There are races—and then there’s the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey.
The 2025 edition marked the 19th running of this truly magical event, originally brought to life by Eric and Stephanie Lerude. For the past three years, we at Reno Running Company Races have had the incredible privilege of serving as the curators of this relay, and I’ve been honored to be Race Director, Traffic Control, Janitor, Water Boy, and Start Line Hype Man.
From the outside, the RTO looks like an epic 178-mile relay—a challenge of endurance, strategy, and teamwork. But from the inside, it’s so much more. It’s a community celebration. It’s a life-changing experience. It’s the kind of event that reminds us why we run.
I’ll be honest, my first year directing the race was overwhelming. The amount of behind the scenes work it takes to create a seamless, safe, and unforgettable experience is impossible to overstate. Permitting, logistics, signage, safety, coordination, communication, it never stops. And none of it would happen without the incredible year-round efforts of our RTO team.
I want to give a heartfelt thank you to:
- Naomi Corrigan, our Vice President, who helps guide this ship with vision and passion.
- Leland Peterman, who oversees course logistics and ensures every twist and turn is accounted for.
- Julie Fontani, who somehow organizes 480 volunteers across nearly 180 miles and our social media.
- Naomi Gentle, who manages the race weekend festival, sponsors, runner swag, and countless other roles.
- Our Extended Team: Joe Abittan, Sheena Britschgi, Janet Cryer, Mike Ginsburg, JoAnne Gipson, Tina Montella, and Jim Rogers
You all make this possible. I’m forever grateful for the work you put into this race and all our races.
But beyond the logistics, the most powerful part of the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey is what it means to the participants.
Every year, I stand at the ceremonial finish line, where teams reunite and take their photos. I get to talk to the runners: exhausted, elated, and absolutely beaming with pride. Some tell stories of triumph, others of personal hardship and perseverance. But no matter what brought them to the start, they all finish with a sense of accomplishment that’s impossible to fake.
And that’s the magic of the RTO.
The route itself is iconic: beginning in downtown Reno, climbing into Truckee, weaving past Palisades Tahoe, around Lake Tahoe, over Kingsbury Grade, through Genoa and Carson City, up to Virginia City, and finally back to where it all started. Teams of 12 (or sometimes six, for those seeking even more punishment) cover the entire loop over 16 to 35 hours. Each runner takes on 15–18 miles spread across three legs, often running in the blazing summer heat or the chilling Tahoe night, squished into a van between runs, making memories that will last a lifetime.
We see the training up close, from overheated lunchtime runs in May to 2 a.m. night runs. We see the nervous excitement as runners gear up with reflective vests, new shoes, and their teams’ custom shirts. We hear the stories of those who never thought they could do something like this… and then did.
That’s why this event matters. It’s more than a race. It’s a journey that changes people. And for us, it’s an honor to help guide them along the way.
Until next year, RTO.
– Matt Balzer
Owner, Reno Running Company
Race Director, Reno Tahoe Odyssey