Guide to Surviving Oregon’s Hood-to-Coast Race
The first year I moved to Portland, my friend Katie & I put together a Hood-to-Coast team with ladies from our boot camp classes. Now, if you ask people who’ve run this race to describe it in one word, you may hear a variety of answers, like: “Horrible!” “Epic!” “Painful!” “Hilarious!” Hood-to-Coast inspires a variety of reactions, & they tend to be extreme. Personally, I loved the camaraderie of the event. My first run (of Leg #5), while challenging ~ was still enjoyable. But after that….it got seriously painful!! Join me here as I re-cap our experience in this “Guide to Surviving Oregon’s EPIC Hood-to-Coast Race!”
Our van (Van #1) at the finish line in Seaside, Oregon ~ feeling battered, bruised, & happy to be DONE!!
Map of Hood-to-Coast Race Route
Each team has 12 runners (6 in each van), who each run 3 legs, with total mileages ranging between 15-24 miles. It’s essentially like running a marathon over the course of 36 hours….with dreaded stretches of sitting between each run!!
Hood-to-Coast is THE definitive Oregon relay race: your team starts on Mt. Hood, & runs (or walks) all the way to Seaside, Oregon.
🏨 Still Need Lodgings for Hood-to-Coast?
Hood-to-Coast weekend gets extremely busy in Seaside, and the best-located hotels sell out quickly. Look for HOMES instead: on VRBO, Airbnb, or even Booking.com. If you still need accommodations, check Seaside vacation rental availability now — and don’t forget to look at nearby Gearhart and Cannon Beach if Seaside is sold out.
🏆 Best Choice: Seaside
🥈 Best Backup: Gearhart
💕 Best for Relaxation: Cannon Beach
🚨 Best Last-Minute Option: Astoria
Where to Stay for Hood-to-Coast Race:
| 🏨 Where to Stay | ⭐ Best For | 🚗 From Seaside |
|---|---|---|
| Seaside | 🏁 Closest to finish line | — |
| Gearhart | 🏃 Race teams wanting proximity | 2-3 miles |
| Cannon Beach | 💕 Couples + nicer hotels | 9 miles |
| Astoria | 🚨 If Seaside is sold out | 17 miles |
GWTW Tip: If everything is sold out, check rentals in Astoria ~ which has a greater inventory & is less likely to sell out!
My Top Tips for Hood-to-Coast:
- DO NOT wear brand new running shoes!! Whatever you do. This is probably obvious, but some of us get seduced by the idea of wearing brand-new, pristine running shoes. Throw this idea out the window & wear shoes that have been nicely broken in, & worn for at least 2-3 months.
- Get your hotel or house reservations in & around Seaside ASAP!!!! Nearby towns include: Gearhart & Cannon Beach. It’s ideal to book accommodations within walking distance of the finish line in Seaside ~ but if most of those are already taken, expand you search. Gearhart & Cannon Beach are both gorgeous spots.
- Figure out what your two vans/cars will be. One of our runners, Whitney, had a super cute VW bus that became Van #1. The VW allowed one person to comfortably stretch out on the floor & recover after their run. Finding Van #2 became a problem though. Because like hotels, all van rental outlets (like UHaul, etc.) in Portland get booked up for those dates quickly. So book EARLY!!!
- The strongest runners should run Legs #5, 6, 7, & 8 ~ which all include “Very Hard” sections. Leg #5 is the most challenging leg, as it includes two “Very Hard” runs: the final of which includes a MONSTER hill. I mean, it’s HUGE. And SO STEEP. Legs 7 & 8 have their “Very Hard” sections in the middle, & are usually run at night, on uneven terrain: so none of it is easy. But it depends if you prefer running on roads or trails.
- Runners with bad knees should avoid being in Van #1 (as the first legs are majorly downhill).
- Wear compression socks, bring ice (for sore muscles), & do anything you can to reduce inflammation. Double up socks if you need to, to avoid blisters. There’s nothing worse than running with a hellish blister! My friend Amanda had to actually pop mine before I ran my 3rd leg….SO GROSS!!!
- Bring a first-aid kit: including band-aids, splints, tape, & Advil.
- Don’t tell other runners they look “haggard,” especially if you’re a man! Unless you want to be eaten alive by a pack of sleep-deprived, aching, sore, not-super-happy women at 5AM ; )
Prepare for Hood-to-Coast
Virtually everyone in both vans will run at night: so head lamps are a must! You can buy one for each van & share, or however you prefer to do it. A first-aid kit is necessary for each van, along with a compact cooler for drinks, snacks, ice, etc. A GoPro/action cam will let you livestream the experience, upload it to TikTok, & perhaps allow your team to become YouTube sensations! And for some old-school fun/camaraderie: grab some Mad Libs to keep you entertained during your LONG van rides.
A Description of Each HTC Leg:
The Team Captain needs to become intimately familiar with the chart below, which describes each Hood-to-Coast leg. Legs stay the same year-to-year, with small changes due to route adjustments. It’s extremely important for the Captain to assign each runner the leg that best fits their running ability & terrain preference.
A detailed description of each Hood-to-Coast leg.
What I Found Most Helpful for Hood-to-Coast:
Headlamp
GoPro
Compression Socks
Guide to Surviving Oregon’s Epic Hood-to-Coast Race
Van #1 starts on top of Mount Hood. If your team wants to stay on the mountain & not deal with traffic at 5AM, book a room at or by iconic Timberline Lodge.
Things to know about this first leg: nearly every leg is running downhill. Like, majorly downhill. EXCEPT Leg #5. If you have bad knees ~ avoid being in Van #1. Leg #5 was my leg, & there’s really no other way to describe it than brutal. This run was no exception: it’s an uphill run virtually the entire time.
I passed the baton off to Katie, who had Leg #6, near the end of the uphill ~ & she took it into Sandy for the van pass-off.
This is the mountain the race starts on: epic Mount Hood.
The starting line of Hood-to-Coast: many groups dress up in costumes to make things more fun!
Case in point: our friend Jamie made sure to wear her “Super Hero Undies,” for that extra oomph while running…
Rite of passage: decorating your van. EVERY team needs a team name, like our thoughtful one: “Hood-to-Ho’s.”
Guide to Surviving Oregon’s Epic Hood-to-Coast Race
Things to know about the middle of the journey: this is when the complaining may start. When blisters may be forming, & your friend may or may not be using a (somewhat sterilized) safety pin to pop one on your foot while everyone in the van tries not to stare. If you have a large vehicle, you may take turns stretching out on the floor ~ because there’s pretty much nothing worse after a run than sitting: this is a recipe for lactic acid disaster.
This is what the “pass-off” stations look like during Hood-to-Coast: orange cones, volunteers, & your teammate(s) waiting!
After completing their legs, Van #1 has about 4-6 hours to rest while Van #2 runs through downtown Portland. We crashed at a friend’s house along the route, & grabbed a cat-nap, mid-day on Friday afternoon. Our runs would begin again in the early evening, on the highway to Scappoose. I absolutely HATED this leg. The year we ran was the year of the “Les Schwab Fire,” which meant my leg turned from 7 miles into 9.
I wanted to kill someone.
But seriously, we were running in pitch-black, with a head-lamp ~ sometimes along the highway, sometimes on uneven, dirt-like roads. It’s not fun, or at least, it wasn’t for us. But you’ll hang in there, & then head to a make-shift campground by Vernonia to grab some shut-eye along with many other Hood-to-Coast’ers.
Somewhere in the middle of the journey, you’re going to get a little looney…
Things to know about Seaside: rent your house or hotel room WAY, WAY, WAY in advance!!
This is what it looks like at the finish line. Photo: Full Sail Brewing.
Read More Articles on Portland:
- Guide to Washington Park in Portland
- Best Brunch Spots in Portland, Oregon
- Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Portland, Oregon
- Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is my personal FAVORITE beach in Oregon! If Seaside is booked: look for rooms here.
🚨 Reading This Right Before Hood-to-Coast?
Don’t panic! Seaside may be your first choice, but it isn’t your only option.
If hotels & VRBO’s by the finish line are sold out, check accommodations in Gearhart, Cannon Beach, and Astoria.
Guide to Surviving Oregon’s Hood-to-Coast Race
Thanks for reading this guide! Hood-to-Coast is one of Oregon’s most iconic events, & is one of the most epic relay races in the country. It’s a rite of passage for all active PNW’ers.
But once you’ve done it ~ I seriously don’t blame you if you never do it again! ; )
xoxo Noelia
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Oh man….Leg #5 of Hood to Coast is awful!! I can attest to that. I ran Leg #12 the next year, and it was definitely an easier, more enjoyable leg. It seems that every year we run it, the homeless problem is getting worse and worse in downtown Portland. As someone who has lived there, what is your experience with that?
Hi Pamela! Ohhh…Leg #5!! SO terrible. Haha ~ thanks for your comment & question. I lived in Portland for 7 years, & my last 6 months there were spent living right downtown, close to the Portland Art Museum. The homeless situation seems to have worsened every year I lived there, & it’s not uncommon to see people bathing, peeing &/or pooping in the streets, unfortunately. The city has a very “hands-off” approach to the homeless issue, which is certainly not making it better. The good news about Hood-to-Coast though, is that you’re running with thousands of other people, & there are hundreds of volunteers stationed along the route: which should ease your mind with regard to any safety issues. And with the race ending in Seaside, your group can choose to stay there & avoid staying downtown altogether ~ if that is your preference. Hope that helps! xoxo Noelia
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