Twelve members of the Ambler Area Running Club ran as a team at the REACH THE BEACH (RTB) Relay in New Hampshire September 12-13, 2003. This race is the longest running relay race in the United States. It takes place in picturesque New Hampshire during the start of the New England foliage season. The relay consists of teams that rotate through twelve (12) runners who take turns on the approximate 200 mile distance of the race.

The team called itself the AMBLER STAMPEDE, and proudly represented loyal runners from our area.  Pictured below are most of the team members as of August 13, 2003.  (Meredith was in NY.)

Each relay team member runs THREE (3) separate legs of varying lengths and difficulty that cover an average TOTAL distance of ~16.6 miles. (Think of it as three separate 5.5 mile runs, with about 8 or 9 hours between each time you run.) For example, the first runner will run the first leg of about 5 miles, and then follow along in a van while the other 11 runners run their first leg through New Hampshire; then that runner will run leg# 13, watch, wait, and rest for 11 legs, and run again leg# 25. Second runner does legs 2, 14, and 26. And so on. It really is a unique and unforgettable running experience!   (There are actually two vans with six people in each; your van gets a really long break to optionally shower, eat, or relax, while the other van does its 6 legs.)  Two hundred teams competed in 2003.