This looks relay fun
World-renowned cheese, heritage farms and plenty of natural beauty: Tillamook has a lot to offer for anyone. But for the currently and aspirationally active, there is even more. From the stunning Three Capes Marathon Relay, slated for Saturday, Feb. 24, to kids’ running camps, Tillamook is the “Ultimook” place to recreate.
Netarts local Nikki Hendricks has been a member of a five-person team for the Three Capes Marathon Relay, since its inception.
“It’s a beautiful way to be outside,” she said. “It’s hard and not hard at the same time. Every leg is brutal, but it’s fun and relaxing.”
The race follows a 26.2-mile course traveling the Three Capes Scenic Loop, starting at Cape Meares Lake, passing Cape Lookout and, due to road closures this year, will end at Whalen Island just north of Pacific City.
The rugged and hilly course passes through or runs adjacent to six state parks, two National Wildlife refuges, multiple Tillamook County parks and boasts stunning vantage points of the Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Participants can choose between running the race solo, as a two-person team or as a five-person team.
In 2022, Hendricks’ team “TuTu Much” finished third place in their division.
“I like that you can drive and have support vehicles the whole way,” she said. “There’s support and it makes it not as strenuous.”
The course is separated into five legs which vary in distances from 4.37 miles to just under seven miles. Team categories include: family, business, school or Clydesdale. Starting and ending at sea level, the course includes nearly 2,400 feet of climb, offering a challenging racing venue.
“I’d say sign up,” Hendricks said, adding that the end-of-race refreshments are also a highlight. “The chowder and stuff at the end is nice.”
Three Capes Marathon Relay cost for registration is $289 for a five-person team, $145 for a two-person team and $85 for the solo marathon. Every participant will receive a custom Three Capes Relay Medal when crossing the finish line. Register prior to Feb. 15 to receive a race t-shirt.
High school and middle school teams can receive a discount by using the code "High School Runner" when registering to receive 30 percent off the team fee.
For more information and registration, go to threecapesrelay.com.
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The relay is hosted by Ultimook, a nonprofit that supports local kids’ running programs and helps young long-distance runners develop in both mind and body.
One of the programs under the Ultimook umbrella is the Ultimook Running Camp: a week-long high school cross country training camp hosted at the Hydrangea Ranch in Tillamook.
“It’s hard to know whether you’re training hard until you’ve surrounded yourself with better runners,” Camp Director Drew Wasmund said. “This camp is an unbelievable opportunity to broaden your horizons and become a student of the sport.”
Each day of camp is highlighted by a different type of run and training on sand, hills or trails with workouts tailored to all levels from beginner to all-state runners.
“The Ultimook Running Camp is a legend of the Northwest, its rugged beauty and old-school grit,” Founder Patrick Zweifel said.
Many athletes note the Sasquatch Games as a favorite, memorable experience at camp, facilitating teamwork and leadership through activities such as a geocache run, log carry relay, paintball biathlon competition and the chocolate milk mile.
“I believe leadership and teamwork are the keys to great team success,” Zweifel said. “The primary focus of the Ultimook Running Camp is to build better leaders and facilitate great teamwork. The Sasquatch Games is the ultimate team building exercise and the highlight of camp. The moment you put your team in front of yourself is the moment that special things begin to happen for your team and yourself. Our hope is that you take this energy back home to your teams and lead them to a state championship!”
Sessions of the Ultimook Running Camp will be held July 28 through Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 through Aug. 10. The cost per athlete is $819, with discounts for teams. Register online at ultimookrunningcamp.com.