Rainier to Ruston Relay.
The Rainier to Ruston Relay takes teams of two, three, four or six over 50 miles in twelve legs, from the foothills of Mount Rainier to the Ruston Way waterfront in Tacoma. The old railroad corridor drops so gently that terrain settles little here: the day turns on who runs which legs and what is left for the last one.
Rainier to Ruston Relay 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The route follows the Foothills Trail, a historic railroad corridor, point to point from near Mount Rainier down to Tacoma. Not much happens in the first ten kilometres: the start sits just under 230 metres, and a small ramp of a little over 500 metres comes shortly before kilometre five. From there to about kilometre 28 the course sheds most of its height, steadily and without ever turning steep. It even tilts slightly upward around kilometre 30, and the last 50 kilometres run almost level to just above sea level.
There are twelve legs, averaging just under seven kilometres, and twelve divides by all four team sizes. On an even split a team of six gives you two turns and about 13 kilometres, a team of four three turns, a team of three four. In a pair it is six turns and roughly 40 kilometres, not quite a marathon in pieces. The same course is a speed day or a long endurance test, depending on how you enter.
The race doubles as a fundraiser for the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition, so you are running in support of the very kind of path under your feet. The finish line does not end the day either: where the course meets the water on Ruston Way, the finish festival has a craft beer garden, food and music.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.8 | 0.6 km | 4.5 % | 7 % | +26 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Rainier to Ruston Relay.
Start under control
The downhill in this relay is unevenly spread, and your plan follows from that. Between kilometres 10 and 28 the corridor carries you a little, so whoever runs there can go slightly faster for the same effort. Treat every other leg as a flat run and steer it by breathing and rhythm, not by the hope that it will roll by itself.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the level ground beyond kilometre 50. By then everyone has at least one turn in their legs, several in small teams, and no gradient is left to help. So agree beforehand who takes which legs, and place your strongest runner where they can still deliver late on. A handover with no searching saves time that is hard to win back on level ground.
Spend what is left
The trap sits right at the front: fresh legs, a slight tilt in your favour, your team at the exchange. Speed feels cheap there and gets expensive later, because from the second turn on there is little but level ground ahead.
Training plan for Rainier to Ruston Relay: 12-week build
Build the base
As a team you will be out for roughly seven to ten hours depending on strength, and your own share depends on how you entered. The effort is steady and aerobic, with no climbs to break it up, but unlike a solo race it arrives in blocks. So train for your role rather than for the whole 80 kilometres.
Train race pace
In a team of six you run two turns averaging just under seven kilometres, which makes this tempo work: runs just below threshold and longer blocks holding a constant hard effort on level ground. In a pair or a team of three, volume comes first and your pace work shifts towards marathon effort.
Rehearse the course
The key session is the second start, because the race hinges on it. Run a tempo block, rest, then run again at the same pace. Let your team set the gap: with six runners a good three hours lie between your turns, while a pair alternating directly gets only the 40-odd minutes of one leg. Practise getting back into your stride after sitting, too, and rehearse the handovers together at least once.
Arrive fresh
An early June date puts the core of your preparation in spring, while the race itself is a summer fixture, so place some sessions deliberately in the warmer part of the day. Practise eating and drinking between two efforts as well, since that is where your fuelling sits on race day. The organiser encourages runners to carry the course file, so test the navigation on your watch beforehand.
Courses
Download the Rainier to Ruston Relay course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Rainier to Ruston Relay dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Rainier to Ruston Relay.
How long is Rainier to Ruston Relay?
Rainier to Ruston Relay is 80.47 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Rainier to Ruston Relay have?
Rainier to Ruston Relay has around 180 m of elevation gain over 80.47 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Rainier to Ruston Relay?
Rainier to Ruston Relay is classified as Flat, averaging 2.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 81% of the route is flat, 6% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Rainier to Ruston Relay have?
The hardest climb of Rainier to Ruston Relay starts at kilometre 4.8, runs for 0.6 km at an average of 4.5% and gains 26 metres.
Is Rainier to Ruston Relay a loop course?
No, Rainier to Ruston Relay is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Rainier to Ruston Relay course?
Yes. The Rainier to Ruston Relay course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Rainier to Ruston Relay?
Preparation for Rainier to Ruston Relay should account for 80.47 km, 180 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Rainier to Ruston Relay?
The pacing strategy for Rainier to Ruston Relay should reflect 80.47 km, 180 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Rainier to Ruston Relay take place?
Rainier to Ruston Relay takes place on June 5, 2027.
Where does Rainier to Ruston Relay take place?
Rainier to Ruston Relay takes place in Tacoma, United States.
How do I register for Rainier to Ruston Relay?
Registration runs through the organiser: rainiertoruston.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
