Pacing the first-ever women’s sub-4 mile attempt hardest – and most secretive – relay races in the world. Starting at the pier in Santa Monica and ending at the Las Vegas welcome sign, this 340-mile relay is made up of teams consisting of six runners (each runner completes about 50 miles over the course of two days). There is no official race website and official set of rules or regulations.
Yet despite the lack of information, The Speed Project attracts some of the world’s fastest athletes: those up for a unique and relentless running challenge, across Death Valley, where the only goal is to win. Forget rest stops or 5-star hotels, for this trek across the desert there are no breaks – you’ll need to hire an RV van and supply your own support crew. And it’s as much about staving off injury and fatigue as it is a test of physical exertion, speed and camaraderie.
How far is The Speed Project?
In a word: far. Consisting of 340 miles (548km), The Speed Project founders, Nils Arend and Blue Benadum, pioneered a brutal route from Santa Monica to Las Vegas which climbs through Hollywood and the Antelope Valley, past an aeroplane graveyard at the edge of the Mojave Desert and the Inland Empire city of Barstow, through the remote town of Baker and along the edge of Death Valley National Park, then follows a short segment of the Old Spanish Trail and finally Route 160 into Vegas.
This route has since become known as the ‘OG route’ – and is The Speed Project’s most popular path – but it’s not exactly a fixed or signposted course. And since there are ‘no rules’ and no set designated route, runners can actually go whichever way they choose – by any means necessary. With one condition: no freeways. Other than that, each team decides how long or how short they want people to run, and in which direction.
How do I join The Speed Project?
With no official website, you can’t actually sign up like you would to a local 10K – you have to be invited. There is a simple application form, but just because you apply doesn’t mean you’ll actually get in. The founders then sift through The Speed Project applications and curate the field of participating teams – selecting those who are, a) fast and, b) have interesting motivations to run.
You can take part in The Speed Project as part of a ‘OG’ team (two women and four male runners) or a six-person all-female team.
Do people run The Speed Project solo?
For those who feel that 340 miles of heat exhaustion split between six runners isn’t quite hard enough, there is also a solo category, where you do the entire thing by yourself. British runner James Poole has run The Speed Project solo not once, but twice. The first time he ran the whole thing solo, he documented the whole thing – you can watch his film below – and this year, he ran The Speed Project solo and totally unaided (with zero crew).
American runner Lucy Scholz holds the record for the fastest solo LA to Vegas runner, coming in at 84:45.
Who won The Speed Project 2023?
This year, The Speed Project took place in March 2023. Amercian OG Team, Daddy Braddy’s Stallions, set the OG record for the second time in three years, with a finishing time of 29:21.
While the all-female team, Braddy’s Lil’ Ponies (yes, they’re teammates with Daddy Braddy’s Stallions) set a new women’s team record in 33:13.
Where can I follow The Speed Project?
With no website, the best way to keep up with everything Speed Project related is by following @thespeedproject on Instagram. During the race, the founders live stream what’s going on, revealing who’s in front, who’s cutting the course and interviewing athletes along the way – all from their 1990 Lincoln stretch limo.
It’s this thrown-together vibe that makes The Speed Project so unique – it’s an unsanctioned unofficial-official race (which means there are no proper permits or paperwork), so if you get pulled over by the police, you just have to explain that you decided to run to Vegas – and there’s nothing illegal about that. Just don’t run on the freeway.
