Attention runners!
The 46th Annual DeCelle Memorial Lake Tahoe Relay will take place on June 12.
The most scenic run in all of America, the route runs completely around Lake Tahoe. Seven-member teams run the seven legs, each 8-12 miles long, for a total of 72 miles, through both California and Nevada. It is a favorite race for many teams, who return year after year. If you want to participate, you have better register early. There are a limited number of slots and last year some teams had to be turned away because they didn’t register early enough.
This is the 46th annual race! The race’s founder, Robert E. DeCelle Sr., devoted his life to promoting distance running, serving as an official, certifying courses, and lobbying for more events. His advocacy was instrumental in gaining support for women to compete in distance running events. He passed away in 1997, two weeks after the 33rd annual relay.
The race is named after Robert DeCelle, Sr’s son, Captain Robert DeCelle, Jr. “Bobby” as his family called him, an avid high school runner. Drafted into the Army in 1966, he flew a helicopter during the Vietnam War. In February 1971 his helicopter was hit and he suffered severe injuries, yet he managed to pilot it away from the battle and thus saved the lives of his crew. He died from his injuries about a week later on February 21, 1971. He was heavily decorated by the Army and a base in Vietnam was named for him. At that time, the Lake Tahoe Relay was renamed in his honor.
This not-for-profit relay event is staffed each year by dozens of volunteers, most of them friends and extended DeCelle family members. All profit from entry fees goes to local high school running programs, a fitting tribute to both Robert Sr. and Bobby. The race is managed and coordinated by April DeCelle Carter, who is Robert Sr.’s daughter, Bobby’s sister, and—as you might expect—an avid runner herself.
For more information, go to the race’s web site, http://www.laketahoerelay.com, or send me an e-mail message and I’ll snail mail you a flyer with registration information.
Okay, I admit it. We have a family connection. My charming and talented daughter Olivia married Scott Carter, April’s son and Robert Sr.’s grandson. Mike and I will be doing our part during the race, directing traffic, cheering runners, and playing with the West’s most charming grandkids as much as possible.
