The Speed Project - LA to Vegas: a journey to the extreme
By team: 23 ‘til Infinity
The Speed Project or TSP for those in the know, is a relay running race from LA to Las Vegas covering 340 miles of rugged American landscape on foot. Branded as unsanctioned, unsupported with no rules and definitely no spectators, the route you choose to take is down to you with one condition: no freeways. There are no advertisements, no promotions and very few sponsors: just word of mouth amongst the running community. The esoteric nature of applications which are by invite only adds to the allure.
When we found out in January that our last-minute entry had been accepted to run in March, naturally we jumped at the chance.
Application successful: tick. Two months of preparation then followed with recruitment topping the ‘to do list’. At the outset, our team consisted of 3 runners and 2 support crew; it soon became apparent that getting people to sign up for an unsanctioned foot race through the desert, on the other side of the world was harder than we had anticipated! Sorry my love, just off running in California for a few days – you’re ok to mind the kids, right?! Perhaps it was the prospect of sharing an RV with a bunch of sweaty guys on the promise of no sleep that sold it, but amazingly people were keen and as the group grew to 9, team 23 ‘til infinity was born.
The kit list was the next consideration and it comprised of the standard items you’d expect for an ultra marathon - head torch, survival blanket, first aid kit etc. Pepper spray for wild dogs and a snake bite kit for angry rattlesnakes not so much.
Speaking of kit, one call to Ellis at Team Vaga and headwear for any extreme the desert could throw our way was covered. We doth our proverbial caps to you for supplying us with the top notch gear.
To ensure the most meticulous planning leading up to the race and given that the team were scattered across the breadth of the UK, Zoom was the communication medium of choice with further route and strategy sessions in person over a beer or three (only the most professional of preparation allowed!) To run or not to run “Powerline” was the main topic of debate: an unsupported 70km detour over rugged hilly terrain through sand deep enough to make the route impassable by even the most intrepid of 4 x 4. As the name suggests the path follows the electrical lines meandering through the heart of Death Valley to the edge of Vegas; taking this diversion would shave off c.40 miles meaning a time saving of around 5 hours. But for one or two of the team to run 70km in the middle of the desert without a support vehicle was a gamble that even the hardiest Vegas risk taker couldn’t justify.
Fast forward 2 months: team 23 ‘til Infinity assembled (minus one at the start due to Covid), RV parked up and ready to rock, provisions loaded, 8 pairs of legs tapered and gathered at Santa Monica pier for the start of what promised to be an event of epic proportions. The excitement in the air was palpable, the atmosphere electric, a makeshift stereo blasting out a Prodigy number into the damp California air, runners gathered around ready for the clock to hit 4am.
And then we’re off, onto the long winding road north east to Vegas via the Mojave Desert, the remote towns of Barstow and Baker before joining the Death Valley road and then Route 160 to sin city. Many have driven this famed route; few have covered the ground on foot.
Despite logistical challenges, the extremes of heat in the desert, encounters with dogs, positive Covid tests and 50+ hours without sleep, we arrived in Vegas in one piece finishing in just under 45 hours; some 3 hours faster than our target of 48 hours. It was a tremendous effort from every member of the team, with so many moments that will live long in the memory, all set against the backdrop of some stunning California scenery.
We partied hard at the pool the next afternoon and into the night, sharing many a story with our fellow teams. And as the dust starts to settle on this crazy adventure, there is already serious talk of team 23 ‘til Infinity reassembling to give TSP another bash next year. With the experience of 2023 in our back pockets (Powerline? You bet!) and a few more months of planning, who knows what we can achieve? But right now, it’s time to enjoy the moment, reflect on the adventure of a lifetime and more than anything else, catch up on some much needed R&R!
We’ve put together a short video montage to do the talking. Watch it on YouTube