Course Info
RTO Course Overview
The Reno-Tahoe Odyssey course is truly one of a kind: blending breathtaking natural scenery, world-class destinations, and rich historical landmarks into one unforgettable relay experience. It presents both a physical and mental challenge for runners of all levels, yet remains a fair and thoughtfully designed course.
The course begins and ends in Reno at the J Resort Festival Grounds, creating an energetic hub for team send-offs and finish-line celebrations.
Teams travel the full loop in a counter-clockwise direction, experiencing the diverse landscapes and elevations that make the Reno-Tahoe region such an iconic running destination.
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Relay Leg Assignments
See the table below indicating mileage and leg assignments for each runner. We encourage you to look at the individual leg maps as well.
- E – easy (relatively flat, distance varies)
- M – moderate (relatively flat, distance varies)
- MC – more challenging
- MD – most difficult, not
- MD for call a doctor (some of the steepest climbs)
Each runner slot is assigned a set of three legs, and these sets are ranked from most difficult (1) to easiest (12) to help teams strategically assign runners and build their lineup.
Example:
The runner in the No. 1 slot will complete Legs 1, 13, and 25 (E, MC, E), totaling 14.3 miles. This set is ranked 10th hardest overall or 3rd easiest, depending on how you look at it, making it a solid option for a steady, well-rounded runner.
The runner in the No. 7 slot, however, will take on the most challenging set of legs, ranked No. 1 overall (MC, MD, MD). This set includes significant difficulty and elevation, so it’s best suited for one of your strongest runners.
Important note:
Leg 4 is the single toughest leg on the entire course. It’s also the only leg with an individual race component, the Donner’s Downfall Leg 4 Time Trial. Because of this, most teams choose to assign their strongest runner to the leg set that includes Leg 4.
| 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | 3rd Leg | |||||||||
| Runner | Leg | Miles | Rating | Leg | Miles | Rating | Leg | Miles | Rating | Total | Ranking |
| 1 | 1 | 4.9 | E | 13 | 6.2 | M | 25 | 3.4 | E | 14.5 | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 4.4 | M | 14 | 6.2 | MD | 26 | 5.5 | M | 16.1 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 | 5.5 | M | 15 | 5.5 | MC | 27 | 3.9 | M | 14.9 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 8 | MD | 16 | 3.6 | E | 28 | 4.8 | M | 16.4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 | 5.6 | M | 17 | 3.5 | E | 29 | 3.4 | MC | 12.5 | 9 |
| 6 | 6 | 5.4 | E | 18 | 4.6 | E | 30 | 3.4 | MD | 13.4 | 12 |
| Miles 33.8 | Miles 29.6 | Miles 24.4 | 87.8 | ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 7.4 | MC | 19 | 3.8 | MD | 31 | 2.6 | MD | 13.8 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 3.8 | M | 20 | 3.7 | M | 32 | 3.3 | MD | 10.8 | 8 |
| 9 | 9 | 5.3 | M | 21 | 3.7 | M | 33 | 6.6 | MC | 15.6 | 6 |
| 10 | 10 | 4.8 | M | 22 | 5.7 | M | 34 | 5.1 | M | 15.6 | 7 |
| 11 | 11 | 5.2 | M | 23 | 6.1 | M | 35 | 6.2 | M | 17.5 | 3 |
| 12 | 12 | 6.2 | M | 24 | 3.2 | E | 36 | 6.1 | M | 15.5 | 11 |
| Miles 32.7 | Miles 26.2 | Miles 29.9 | 88.8 | ||||||||
*Ranking is based on overall combined difficulty and elevation profile, not just mileage.
