The Hood to Coast Relay, held every August in Oregon, is the world’s largest relay race, covering 196 miles from Timberline Lodge to the coastal town of Seaside. A team called the “Twelve Olivias” participates in this event, with a unique rule: all team members must be named Olivia.
Olivia Enright formed the team, spending over a year recruiting 11 other women with the same first name. The recruitment process involved hundreds of Instagram messages, with most potential team members ignoring or declining the invitation.
They have been participating in the relay for five consecutive years, with members flying in from all over the country to join the event. The team consists of serious sub-elite athletes, marathoners, and casual runners, but the only requirement is that their first legal name must be Olivia, spelled exactly the same way.
The Relay Experience
The team’s vans are decorated with their logo and slogan “Yes, we’re ALL Olivia,” and the atmosphere is energetic, with music by Olivia Rodrigo and Olivia Dean playing during the trip to the starting point. Olivia Ondeck, the first runner, takes off at 11 a.m. sharp, and the team is off to the races.
Each team member runs multiple legs, with the fifth runner, for example, running the fifth, 17th, and 29th legs. After six runners have finished their legs, the team has a van exchange, where the next van with runners 7 to 12 takes their turns. This is a highlight of the event, as team members get to see each other and cheer each other on.
As the runners come in, the team screams for Olivia, and other teams have learned to join in over the years. The Twelve Olivias have become somewhat celebrities in the Hood to Coast world, with other teams asking them questions about their unique name requirement and how they found each other.
Challenges and Camaraderie
The run itself is a grueling nearly 200-mile trek down highways, gravel roads, and greenways. One of the biggest adjustments for team members is running at night, as many rarely run in the dark in their daily lives. Injuries can also occur, as one team member found out when she lost her footing and fell into a ditch during a nighttime leg.
They have formed strong bonds over the years. The team keeps each other updated on their lives, including races, engagements, career moves, weddings, and babies, throughout the year. Some team members have become incredibly close, like my maid of honor, Olivia Polischeck. I met Polischeck in the inaugural year, remained close in 2023, ran the New York City Marathon side by side with her that fall, and raced the San Francisco Marathon together in 2024 before asking her to be my maid of honor later that summer.
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The team’s experience is similar to a sisterhood, with team members feeling a deep connection and sense of camaraderie. The Twelve Olivias have found a unique community through their shared name and love of running, and they look forward to participating in the Hood to Coast Relay for years to come.
The Finish Line
The final stages of the race take the team to the idyllic coastal town of Seaside, where they are greeted with a giant party on the beach, photographers, and real bathrooms. The team waits in a corral for their final runner and then runs in together, completing the 196-mile journey.
After crossing the finish line, the team is exhausted but grateful to be done. They walk like zombies to get food, drinks, and eventually showers at their hotel, already looking forward to next year’s event. As they load up the vans and drive back to Portland, they know they will not see each other until next August, but they will remain connected through their shared experience and friendship.
Olivia Enright reflects on the experience.
The team has a strong sense of camaraderie.
The Hood to Coast Relay is a unique event.
The Twelve Olivias will participate again next year.
Additionally, the team’s dynamic is further enhanced by the fact that some members, like the author, go by different nicknames in their daily lives, but during the relay, they are all united as Olivias. This shared identity supports a sense of belonging and togetherness, making their bond even stronger. The team’s diverse backgrounds and running abilities also contribute to their camaraderie, as they learn to support and encourage each other throughout the challenging event.
