The top three women's teams at this year's 211-mile Blue Ridge Relay were all from Chapel Hill, led by the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bracelet. The Sisterhood completed the race in 27 hours, 35 minutes and 52 seconds -- breaking the previous record for women by over 2.5 hours and coming in 19th overall out of the 105 teams who participated.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro's seejanerun team came in second in 30:13:09 (48th overall); and Running in Heels finished third among the all female teams in 31:01:13 (61st overall).

Carrboro-Chapel Hill's co-ed Trailheads (29:53:29; 42nd place overall) and 13 other teams from Durham, Raleigh and Cary also took part in the annual event.

Perennial favorites, Norm's Maggots of Asheville, won their fifth BBR title and set new course and open records by finishing in 21:42:22. In all, four new records were set by BRR teams.

Proceeds from the BRR go to Habitat for Humanity.

The Blue Ridge Relay is considered one of the longest running relays in the United States, starting in Grayson Highland Park (just north of the North Carolina/Virginia border) and ending in downtown Asheville, with 36 mountainous legs of varying difficulties that range from easy to "very hard." Runners along the Blue Ridge's back roads have to conquer uphills of more than 12,000 feet overall (and some steep downhills, too.) One leg gains 1,392 feet in elevation with no downhill.

Teams of up to 12 people rotate through the legs, with each member usually running three; each leg covers an average total distance of 16.6 miles. Teams can divide the legs any way they wish.

Other team members usually rest and tote supplies in vans following the runners.

The course is not only challenging but also picturesque, with some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the United States. Planners try to time the event so as to provide as much moonlight as possible for runners on the night shifts.

"It was a blast," said Traveling Bracelet member Shuwen Jeuland. "We hope to do it again next year."

This year, Scot Hayward of Hudson ran the entire 211 miles in 57 hours, 31 minutes to become the first person ever to cover the course by himself. An ultra-runner who works for Fleet Feet in Hickory, (and who had attempted the BRR solo run before,) Hayward got about 90 minutes of sleep during his precedent-setting run.