Who We Are

The following testimonials were submitted by the runners of American Odyssey Relay. If you would like to send us your thoughts on the race, we will post them here and on the homepage.


2011

Bob and crew... I want to say thanks for an amazing race experience! This was my first long distance relay and I'm now certain it will not be my last. I'm hooked! Our entire team had a very memorable time. We all thank you for putting on a first class event. We will be back in 2012!

Team RWB DC Warriors

You all put on an amazing race this weekend! I had such a great experience. Directionals and volunteers were amazing!! Thanks so much!

Lisa

The Sweaty Dozen had an absolute blast this year. Bob, Kelly, and the rest of the organizers did a phenomenal job with the logistics including some really awesome improvements over last year (can't get over those sign lights!) Already getting people to commit to next year's AOR!

Steve D.

Bob: Thank you for the incredible weekend. This was my second year and I loved it. I said many times that coordinating this race and all the many logistics, volunteers, and other details appears to parallel the complexities of a rocket launch.

Thank you for all you and your team do to make this a reality to the hundreds of teams who participate. I look forward to next year.

Haley

You guys are the best!!! Thanks for organizing an awesome event... my team (and perhaps a new one, comprised of those who wish they were cool enough to compete this year) will definitely be back next year! I LOVE AOR!

Megan S.

Great job with organizing everything and making sure we had scenic runs. It was a wonderful experience!

Kimberly C.

Can't wait for next year!

Jason N.

Another year, another great race! Thanks so much to everyone who helped make it happen!

Paula B.

Another great event, Bob & Kelly (and all of the support teams). The MMAMs had a great time and will be back for our 4th year in 2012. Thanks to all of the other teams who helped us out when Van 1 had a flat at the startline. Always an adventure!

Christy L.

AWESOME Race, Bob!!!!!! We especially like the fact that the finishing medals were designed especially for team Mixed Nuts. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Angi L.

Good times, Bob! We'll be back in the future. Count on it. Can't wait to hear the date for 2012.

Dan W.

Bob -- we're already thinking about next year! Maybe running as a 6 person team?!? We had a great time!

Nicole W.

Another great race Bob! Rebels Run Amok had a blast once again. Already looking forward to next year!

Thomas D.

Great event--very well organized! On behalf of Team M Train, a big thanks to all of the volunteers!

Aaron K.

Awesome job as usual, Bob and Kelly! Hoover's Harriers had a wonderful time! We'll be back again next year, guaranteed!!

David S.

Excellent race again this year. We had a Blast in van 2 of the Abominable Slow-Men!!

Fred S. II

Fantastic race! Team Hicks had a blast and we'll be talking about the memories made this weekend for a long time!

Jodi Ball E.

Thank you for a wonderful event. Team Runs -n- Goses had an absolute blast and can't wait to see you next year!

Rebecca P.

Great job Bob! It was a heck of a race! Can't wait to do Southern Odyssey!!!

Mark V.

An awesome job, folks! And I must state, in my role as Union General Rehm, and unequivocally, that volunteering for the American Odyssey Relay is as much fun as running it, if not more! Retired Rebels Run Amok, Transition 32 at Riley's Lock, had a wonderful day checking in and checking out the runners!

Catherine R.

You guys did a great job coordinating the whole thing, especially considering all the pre-relay course issues, during the relay issues, and the post-relay issues you had to handle. Hopefully AOR IV won't be as chaotic. If they were all run like AOR - Gettysburg I'd have way too many relays to attend. You set the standard high for the rest of them.

Waylon

Hi Kelly, I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work this past week end and also for my pancake breakfast. I really enjoyed working for you and look forward to next year.

Kathy J.

Bob and Kelly - I wanted to personally thank you for organizing such an amazing race. I have never participated in such a relay race before and was blown away by the organization, team spirit, and overall support throughout the entire event. Not only did it bring our corporate team, The Wharf, together more, but it was great to see so many people motivated and excited to be apart of the event. This was truly a memorable experience that I look forward to being apart of next year.

You all did an incredible job and I will definitely spread the word about the American Odyssey Relay Race and what great causes you support.

Erin

This was Team Sasquatch's third year at the Odyssey and we had a blast! Great volunteers, great race day execution, and great people. We'll be back for Year 4 in 2012!

Barry C.

AWESOME RACE!!!! Fabulous volunteers...LOVED the cake!!! Beautiful scenery, challenging runs, wonderful people...HONESTLY, it just couldn't have been better. If you had had this race in 1863, I wouldn't have taken the train! Abe Lincoln (and his Studs and Babes)

Annette S.

Hands down, it's the best running experience I ever had, PERIOD! This event is awesome. The event has everything you want in a long distance relay: scenic routes along some of the Country's most historic and hallowed grounds; a Director with an excellent sense of humor and professionalism; enthusiastic volunteers; and the participants" the most creative and encouraging bunch of folks to ever don running shoes and race bib. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Matt S.

Bob, Now that it's over and things are all past us for 2011...I just wanted to drop you a line and say congrats to you and the team on a great race. We had a blast yet again and I know Steve is regularly checking the website to try to get in on the early registration for next year. It looks like we might even have The Sweaty Dozen II for next year as well. Enjoy the time off and thanks for putting on a great race. You guys did great.

Thanks, Matt S.


2010

Bob just a quick note to say what a great race you put on this year. We ran last year and this year and really enjoyed the improvements and our team had a great time. Better everything this year and the weather joined in too.

Those temps were great and that course is a whole lot more beautiful when the temps are under 85 degrees!

Andrew P., (2010)

What a great, great time this weekend was! Thank you for putting so much time and energy into making an amazing race and for the extra bagels! We have been gushing to all of our friends about how fun it was and telling them they HAVE to do it next year.

Sera S., Right to Bare Legs (2010)

I had a great time at the relay, the people and volunteers were really helpful and kind. I can't wait until next year.

Karen S., Mason-Dixson midnight runners (2010)

Every member of the team joins me in thanking you for the wonderful relay you put on! We all remarked on the fact that you seemed to be everywhere, all along the course. It is great to be a part of something like the American Odyssey Relay, where people are really dedicated to making it a good experience for the runners. We will definitely recommend this relay to others. All together it was a fabulous experience! Please send along our thanks to all the volunteers on the course as well.

Kathy B., Team Do Not Go Gentle (2010)

Thank you so much for organizing this event! My team consisted of all colleagues and we had a great time! We will definitely be encouraging our friends to create corp. teams and enter next year. What a great way to get to know your colleagues and bond in a setting very different from the work place! Who ever thought hanging out in a van for almost 32 hours would be so much fun! :)

Catherine H., (2010)

Dear Bob -- Right when we thought the AOR just couldn't get any better, it did! This year was even more terrific than last year. How you pull the AOR together is beyond us. Just trying to organize our teams is like herding cats and that's nothing compared to your job. We really appreciate everything you do to make the race such a great adventure! Whether you like or not, we WILL be back next year and expect to have numbers 1 and 2 again!!

Hugs, Rosie and Kay-Kay, Krybabies and Slackers (2010)

The Sweaty Dozen had such a great time with this year's relay we're already geared up to register for next year's. When will that open? We want to make sure we don't miss out on the early bird give-aways like we did this year!

Steve D., The Sweaty Dozen (2010)

Again your race was fabulous. This was my 4th relay and I think it was my favorite.

Mary C., Leg 2 of the Do Not Go Gently team

Quite simply the most fun you can have on two tired, swollen, stinky feet! I'm already looking forward to next year's relay. Well done!

Juan F., Dudes from 874

Whoooo hoooo!!! I think I'm stuck on Odyssey relays! Cheers to Boy Scout Pancake breakfasts and the soft, green grass after leg 24! Loved it- and I look forward to seeing you guys on the course again very soon!

Lynne H., The Right to Bare Legs

Thank again for staging a tremendous event. The AOR course is spectacular, the volunteers amazing and the entire experience was an A+. Throwing nine of us into one van was the ultimate team-building experience--Beat the Reapers are ready to sign up again for next year's event!

David L., Beat the Reapers

Thank you so much for a wonderful race. Our team had an absolute blast. I have been meaning to write you to tell you that the canal legs were lovely.

Jen W., Pickett's Charge, Part Deux

We had more fun than any seven people "we had a driver" should have stuffed in a van for 24 plus hours with a little running now and again.

Shanon D., Yorkapalooza

Congratulations on an amazingly successful relay! The Wolf Pack is still fired up and reveling in all the fun times we had over the past two days. I can't believe the race is really over. We've been planning and anticipating it for so long. What are we going to do with ourselves now?!!! Seriously, you did a tremendous job in putting together the race and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you for all that you did to ensure a great time for everyone.

Jenna L., The Wolf Pack

I want to thank you for an incredible experience. This was my 2nd relay race and I absolutely loved it.

Stephanie W., Lightning in a Bottle

Thanks so much for organizing such a great event. It was hard - really hard - but also allowed us all to get out of our box to see that we can meet new challenges. As a team, we had a great time; as a relay participant, it will be a memory of a lifetime! Your dedication and the wonderful volunteers who came out to make this happen just show it takes a community - and a van!

Holley M., The Wolf Pack

I know i am not the voice of experience here, but my whole team was blown out of the water. WE WILL BE BACK, stinky van, the sequel!

Greg L., Can I get in the Van? No ya' stink!

The American Odyssey Relay was a great event! How do I know? About halfway through the race (and also at the end!) our scouts were already discussing and planning for next year's race.

Bud H., The Dudes from 874

Bob, congratulations on a great race. What a spectacular course.

We had a great time!

Andrew P., Sweaty Knight Mares

Thank you (and Kelly) for organizing such a wonderful experience. All of the MMAMs had a great time and we are coming back next year. In fact, there may be two teams from Mount Airy as there were several Moms who wanted to race this year but we didn't have enough spots!

Christy L., Might Mount Airy Moms

Hi, Bob. What a great run and fun time with all the participants. (I was part of the Butt, Sweat, and Beers team).

Timothy W., Butt, Sweat and Beers

I just wanted to let you both know that I had a fantastic time on Saturday- from where I was standing everyone was having a great experience with the relay!

Congrats!!

Kelly M., Volunteer

Just a great big thanks for putting together this adventure. This was my first race/relay EVER. What a way start out running.......an event this well done.

The teams were first class all the way.......encouraging you while you ran.....even when you were the competition. It was heart-warming to see such good sportsmanship throughout the adventure.

Thanks and much appreciation. Hope to have this much fun next year!!

Ann Marie C.

What more can one say but WOW to the whole Odyssey adventure! And special WOW's to you, Kelly! Your communication prior to the event was excellent - I got to read them because Rhoda and I share the same email addy! It was great finally getting to meet you - and how many times did we see you during the course of the two-day race?? Unbelievable how involved and connected you were to us all throughout the race!

The epitome of your spirit and commitment was at the finish line late Saturday - you blowing bubbles for the children while we waited for teams to arrive!!! Your spirit seemed to be unquenchable Kelly! Enjoy your sense of reward for a job well done!

With the success and excitement of this year, I think we will see a lot more people involved next year!

Daryl L.


2009

Thanks for an awesome event. This by far was more challenging and most rewarding race I have ever run.

Steven B., Black, Blue and Grey All Over

The Inaugural American Odyssey Relay was an absolutely incredible experience for our group Rebels Run Amok. The volunteer army was incredible. I saw Kelly Cameron at numerous transition areas during the event, making sure that volunteer support, port-o-potties, etc. were in place. Every single member of our team said that we want to do it again next year - how often does that happen after a challenging event?

Catherine R., Rebels Run Amok

Congratulations to you and your team on executing such a wonderful event! We, Team McLean, had an absolute blast. Some are already talking about the t-shirt design for next year's race. It exceeded our expectations in every way and I expect this to be an even more popular event in the years to come.

See you next year

Dean W., Team McLean

I just wanted to thank you for the great event you guys put on this weekend. I was proud to have participated and completed the inaugural running. The instructions, directions and courses were all fantastic. I've never done a race like this before but was very impressed by how smooth everything ran.

Dennis D., Phillies World Funkin' Champions

Thanks for staging an unbelievable event. We had a fantastic memorable and challenging experience. Hope you made it to the Sun am after party.

Bronwyn W., Butt, Sweat and Beers

First and foremost: Great race!!!! We Hoosier lawyers (and 2 wannabees) absolutely loved our experience at your event.

Excellent work for a first time event of this magnitude!

Craig B., Tortious Interference

I just wanted to once again thank you for all of your efforts in making the Relay so special. Very few people could have put something like this together; but even fewer could have done it "right." You did it "right."

Alan W., Beauties and the Beasts

The race was awesome...of course until the brutal heat and long 8.3mile leg my teammates stuck me with! All being said, I enjoyed the entire event and would love to come back next year. I've been highly recommending it and suggesting the event to our other training groups and customers without a second thought. Thank you!

Brian N., BRRC Lightning in a Bottle

Thanks SO much for the race! We had an awesome time. There's been a chain of emails among our team this week about how we expected to be sore and tired after the race, but not homesick for our vans and van-mates as many of us have found ourselves!

Anni I., 6 Sixes and Fast Friends

On behalf of the entire Running with Scissors team, congratulations on an incredible event you and your team have put together! We all had a fantastic experience and hope to run the race again next year!

Richard K., Running With Scissors

Thanks for a great race! Our team (Team Sasquatch) had a blast and enjoyed every minute of the race. None of us really knew each other but since the race there has continued to be good communication and camaraderie - 4 people are even meeting in the mornings for daily runs now.

Also, please pass on our thanks to Kelly and the volunteers - they were simply outstanding.

See you next year -

Barry C., Team Sasquatch

Team BBG here. I just wanted to say thanks for organizing this race.

What an amazing race! Its awesome to take 12 people who haven't spent more than an hour or two together, throw them into an intense 29 hour race (as it was) and have them still smiling and having fun at the end. My most prominent memory is when I handed a half finished bottle of water to a runner from another team in DC...and she took it. Thanks, thanks, thanks! Happy running.

Christine W., Black, Blue and Grey All Over

My teammates and my excellent support staff of van drivers and cheerleaders were astounded and awed by how supportive you and everyone else out on the race course was. You made us feel very special in a time when we also tend to feel a bit like cannon fodder. Vans and runners passing us cheered our team the whole length of the course and random runners walked up to us and thanked the Soldiers. We were all moved by the outpouring of affection. The race itself was even better than I could have imagined. It was grueling but oh so satisfying! Perhaps the best part of it for me was seeing my guys reach down to find that little something extra they needed to get over the next rise and the realization of the fact that their own abilities are greater than even they realized reflected in their eyes.

Jessica O., Team 525

I'm still amazed at how well organized the race was. As a Realtor, putting out directional signs for an open house can be a pain -- but to do this for a 200+ mile course is beyond my imagination. The volunteers, maps, directions and "camp Boonsboro" were all fantastic. I'm still in awe knowing how challenging these types of events can be.

Bruce L., Rebels Run Amok