Old Glory ultra-relay: 12 veterans attempt to establish a world record, raise one million

Last Tuesday, as dark rain clouds loomed ominously overhead, a determined runner from Team Red fiercely gripped the American flag, which fluttered in the wind along Sedillo Hill. The runner cheered enthusiastically as he pressed on, embodying resilience and patriotism in the face of the impending stormy weather.

“We’re a veteran support organization, non-profit, going into our 15th year. It started out as an effort to help wounded veterans transition back to their hometowns and communities from Iraq in Afghanistan, 2010, and the idea was, you build a small team around them in their community. Use physical fitness as the driver,” Michael “Sully” Sullivan, Team RWB’s chief of staff, said.

The relay is their largest fundraiser of the year, with a goal of raising $1 million while emphasizing the importance of supporting veterans and engaging with the community.

One of their main projects is an app designed to support veterans and their health goals.

“We were founded by Veterans. We know firsthand that many of us carry a mission-first mindset from our service, often neglecting our own health in the process,” Sullivan said

Split into three teams—Team Red, Team White, and Team Blue—runners participate in a relay that tests the limits of human endurance. They traverse diverse terrains and face all weather conditions, running day and night for a total of 3,000 miles. Each team rotates every eight hours, passing the flag without stopping for fifteen consecutive days.

He mentioned that many applied to join the team, and the selection process focused on finding runners who could maintain a fast pace consistently over the 18-day, 3000-mile journey. Those selected had nine months to train for the fast-paced event.

The runners are assisted with a chase vehicle that protects the runner and alerts vehicles of their presence and each team has an RV where they have access to physical therapy and a doctor in case of injuries.

“The course has been challenging,” Sullivan said. “They have traveled through regions with varying terrain, including elevation gains near Show Low. Weather-wise, they’ve been fortunate. Initially, they were worried about hitting temperatures in the 90s in West Texas and New Mexico, but the conditions are currently favorable - mid-70s with winds dying down.”

The runners who began the challenge on May 2 are expected to arrive in Washington, DC, on May 17.

To find the team live, follow on social media and make donations, please visit: https://teamrwb.org/old-glory-ultra-relay