Moran Constitutional Relay

09/21/2024

The Moran Constitutional Relay is a challenging 70-mile course with 12 legs for teams of two to six runners on the breathtakingly beautiful trails of Moran State Park on Orcas Island. The park, situated in the San Juan Islands a little over three hours from Seattle, is world renowned for its scenic beauty. The relay legs tour a variety of beautiful terrains: Towering lowland forests, moss-covered rocky balds, contoured lakeshores, streams, and verdant wetlands, and the top of 2399-foot Mount Constitution with sweeping vistas of neighboring straits, islands, and mountains beyond them. Along the route, you’ll run by the iconic park buildings, made with superb craftsmanship from rugged natural materials by the Civilian Conservation Corps 8 decades ago.

The legs were designed to provide variety, with varying lengths and profiles. Some legs have substantial climb, others are mostly downhill, and others are flatter or have ups and downs equally. Distances range from three to nine miles. Team members are free to divide the legs among runners in whatever way they would like, as long as each member completes 2 legs. A runner can even do consecutive legs, if they choose.

The relay will be in 2 stages, with the first 8 legs run on Saturday, and the last 4 on Sunday. The Environmental Learning Center hall will be the gathering place for the included meals, a pre-race orientation Friday night, and a raffle Saturday night. All runners will receive an event t-shirt, and teams that complete the entire course earn finisher medals.

Registration
Volunteers
Results
Photos
Course Description
Schedule
Questions?
Directions & Parking
Ferry Schedule
Lodging & Meals
Respiratory Virus Safety Measures
Event Details Packet & Map
Rules
Safety, Etiquette, & Dogs
Apparel

Registration

Registration is limited to the first 50 teams, and we expect the race to fill. Once the race is full, we will admit teams from the waiting list as space becomes available.

Registration is by team, and the team registration price is according to team size and registration date. Register early to take advantage of the early registration deals.

If plans change and you later need to reduce your team size, you may be eligible for an entry credit toward another Northwest Trail Runs event, or a refund of excess entry fees. See the schedule below for our refund policy, which applies to teams that are reducing in size or dropping out.

If you end up needing to increase your team size, you can add individual members, and they can register separately. The total team cost will be a bit higher if members are added separately, since accepting registrations for an entire team at once makes things smoother for our staff.

Q: What if I don’t know who all my team members will be yet?

A: Just list as many names as you can now, and put “TBD” (to be determined) for the rest. We’ll provide a way to submit additional team member info later.

Each team is asked to provide a volunteer to help staff the event. See the Volunteers section below for more information on this.

	Open (thru 1/20)	Early (thru 3/24)	Regular (thru 8/2)	Final (thru 9/16)
6-person Team	795.00/ 132.50 per person	855.00/ 142.50 per person	915.00/ 152.50 per person	1005.00/ 167.50 per person
5-person Team	688.00/ 137.60 per person	738.00/ 147.60 per person	788.00/ 157.60 per person	858.00/ 171.60 per person
4-person Team	575.00/ 143.75 per person	615.00/ 153.75 per person	655.00/ 163.75 per person	715.00/ 178.75 per person
3-person Team	459.00/ 153.00 per person	489.00/ 163.00 per person	519.00/ 173.00 per person	564.00/ 188.00 per person
2-person Team	342.00/ 171.00 per person	362.00/ 181.00 per person	382.00/ 191.00 per person	410.00/ 205.00 per person

My team grew: Register using the button below to join an already-registered team

The fee for adding a member to an existing team is based on the date that the team member registers: $134 by 2/26, $144 by 4/16, $154 by 8/2, and $169 by 9/16.

Payment buttons are below for adding lodging, if adding it after team registration has already been completed.

You can navigate back to this page to click the buttons more than once to pay for more than one person or option. Once you have added the items you would like to pay for, use the “View Cart” button to check out and pay. If using PayPal presents a problem for you, you may contact us about sending a check instead.

ELC bunk lodging for Friday and Saturday nights, $55/person:

ELC bunk lodging for Sunday night, $30/person:

Use the “View Cart” button to check out and pay:

What does registration include?

In addition to team entry for the relay, registration includes these things for each team member:

Moran Constitutional T-shirt
Finisher award
Meals: Friday light dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday post-race meal

Refund policy and schedule

We want to be as accommodating as we can be to teams whose plans change, while at the same time being mindful not to compromise what we need to put on a great event for you. If some team members or your entire team are no longer able to take part in the race, we offer this refund policy and schedule, contingent upon us being able to fill the vacant slot:

Refund of all but $25 for cancellations or changes by June 1
75% refund for cancellations or changes by July 15
50% refund for cancellations or changes by August 30
No refunds after August 30 (Friday three weeks before the race)

If we are not able to fill a cancelling team’s slot, then no refund will be offered. The presence of a waiting list does not guarantee that we will be able to fill the slot, since teams that sign up on the waiting list are often not able to commit on short notice.

For teams that are reducing in size, any refund due will be calculated using the entry prices on the date that we receive notification of the team size change. For example, if a 6-person team registers on January 19 for $795 (opening price) and changes to a 4-person team on March 20 (early price period), then the refund amount would be the registration fee paid ($795) minus the 4-person team early price ($615) minus the $25 fee for cancellation by June 1, or $155. Significant reductions in team size may be subject to the same treatment as cancellations: We will only offer money back if new teams register or new members join existing teams to fill the vacant slots.

Volunteers

Each team is asked to provide a volunteer to help staff the event. Volunteer check in and training will take place during runner check in on Friday. Volunteers will be asked to work for up to six hours, most likely at one of the exchange points or at another point along the course such as a road crossing. While we will attempt to make reasonable accommodations of volunteer preferences for shift time or location, volunteers must be available during the race, have transportation to their posting, and be able to work outdoors including potentially walking short distances and being exposed to inclement weather. A member of a two-person relay team cannot serve as that team’s volunteer.

Teams that are unable or do not wish to provide a volunteer may opt to pay an additional $185 instead. The volunteer declaration or payment due date is August 25, and teams registering after that date are asked to submit their volunteer declaration or payment when they register.

The volunteer choices for teams are either:

1. Find a volunteer and submit info to us for that volunteer by emailing volunteer@mergeo.com with your team name, the volunteer’s first and last name, phone number, and email address, or
2. Pay the $180 volunteer fee, which can be paid with your team entry, online through the PayPal link below, or by mailing a check to:

MerGeo
7400 Sand Point Way NE, Ste 201N
Seattle, WA 98115

The PayPal button below can be used to pay the volunteer fee if this was not already paid for at the time of team registration.

Teams that are unable or do not wish to provide a volunteer, use this button to pay the alternate volunteer fee by August 25:

Volunteer fee, $185:

Use the “View Cart” button to check out and pay:

Volunteering is fun!

Here is what some of our volunteers for this event said about their experiences:

“I love volunteering for NW Trail Runs, especially for the Moran Constitutional! Every time I volunteer I meet new friends from all over Washington. It is so great being part of the NW Trail Runs team because they truly value their volunteers. There is always something interesting that needs to be done, from prepping aid stations to lending a hand in the kitchen. I really enjoy working in the kitchen and helping feed all the runners…. volunteering is one of the things that makes Moran so special to me. I encourage everyone to give it a try!” – Marc

“Being part of the Moran Relay as a volunteer was great fun. It is such a well organized event in one of the most beautiful locations. It was a pleasure to support and be part of a wonderful community of runners.” – Donna

Results

Photos

2023 Photos

Saturday photos by Somer Kreisman

Sunday photos by Somer Kreisman

2022 Photos

Saturday photos by Somer Kreisman

Saturday and Sunday photos by Northwest Trail Runs staff

Sunday photos by Agustin Sanchez

2021 Photos:

Saturday photos by Somer Kreisman

Sunday photos by Ryan Thrower

Saturday & Sunday photos by Northwest Trail Runs staff

Saturday & Sunday photos by Michael Weber

2019 photos by Ryan Thrower

Both the 2016 & 2017 Moran Constitutional Relay photos were shot by Pronounce Photography (now Jarad Long Photography).

2017 photos

2016 photos

Course Description

Most of the trails traversed by the course are well-groomed, non-technical, and very easily runnable, however a few of the trails have some moderately technical parts. Elevation loss will ratchet up the technical challenge in the steeper parts, due to the greater speed and commensurately greater force at work on the ankles and other joints, so runners on legs with significant drop should be prepared to watch where they place their feet more carefully.

Check out this preview of the course by Adam Stuhlfaut, former Director of Running at SHOES-n-FEET in Bellevue.

Here is the leg information for Saturday (first eight legs) and Sunday (last four legs). A course map for each leg is linked from the word “Map” in the tables below.

Here is a map that shows all twelve courses.

Leg #	Distance (mi)	Climb (ft)	Descent (ft)	Map	Start Location	Finish Location
1	5.9	1207	717	Map	ELC	Mountain Lake Landing
2	3.9	528	528	Map	Mountain Lake Landing	Mountain Lake Landing
3	4.4	535	996	Map	Mountain Lake Landing	Cascade Lake
4	5.2	2260	680	Map	Cascade Lake	Little Summit
5	7.3	863	1959	Map	Little Summit	Mountain Lake Landing
6	3.1	1724	192	Map	Mountain Lake Landing	Mt. Constitution
7	8.4	847	2385	Map	Mt. Constitution	Mountain Lake Landing
8	5.3	579	1083	Map	Mountain Lake Landing	ELC

Leg #	Distance (mi)	Climb (ft)	Descent (ft)	Map	Start Location	Finish Location
9	7.5	2221	2178	Map	ELC	Cascade Lake
10	4.3	2211	185	Map	Cascade Lake	Mt. Constitution
11	8.6	1854	3336	Map	Mt. Constitution	Mountain Lake Landing
12	7.7	1246	1836	Map	Mountain Lake Landing	ELC

Schedule

Friday 9/20 Schedule – subject to minor changes

3:00-10:30 PM – Check-in (all team members and volunteers)
8:30-9:15 PM – Pre-event briefing and Q & A (optional but recommended)
6:00-9:00 PM – Light dinner (included with entry)

Saturday 9/21 Schedule – subject to minor changes

6:00-8:00 AM – Breakfast (included with entry)
6:45-7:15 AM – First leg check-in
6:58 AM – Sunrise
7:30 AM – Start
2:00 PM – First finishers expected
5:30-8:30 PM – Post-race meal, in ELC
6:00 PM – Raffle, in ELC (must be present to win)
7:10 PM – Sunset
7:30 PM – Last finishers expected

Sunday 9/22 Schedule – subject to minor changes

6:00-8:00 AM – Breakfast (included with entry)
7:00-7:20 AM – 9th leg check-in*
6:59 AM – Sunrise
7:30 AM – Start*
12:00 PM – First finishers expected
12:00-4:00 PM – Post-race meal (included with entry)
3:30 PM – Last finishers expected

* For teams that are going much faster or slower than teams have run this course in the past, we may assign a special start time up to an hour earlier or later on Sunday. This is not available on request, only at the organizers’ discretion, as needed for logistical reasons.

Questions?

For the Moran Constitutional Relay specific questions, please email us at moranrelay@gmail.com.

Directions & Parking

Moran State Park is located about 25 minutes drive from the ferry terminal on Orcas Island.

Here is a map that you can use to get directions.

Parking is limited near the event center, and signage and volunteers will be on hand to direct you. More detailed parking instructions may be added shortly before the weekend of the event.

Ferry Schedule

Washington State Ferries provides several sailings throughout the day from the city of Anacortes to Orcas Island. Here is the latest sailing schedule (web).

In addition, Washington State Ferries’ service from Canada runs from Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island, however service is not direct, so a stopover on San Juan Island or in Anacortes would be necessary. This may not be the most efficient way to reach Orcas Island, but from a tourism standpoint, a stopover on San Juan Island or a long ferry voyage to Anacortes and part way back are both fantastic ways to spend a travel day.

Lodging & Meals

Lodging is available onsite, with basic beds in a cabin or A-frame available for Friday and Saturday nights. Two-night accommodations can be booked during the registration process at the package price of $55 per person. You can also optionally add Sunday night for an additional $30.

PLEASE NOTE: Depending on availability, smaller teams may share a cabin with another team.

Meals as detailed in the schedule are included in your entry. We always include vegan and gluten-free options (please note we do not have a GF/Vegan kitchen). Here is the 2023 menu; we expect the 2024 menu to be similar. To help reduce waste, we encourage you to bring your own coffee mug, as well as a re-usable water cup.

SF Bay Coffee will be sponsoring our event for your morning coffee needs! SF Bay Coffee company has a deep commitment to not only producing tasty coffee products but also social and environmental responsibilities. Their products are available from their website, Costco warehouses and Amazon.

Camp sites are a lodging option in the park for those who do not want to stay in the cabins, and they are first-come, first-served. Pay for camping directly to the park when you arrive and select a site.

There are also at least a couple of resorts on the island, as well as numerous bed and breakfast establishments.

Golden Tree Hostel – a budget accommodation in the town of Eastsound.

Outlook Inn – a charming option in the town of Eastsound

Rosario Resort and Spa – an all inclusive resort just outside Moran State Park

Doe Bay – a popular resort southeast of Moran State Park

Respiratory Virus Safety Measures

Thanks to vaccination, exposure, and time, there is a high degree of immune resistance to severe illness from COVID-19, and some people will have already gotten their seasonal flu shots. Outdoors settings are generally quite safe, however the indoors portions of the event (gatherings in the ELC hall and shared sleeping accommodations) carry higher risks of transmitting respiratory illnesses. We’re not requiring any specific precautions, but we endorse these common-sense precautions:

Stay home if you’re sick or believe you have an airborne contagious illness
Wear a mask indoors and try to keep your distance to protect others if you start to feel like you might be coming down with something after you’re already at the event
Wear an N95 or similar mask indoors if you wish to reduce your own risk of catching a cold, COVID-19, or a flu

Thank you again for helping us make this a safe and fun event!

Event Details Packet & Map

At check-in, we will provide each team with a packet of important events notes and a map of parking and exchange areas. The document is also linked below, so that teams who would like additional copies can print them.

Here is the 2023 Event Info Packet for teams. We will update the packet, as needed, for 2024, but we expect most of the information to be the same or very similar.

Cellular phone coverage is spotty throughout the park, and is poor at the ELC (start/finish location). You should not rely on your cell phone as a real-time means to keep in touch with your team about event weekend logistics.

Rules

These rules are intended to make the event a meaningful challenge and a fun and fair competition. Please familiarize yourself with these rules, and interpret them in a spirit of fair play. If you have questions or feel that there are issues that we haven’t covered, then please contact us at moranrelay@gmail.com.

Follow the instructions of race staff. They are there to help everyone have a safe and fun event.
Each team will be allowed two vehicles to transport team members to exchange zones on course.
Each runner on a team must complete at least two legs for the team to have an official finish. Exceptions may be made in case of injury, in which case the injured runner may be withdrawn and another runner from the team may continue the leg abandoned by the injured runner where she or he left off. A withdrawn runner may not run again during the event.
It is up to the team which runner runs each leg, however all runners must check in with start or exchange zone race staff before they are tagged off by their runner and start on the next leg.
Teams that are at risk of being overtime may be asked by race staff to start later legs of the course before the preceding runner reaches the exchange zone. If this is done, the team’s rank will nonetheless be based on the sum of the running times of the team members.
Teams that are progressing around the course faster than anticipated may be asked by race staff to delay starting a subsequent leg in order to wait until an exchange zone opens. If this is done, the team will receive time credit for any time waiting to start at an exchange zone.
All members of each team must check in at the race on Friday.
Any additions to a team roster must be made at the latest by the time check in closes on Friday.
Course routes for each leg will be well marked, and it is the responsibility of each runner to be familiar with their route and the course markings and to stay on course.
Sunday start waves will be determined according to elapsed time on Saturday – if necessary. Please note that we have never added early or late start waves in past years, and it is most likely all teams will start at 7:30am. Do not assume an early start when planning a ferry reservation.
Runners on the course during hours of darkness must carry and use a headlamp or flashlight.
Safety is our first concern, so if you see an injured runner, please stop and help them. Race staff may award bonus time to compensate for such circumstances.
At the exchange areas, always park as directed and so as not to block any road or trail.

Safety, Etiquette, & Dogs

SAFETY
The trails will be open to other users during the event, including pedestrians with pets, and cyclists. Participants are responsible for their own safety while participating, and the organizers are neither qualified nor equipped to render medical care in the event of a serious injury. In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1. You are encouraged to bring a cell phone with you as a safety precaution, if you wish, however cellular phone coverage is spotty throughout the park, and is poor at the ELC (start/finish location). You should not rely on being able to reach anyone on your cell phone.

PASSING ETIQUETTE
Where the trails are narrow, please let other participants pass you if they want to get by. It is a passing runner’s job to tell the person in front that they wish to pass.

HEADPHONES
If you’d like to listen to music while you’re on the course, please use headphones or earbuds, so that runners around you can’t hear it. Others may prefer a quieter event experience or may have different musical tastes. Runners playing music in the open air may be asked to leave the event.

Also, use bone-conduction headphones or other headphones that allow in ambient noise or keep the volume low enough that you can hear someone talking to you in a normal voice, for example, another runner saying they would like to pass on your left.

DOGS
Our events are USATF sanctioned and insured, and under USATF policies, dogs are not allowed to accompany runners on course.

Apparel

A tech t-shirt with event artwork is included with your entry. We will be contacting captains about a month before the race to confirm t-shirt sizes for teammates and for your volunteer.

You will also have the option to purchase Northwest Trail Runs branded apparel in advance and/or onsite, or you can order now at our online store.