Fun Facts About the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey

RTO is almost here, Unbreakable 2, recent race results, and more...

Author

Ryan Evans
May 15, 2025

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This week's newsletter

🏃‍♀️ Fun Facts about the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey

One of the premier endurance events in our area, the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey, is set for May 30-31. The annual relay running event starts in downtown Reno and does a 178-mile loop around our region.

Teams normally have 12-runners and the course is broken into 36-legs, so each runner will run three separate times. There are some ultra teams (six or less runner) who participate as well.

This year’s Reno-Tahoe Odyssey is sold out. If you want to do the event but aren’t on a team yet, we recommend paying attention to social media the days leading into the race as teams are often looking for last-minute runners.

Here are some fun facts about the RTO:

  • Eric Lerude founded the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey with the inaugural race taking place in 2005. There were only 36 teams in the first RTO.

  • In 2007, the race was impacted by the Angora Fire in Lake Tahoe. Teams ran the first 12-legs, skipped the middle 12-legs, and then the race restarted early Saturday morning for the final 12-legs.

  • The first three versions of the RTO took place in late June. In 2008, the race moved to its current date, the weekend after Memorial Day.

  • A wedding 🤵 👰 took place at the 2012 RTO. Pete and Heidi Parker tied the knot during the race in Virginia City. Pete ran into exchange point 30, they had a quick ceremony, then Heidi departed to run Leg 31.

  • Leg 4 is the only leg of the race that is an individual time trial. But in 2012, there was an additional individual time trial. Reno Running Company sponsored Leg 33 and timed the leg. Each runner who did Leg 33 that year received the infamous “Geiger Grade Grinder” shirt.

  • In 2013, 257 teams participated in the event. This was the highest number of teams in event history. The RTO continues to sell out, so there is likely demand for more teams but restrictions on the course (primarily limited room at some of the Lake Tahoe exchange points) have led the race directors to keep the number of teams around the 250-mark.

  • In 2013, the RTO One was added. This was a one-day relay that joined the full RTO in progress in Carson City (exchange point 24). 16 teams competed in the inaugural RTO One. In 2015, the RTO One was rebranded to the Capital Odyssey Relay and the Comstock Odyssey Relay — the final 6 legs of the RTO — debuted.

  • In 2014, Juan de Olivia did the entire distance by himself finishing in 46 hours and 20 minutes. His “team” was aptly named Army of Juan.

  • The race was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

  • In 2023, Reno Running Company Races took over the event from Eric Lerude and continues to build on his event-production legacy.

  • The 2025 race has 245 registered teams. This year’s race has a new start and finish line, the J Resort.

  • 55 runners are in the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Circle of Fame with 8 more expected to join the Circle of Fame at this year’s race. The Circle of Fame recognizes runners who have completed all 36 legs over the years.

  • There are 5 individuals have run and/or volunteered in all 19 Reno-Tahoe Odysseys!

🎬️ Unbreakable 2

Unbreakable: The Western States 100 film is often cited as one of the most influential ultra running documentaries. The documentary follows four of the world’s top ultra runners — Hal Koerner, Geoff Roes, Anton Krupicka, and Killian Jornet — during the 2010 Western States 100 race. The iconic film was produced by Reno native, JB Benna.

A few weeks ago it was announced that Unbreakable 2 is in the works. This version will follow the 2025 Western States 100. This year’s race will start June 28 in Olympic Valley, CA and participants will run 100-miles to the finish line in Auburn, CA.

📋️ RenoTahoe Results

Mom’s on the Run took place last Sunday. Over 500 runners participated in the timed 5K and many more in the non-timed events. Congratulations to the top-3 finishers:

5K Female

  • 🥇 Ramona Sanchez (overall winner)

  • 🥈 Abby Baker

  • 🥉 Lauren Montemorano

5K Male

  • 🥇 David Chavez

  • 🥈 Jerry Qualls

  • 🥉 Kesh Reddy

The Paiute Meadows Trail Run took place in Susanville, CA on Saturday, May 10. Congratulations to the following local athletes who finished in the top 3:

50K Male

  • 🥇 Nicholas Connolly, Reno

  • 🥈 Eric Paige, Reno

30K Male

  • 🥇 Abraham Arellano, Sparks

30K Female

  • 🥈 Alix Bilek, South Lake Tahoe

  • 🥉 Tammy Mcintyre, Sparks

Half Marathon Female

  • 🥉 Cheyenne Acevedo, Reno

4.5 Miler Male

  • 🥈 Sean Daane, Reno

4.5 Miler Female

  • 🥈 Haley Orthel-Clark

📆 Upcoming Races in Reno / Lake Tahoe

Race season is upon us! Our calendar is jammed packed with great endurance events in our community.

May Races
June Races
July Races

Are we missing a race? Let us know!

👟 Weekly Group Runs in Reno / Lake Tahoe

Please be sure to double check each group’s website/social media for locations, time, and/or last minute changes.

Thursday, May 15

Friday, May 16

Saturday, May 17

Sunday, May 18

Monday, May 19

  • ❌ 

Tuesday, May 20

Wednesday, May 21

Are we missing a group run? Let us know!

Until next time, stay active RenoTahoe!