HTC & PTC Volunteer Information

People like you make the Mother of All Relays run!

The Providence Hood & Portland To Coast Relay has sold out for 37 straight years – an impossible feat to deliver on without the help of our volunteer fleet each time. If you’re available to join us from August 28-29, 2026, please come and support your team of racers.

Team Volunteer Requirements

Teams with at least one member residing within a 100 mile radius of Portland are considered local and must provide three (3) race volunteers or one (1) Exchange Leader (while positions last). If interested in providing an Exchange Leader, contact [email protected] 

There is no buy-out option to providing volunteers. Teams are responsible for ensuring their volunteers complete the mandatory online training, show up on time, and fulfill the required tasks.

Please refer to the Zipcode Finder to see if your team is considered local.

Racers on the road

VOLUNTEER KEY DATES

Mark your calendars!

BEGIN INVITING YOUR REQUIRED VOLUNTEERS

JULY 8TH, 2025

Starting at 10am PST, check your Team Clubhouse account for the “Add Volunteer” button. Invite your three required volunteers to the volunteer portal via email.

The volunteer tab will become available in early July. All local teams are required to provide three volunteers or one exchange leader.

Volunteers will receive an email from the HTC/PTC Team Clubhouse where they will need to accept the volunteer invitation. If your volunteers do not receive the email, ask them to check their junk mailbox. Still experiencing issues? Contact us at [email protected]

JULY 9TH, 2025

Starting at 8am PST, volunteers will follow the registration link in the email that was sent. We highly recommend using Google Chrome and not attempting to register via smartphone (please use an iPad or laptop/PC).

Volunteers get to choose their location and time based on a first come first serve availability after watching Volunteer Training Modules 1-4 and passing the multiple choice questionnaire with at least 75% accuracy.

Volunteers must go through the 15-20 minute training module, provide personal information, emergency contact information, sign the event waiver and select their shift time and location.

If you need to change a volunteer, please delete the original volunteer and then add the new volunteer in their place. Your new volunteer will need to select a new shift location and time- they cannot take the old volunteer’s shift unless it is still available. Any volunteer registered with your team will be expected to arrive for their shift so please make sure your volunteers appear accurate in the Team Clubhouse prior to the event.

JULY 31st, 2025

Closing at 5:00pm PST. Volunteers who have completed the online training and have NOT selected a volunteer position will be randomly assigned to a position on 8/2. These random job assignments CANNOT BE CHANGED once assignments are issued.

AUGUST 9TH, 2025

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST

Team Captains that provide Exchange Leader Volunteers will be contacted prior to training and will receive more information. 

PREPARE TO VOLUNTEER

We appreciate you more than you know!

  1. A positive attitude and a smile!
  2. Flashlight
  3. Water
  4. Snacks
  5. Gloves, sunglasses
  6. Printed map (cell coverage is gone for most providers, Exchanges 19-31)
  7. Fully charged cell phone/charger 
  8. Long sleeve shirt or jacket
  9. Comfortable shoes (no flip flops)
  1. Children (volunteers must be 18 years or older) 
  2. Pets
  3. Headphones
  4. Alcohol

Race Volunteers: Race volunteers are located at the physical Exchange point. They report to the Exchange Leader, and check in at the Exchange point. Duties include:

  1. Directing van parking
  2. Keeping spectators away from the physical Exchange Zone.
  3. Calling in-coming participant team numbers
  4. Patrol exchange zone/parking
  5. Patrol Sleeping Fields (if applicable)

 

Volunteer Monitor: Volunteer Monitors are positioned along important course turns within half a mile to several miles of an Exchange. A monitor directs participants and vans in a certain direction. They report to the Exchange Leader, and check in at the Exchange point.

Equipment Sitter: An ‘Equipment Sitter’ stays with and watches important race equipment at the Exchange. This is done in the time period between the Portland To Coast Walk Relay and Hood To Coast participants, when no one else is at the Exchange. The volunteer can read, talk on phone, etc. as long as they are at the Exchange, watching the equipment.

Exchange Leader: An Exchange Leader is the point person that manages all volunteers at the given exchange point. Exchange Leaders go through the regular volunteer training as well as an extensive virtual training with the HTC Staff. All volunteers check-in with the exchange leader when they arrive for their shift and when they leave.

When you arrive:

Look for the HTC Exchange Leader, wearing a race official HTC polo and baseball cap. You will sign in with the official Exchange Leader who will provide guidance on your specific assignment.  

Exchange Zones:

  1. An ‘Exchange Zone’ is where a participant passes off to the next participant in rotation. The waiting runner/walker will line up single file along the shoulder of the road, behind the Exchange Point.  The Runner/walker finishing their ‘leg’ must then exit the Exchange Zone.  Volunteers keep spectators out of the Exchange Zone.
  2. Only allow the team timer and next participant in the exchange zone. Keep the rest of the team back.
  3. Do NOT allow vans to stop within 500 feet of the exchange zone to drop off participants. Direct them to parking.

 

Parking:

  1. Do not let vans stop as they enter parking area.
    • Drivers should be directed to park safely and quickly.
  2. Fill in parking spots from the back (farthest from entrance), so backups don’t occur on the road.
  3. Work as a team to direct vans in the parking area.
  4. Do not stop or attempt to “flag” vehicles.
  5. Vans are not allowed to drop off participants until they are parked safely within the parking area.

 

Reflective vests, flashlights, or other lighted devices requirement:

  1. During ALL hours, volunteers MUST wear the provided reflective vests. Make sure you bring a flashlight or headlamp.
  2. 6:00PM-7:00AM ALL runners/walkers MUST wear a reflective vest, have a small LED light flasher on the front and back of their body, and carry a flashlight (or wear a headlight). Reflective vests only are required through 9:00AM. Runners/walkers who do not abide by this rule are not allowed to participate.  

 

Headphones: 

  1. Headphones/buds or any other music devices IN THE EAR are strongly discouraged.
  2. Participants need to be able to hear instructions and general traffic noises.
  3. Failure to comply results in team disqualification. 

 

Do not direct traffic on the roads:

  1. Only a certified flagger can direct roadway traffic. Exchanges 2, 5, 14, 17 and 24 have assistance from hired certified flaggers.  Remember -volunteers only direct vans in Exchange and Parking Areas.
  2. Always give ODOT, Police, EMT, official vehicles right-of-way on roads. Please cooperate with their instructions.

Volunteer shifts are approximately 4-6 hours. If you are an Exchange Leader volunteer, shift lengths are 8-10 hours.

All volunteers must be 18 years of age to volunteer at the Hood & Portland To Coast Relay event.

Hood to Coast racers taking a selfie

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