Photo: Gophrette Power (used with permission) — Photo: **Gophrette Power** **(used with permission)**

By Dominique Burton

#GRLsWhoRace - In this series, we’re celebrating the running trailblazers who inspire us. From elite running legends to hometown heroes, these ladies shine with Black Girl Magic and show us that everything is possible.

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In 2014, six runners set out to run 340 miles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas over 41 consecutive hours in an unsanctioned ultra-relay called The Speed Project. The following year, they did it again, inviting like-minded athletes from all over the world to join them. They’ve been doing it ever since.

This ultra relay takes runners through traffic, gravel, dirt, sand and even Death Valley, with zero race support and zero checkpoints. There are no rules, no set path, just the goal--to get there.

Many teams compete to get there the fastest, while others simply hope to make it to the end alive (and in good enough condition to have a big boozy celebration).

RUNGRL co-founder Dominique Burton spoke with two veteran runners who thought it would be fun to conquer this crazy race. Marjorie Jean-Louis from Montreal on team Yamajo and Victoria Sanchez from Los Angeles, San Diego on team Flygirls represented the melanin magic for more than 340 miles.

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RUNGRL: Why did you sign up for The Speed Project (TSP)?

Marjorie Jean-Louis: Runners from our team all have friends or know runners that have participated in TSP. On Instagram, I saw them prepare and compete and remember thinking that it was nuts. I got completely wrapped up in the competition and during the race, I was glued to my phone while following their journeys. I thought that it would be amazing to be a part of something so different from the usual races I’d seen. I loved the idea of challenging myself, doing something out of the ordinary and wild. TSP was exactly that.

While talking about if with other runners from my crew I realized that we all thought we could do it and that it would be a worthwhile experience.

Victoria Sanchez: I first heard of TSP when a few runner friends were training for it a few years ago. They told me it was a relay race with no rules that runs from LA to Las Vegas. I have wanted to do the race ever since but hadn’t had the opportunity until this year. I love any physical challenges, especially ones that involve running because it reminds you how strong you are and how strong you can be.

Photo: Armani Visualz for FLYGIRLS (used with permission)

RUNGRL: How was your training for TSP?

Marjorie: The training for TSP was brutal. I went into it with the intention to be in the best possible running shape by the start of the race and committed to training seriously very early on. I slowly started increasing my miles towards the end of 2018 and at the end of November 2018 started following the TSP training program. I maintained an average of about 45 miles per week up until the race. Looking back, being committed to the training program was possibly one of the hardest parts of TSP.

The training plan didn't leave a lot of leeway. I was used to running and going with the flow but I soon realized this rigidity really helped keep me very honest on how hard I was actually working. With clear instructions, it was easier to simply go into the runs and do as I was told. On top of my three training runs, I would run 2-3 times a week and did a bit of strength training and yoga. We also, as a team, had group strength sessions once every other week and spinning classes once a week. Training was a time management puzzle that had me running at 1am, 6am, 11pm and at any and every time of the day.

All of TSP training took place during the winter, which, this year was extra cold with a lot of snow and ice. In the end, many long runs (up to 25 miles) took place on a treadmill or inside an underground parking garage, running 0,4-mile loops on Sunday mornings where we had to be out of the garage by 8am!

Victoria: We had weekly training plans by the amazing Bec Wilcox. Our training included speed runs and long-distance runs, putting us somewhere between 30-40 mile weeks. The craziest was when we had a “three-a-day” training: 12 miles in the morning, 6 miles in the afternoon, 4 miles at night.

RUNGRL: What were you expecting leading up to the actual race?

Marjorie: I was terrified and excited all at the same time. I knew that it might be challenging, but I also knew that we would without a doubt finish the race and make it all the way to Vegas. I didn't know if we would make it kicking and screaming, or if it was going to be effortless. I had no clue if the fatigue would destroy us, if we would support the heat or if we'd get lost in the desert. The unknown was scary but it also fuelled our preparation process. We prepared for all we could imagine, but also accepted that we had no way of making sure we covered all the possibilities.

RUNGRL: What surprised you the most during your experience?

Victoria: What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed running in Death Valley. The heat, the sun, the lack of water, running on an empty road--I loved it all and never wanted to stop. I actually ended up picking up some extra miles in Death Valley so some other girls would have more time to rest.

RUNGRL: What was the hardest part?

Victoria: The hardest part was running at night. I was tired, hungry, cramping, grumpy, and we were running against the wind, usually uphill.

Marjorie: Without hesitation, the 18 weeks of training leading to TSP was the hardest part. It made me a stronger runner but also helped me build the mental strength required to make it through the 44 hours of TSP. It made me question why I was doing this and whether I was able to do it. Going through such a rigorous process, while working, through the Christmas holidays and all the other daily life events was the hardest part.

RUNGRL: How do you feel about your TSP experience?

Victoria: TSP changed my life! For the entirety of the race, you have only one focus: run. It’s not about how many miles you do, but celebrating that you’re running the miles. We knew we would get to Vegas eventually, so the theme quickly became to just enjoy the sport. It reintroduced me to what it means to live in the moment, to go with the flow, listen to my breath, follow my heart and the importance of teamwork.

Marjorie: I still feel amazing about the TSP experience. I think that both the preparation and the event were very impactful. It was amazing to share the road with so many other runners who simply jumped at a chance to be on the road and collectively push through 340 miles. We weren't all necessarily there for the same reasons, or had the same objectives or ambition but we all came and ran a shared the road and this experience with one another.

On a personal level, TSP really showed me, in a tangible way, what can be accomplished through preparation, consistency and dedication and that's super valuable to me. We surpassed our target finish time by about 6 hrs, I ran my fastest 1K, mile and 5K (during the race) and I truly believe that it's because we took the preparation seriously and believed in our capacity and in the process. To see my entire team do their best every step of the way was beautiful and I can't wait to take on more challenges and to grow through them.

RUNGRL: What’s a song that really represents your TSP experience?

Victoria: Our team song is “Wake Up in the Sky” by Gucci Mane. But the song I had on repeat on my Spotify was “Magic” by B.O.B.

Marjorie: Not an easy road by Buju Banton

I've been traveling all morning

With such a heavy load

Now it's noon and I cannot afford

To put down this burden alongside the road

I've got to hold it, got to humble myself

Like a child

Upon my face I've the got to put on a smile

Make up my mind just to walk more miles

Because I know that

It's not an easy road

Many see the glamour and the glitter

And think it's a bed of rose

Who feels it knows

Lord help me sustain these blows

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The next round of The Speed Project takes place in 2020. Are you brave enough to try?

All photos in this story used with permission. Reproduction or reposting permissions must go through original photographers: Armani Visualz for FLYGIRLS and Gophrette Power.

GRLs Who Race: Ladies of The Speed Project 2019

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