History of the Red Eye

The Red Eye Run is a unique relay running event and as such has a very interesting history that is still being written each year.

Local race organizers Jamie and Jason Feagans came up with the idea to run a 200 mile relay running event that went from Evansville, IN to Bloomington, IN. The race began with high expectations and modest participation in 2004 after hundreds of hours of planning for more than a year. Participation grew until the final year of the Hoosier 200 in 2006 when the Feagans decided that a local event might prove to be much more manageable.

 In 2007 the Red Eye Relay was born. Interest and participation was immediately strong even though the “Killer H’s” of southern Indiana in July awaited – heat, humidity and hills. Surprisingly the first year produced unusually low temperatures which caught many runners off guard and scrambling for more layers in the middle of the night. But 2008 did not disappoint with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees in the afternoon on Saturday while dipping into the 70’s that night.

 In January 2009, the Feagans approached one of the more enthusiastic teams that participated in both Red Eye Relays. Team Brilliant was known for their unorthodox training regime, hydration techniques, and for being directionally challenged. (We were the ones with the intoxicated stuffed frog on top of our vehicle.) Jamie and Jason had decided that family life (4 young children) needed more attention and asked Team Brilliant to take over race management.

The Feagans are continuing to organize the Chili Hilly Stage Race (www.chilihillystagerace.com).  The rest is history, so come be part of it by taking part in the Red Eye Relay.