Logistics of the 2007 Run

A Technical Masterpiece
95 days on the road through 16 different countries with a team of 20 runners and almost as many support staff, scouts and crew, required some planning. Many told us it was an absurd amount of planning. Some said it was impossible.

After receiving more than 300 runner applicants, a selection committee narrowed their choices to 20 – The Blue Planet Run Relay Team: a group selected because of their diversity, commitment to the cause and physical ability to participate in a relay across the globe.

Beginning in New York City, the runners were joined by a team of professionals from ignition, inc. who are experienced in producing an event of this magnitude. At any given time, a runner had in their line of sight a vehicle carrying three people: a driver, a route manager and a medical professional. Other members of the team were staged further ahead or behind the runner to scout any potential road hazards, perform media-related duties or set-up a designated exchange point, awaiting the runner's arrival so the next could start his/her journey.

Ensuring the safety of the runners for more than 15,000 miles was the highest priority. Nighttime runners had van/motorcycle escorts in certain places. To comply with our goals of leaving the smallest footprint in the regions we traveled through, police and authorities were only contacted in emergency situations.

The life of a BPR runner: working 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for 95 days as an ambassador for the global water crisis. The final leg of the relay ended where it began, in the heart of New York City.

The team was in touch every day of its journey, posting stories, blogs, photos and video to this web site.