lund is raising money for the Special Olympics of Washington and Wiltse is raising money for fellow friend and runner Andrea Rainey, who has been recently diagnosed with aggressive Luekemia. Both runners have been training for this extreme distance and are expected to cross the finish line on Saturday with more than 80 other teams.

Spokane to Sandpoint Relay and Trinity at City Beach will be hosting a Brew Fest at the finish line for all teams on Saturday, with the all day event open to friends, family and the general public. Runners are expected to start hitting the finish line around 9:30 a.m., and will be pouring in all day. Everyone is welcome to come cheer on teams while enjoying the beautiful beach and a beer from four local breweries, including No-Li Brewhouse, 219 pilsner, Elysian Brewing Company and Laughing Dog Brewing.

Every year Cascade Relays strives to increase their donations to local charities and organizations. Over the past two years $20,000 was donated from the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay to local groups along the Spokane to Sandpoint course with their Hire a Volunteer program. Overall, Cascade Relays has donated more then $135,000 to local charities and organizations in the Pacific Northwest over the past five years.

For more information about the overnight relay, please visit www.spokanetosandpoint.com.