FAQs

Run or Ride	Team Size	Through Aug. 31, 2013	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2013	Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 1 - Feb. 28, 2014	After Feb. 28, 2014
Running	12	$1,000	$1,100	$1,200	$1,300	$1,400
Running	6	$800	$850	$900	$950	$1000
Cycling	6	$500	$550	$600	$650	$700
Cycling	5	$400	$450	$500	$550	$600
Cycling	4	$300	$350	$400	$450	$500
Cycling	3	$200	$250	$300	$350	$400
Cycling	2	$100	$150	$200	$250	$300
Cycling	Solo	$100	$125	$150	$175	$200

Runners:

The 263 mile course is completed by 12 teammates (or 6 if you’re really ambitious). Most teams will be teams of 12 and each person on the team will run a total of 3 legs (every 12^th leg). Running legs vary in length from 6-10 miles. Runner 1 will run his or her leg and hand the ‘baton’ to Runner 2 who is waiting for him/her at the first exchange.   Runner 2 takes off and Runner 1 rejoins his teammates in the van (most likely in the ’stinky’ seat – where the sweaty runner rests and recovers. The van then drives ahead to the next transition area to pick up Runner 2 and drop off Runner 3, and so forth. Each runner will then run every 12 legs (this scenario is for a full team of 12).  Van 1 will carry runners 1-6. Van 2 will carry runners 7-12. Whether you are a team of 12 or a team of 6, you must keep your same spot in the rotation. For example if you are Runner 1 on a team of 12, you will run legs 1, 13 and 25. If you are Runner 1 on a team of 6, you will run legs 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31.

Cyclists:

The 263 mile course is completed by a team of 6, 4, 3 or 2 cyclists.  The cycling route has the same 36 legs as the running route.  Cyclists can utilize all 35 transition areas if need be.  It is up to the team (although it must be decided in advance) how you want to break up the legs.  For example, if you have a team of 6, you may want each cyclist to ride 6 legs at a time, so each person will only ride once.  Or, you may want to take turns and have each cyclist ride 3 legs at a time.  See below for example scenarios:

Each Cyclist rides once

Cyclist 1	Legs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Cyclist 2	Legs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Cyclist 3	Legs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Cyclist 4	Legs 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Cyclist 5	Legs 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Cyclist 6	Legs 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

Each Cyclist rides twice

Cyclist 1	Legs 1, 2, 3
Cyclist 2	Legs 4, 5, 6
Cyclist 3	Legs 7, 8, 9
Cyclist 4	Legs 10, 11, 12
Cyclist 5	Legs 13, 14, 15
Cyclist 6	Legs 16, 17, 18
Cyclist 1	Legs 19, 20, 21
Cyclist 2	Legs 22, 23, 24
Cyclist 3	Legs 25, 26, 27
Cyclist 4	Legs 28, 29, 30
Cyclist 5	Legs 31, 32, 33
Cyclist 6	Legs 34, 35, 36

The GCI Relay is run OR ride, not both.  You must choose one race and you team will either be an all cycling team or an all running team.  Teams that attempt to ride AND run will be disqualified.

Yes. Cyclists start early Saturday morning and will finish Saturday night.  Runners, depending on the projected finish time for your team, will leave either on Friday evening or Saturday morning.  All running teams will finish before 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Yes.  There are no rules against drafting.

We recommend that you post a message in our Team Forum.  Be sure to specify whether your post is for a cycling or a running team.  There are always people looking for substitute cyclists and runners and wanting to start new teams.  You can also Contact us, we will be more than happy to give you some leads.

No, it is not necessary but recommended.  Team members can be updated until February 4, 2014.   Or race day Adds/Subs must be filled out on forms provided at the Start ($25 late fee).  The team registration fee must be paid at registration but if you don’t know all your team members yet, that’s ok.  You only need 2 team mates to register.  We’ve done relays before and understand that sometimes your team roster will change 3 times before you have your final team.

Race pace times (20 mile ride MPH pace for cyclists, 10K pace for runners) can be submitted up until February 4, 2014.  Not to worry- all of this information will be in the Race Handbook, we will also send out a reminder!

Race times will be given out about 2 – 3 weeks in advanced of the race, we will notify you when they are available.

Yes.  The GCI Relay will donate a portion of its proceeds each year to the Ocean Conservancy, an organization known for its commitment to the Gulf.  We believe that healthy coastal ecosystems in the Gulf are vital to a robust economy, a safe population, and a sustainable quality of life for Gulf Coast and Gulf State residents.  The Gulf needs to be quickly restored and fiercely preserved.

Each team is responsible for supplying their own vans.  You can rent 12 or 15 passenger vans from many of recommended partners or you can use an SUV (not recommended since you have 6 people in each SUV or Van).  We’ve posted several van rental companies on the Travel & Logistics page.

He or she can be replaced by another cyclist or runner of the same sex (and depending on your race category, the same age) up to race day.  Although your final Team Roster is due on February 4, 2014, if someone drops out, simply update the Team Roster document with your replacement and email it to us or submit it via the Contact form.

No cyclist or runner may drop out of the race solely for the purpose of substituting a faster cyclist or runner in their place.  If a cyclist or runner is forced out due to injury or illness, they MAY NOT be reinstated into the team lineup.  The team must finish the event with the remaining team members, rotating in the same sequence.  No alternates may be added once the team has started.

Substitution Process

• For teams other than mixed divisions – If a team member drops out due to injury or illness during a leg and isn’t able to ride/run to the next exchange, the next team member in rotation may take the wrist strap and continue to the end of that leg. The next leg must be completed by the next team member in rotation.  No more than one substitution is permitted in a single leg.
• For mixed divisions – If a cyclist or runner on a mixed division team becomes injured or ill and drops out during the leg, the paragraph above applies with the additional requirement that the replacement team member must be of the same gender.  If a minimum of 17 legs are not completed by females, the team will automatically be reclassified into the Men’s Division.  See example scenario below (presume injury to Female #1 on Leg #4).

Starting Rotation		Revised Rotation
Position	Gender	Position	Gender
Leg 1	M-1	Leg 1	M-1
Leg 2	M-2	Leg 2	M-2
Leg 3	M-3	Leg 3	M-3
Leg 4	F-1	Leg 4	F-2
Leg 5	M-4	Leg 5	M-4
Leg 6	F-2	Leg 6	F-3
Leg 7	F-3	Leg 7	F-4
Leg 8	M-5	Leg 8	M-5
Leg 9	M-6	Leg 9	M-6
Leg 10	F-4	Leg 10	F-5
Leg 11	F-5	Leg 11	F-6
Leg 12	F-6	Leg 12	M-1

Download the Team Roster excel spreadsheet template, complete it and email it to us.

Remember – every team with 1 or more members who live within 50 miles of any part of the race course must provide three (3) race volunteers.  Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and without physical limitations that would not allow them to perform the assigned duties.  You can add volunteers in Team Roster excel spreadsheet template. Once it’s complete, email it to us or submit via the Contact form.