River to River Relay planned Saturday

This year’s River to River Relay is scheduled to be run Saturday, April 21. The relay begins in Union County and ends in Golconda.

The event is coordinated by the River to River Runners Club.

The club noted on its website that due to logistical issues on the relay course, the number of teams in the event has to be limited and is 250 in 2018.

“In 2017 we received over 340 applications in the first 10 minutes,” the club reported.

Teams of eight runners compete on an 80-mile course. 

Each runner completes three sections that range in length from 2.5 to 4 miles. 

Teams are started in groups every 30 minutes beginning at 6:15 a.m. and continuing until the last group is started at 8:45 a.m. The finish line closes at exactly 8 p.m.

The relay starts in western Union County at McGee Hill in LaRue-Pine Hills on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River valley. 

The course follows country roads (mostly paved but some stretches of gravel) through the Shawnee National Forest to its finish at the Ohio River in Golconda.

The 2018 relay team listing posted on the event website shows that teams from Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Alabama, Michigan and Florida are scheduled to participate.

Among the teams from Southern Illinois which are featured on the listing are, along with the relay category in which they are competing:

Buns on the Run, Goreville, mixed. Fellowship Baptist Church, Vienna, open.

Finish the Task, Cobden, open. Hellacious Chaos, Cobden, open.

Lasts Call-7:59, Goreville, women. RE/MAX Southern Runners, Jonesboro, masters.

Second Childhood, Cobden, mixed. Simpson Baptist Church, Simpson, open. Simpson Gray Gang, Simpson, open.

Smart Runners, Vienna, mixed. Sole Mates of the #618, Makanda, open. Squinge, Cobden, handicap. WTF? Were We Thinking?!?, Lick Creek, handicap.

In the Union County area, after beginning in the LaRue-Pine Hills area, relay competitors will run on the State Forest Road, Illinois Route 127, Mountain Glen Road, Appleknocker Street, Poplar Street, Water Valley Road, Rocky Comfort Road, Robinson Hill Road, Mount Hebron Road and Lick Creek Road.

The Village of Cobden once again will be welcoming runners. One of the relay’s exchange points is located in the heart of downtown Cobden.

Village officials ask that residents along the relay route refrain from parking along the street on Saturday morning.

The route through Cobden includes Mountain Glen Road, South Centennial Street, West Ash Street, Appleknocker Drive to Oak, North Front to East Poplar and Bell Hill Road.

Residents also are asked to make sure that their dogs are under restraint or confined at the time of the relay.

The First Baptist Church of Cobden traditionally has had a refreshment stand for the runners which is located in the downtown area of the village. The church plans to have the stand for this year’s relay.

 

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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