Another Market to Market Relay Nebraska is in the books — our 18th annual! Each year brings its own wild mix of early mornings, late nights, and “how are we going to pull this off?” moments. But man, was this year something special. The weather? Perfect. The sunrise? Unreal. The pizza? Plentiful.
Here are a few highlights (and behind-the-scenes confessions) from my final stretch of race prep and race day:
1. Me vs. the Lawn Boy
If you were out on the course in the days leading up to the race and saw a guy mowing random walkways and parking areas… that was me.
And my weapon of choice? My trusty 22-year-old Lawn Boy mower. This thing is a legend — I haven’t changed the oil or spark plug in over a decade, and it just keeps going. Every year I think it’s on its last leg, but somehow, it powers through. (Though, to be fair, the back right tire did get stuck a little this year, so maybe it’s time to start browsing for a new one. . . . Maybe.)
There’s something oddly satisfying about giving those little sections along the course a clean trim before thousands of runners hit the road. It’s like my own quirky pre-race ritual — just me, the Lawn Boy, and a lot of tall grass.
2. The Real MVPs: Our Volunteers
You can’t have the Market to Market Relay without the incredible volunteer groups scattered across Nebraska. Sure, they’re out there partly for donations to their organizations, but what always amazes me is how much pride they take in helping this event run smoothly.
They’re out there cheering, guiding, and making sure 600+ teams can do their thing safely. They’re the heartbeat of this event — and I’m incredibly thankful for them.
3. The Pink Gorilla Team: All Heart, No Quit
Our full-time crew puts in long days (and nights) for weeks before race day. It takes something a little extra to pull off an event like this — a combination of caffeine, grit, and a slightly unhealthy obsession with spreadsheets. Seriously, it’s not easy, but I couldn’t ask for a better team to make it all happen.
4. Sunrise Magic
Every year, there’s this one quiet moment before the chaos begins — and this year’s sunrise over Seymour Smith Park stopped me in my tracks. The sky was glowing, the air was crisp, and for a brief second, everything felt calm. Then, of course, the first wave started and we were off to the races. Literally.
5. The Great Pizza Marathon
They say you shouldn’t run on pizza, but apparently you can direct a relay on it. I ate pizza for five straight meals — and honestly, no regrets. It’s become somewhat of a Market to Market tradition (for me, at least).
6. The Best Weather in 18 Years?
I don’t want to jinx anything, but this might have been the best weather we’ve ever had in Market to Market history. Blue skies, perfect temps, happy runners — I’ll take it!
Bonus: My Race Week Soundtrack 🎧
When you’re driving around Nebraska setting up and tearing down for hours on end, you’ve got to keep the vibes right. Here’s what kept me company:
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Myself — mostly talking out loud about how to make next year’s race even better (the best ideas come somewhere between Lincoln and Omaha).
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The Daily Stoic Podcast – A little perspective and calm amidst the chaos. Listen here »
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My “Liked from Radio” Playlist – Random, wonderful, and everything in between. Check it out »
Whether you ran your first leg or your 18th, thank you for being part of this incredible community. We’ll catch you on the course next year — and maybe by then, I’ll have finally replaced that mower. (But don’t count on it.)
– Ben
Race Director, Market to Market Relay Nebraska