COOL RUNNINGS' JOURNEY AT THE SPEED PROJECT
The Speed Project – 550 kilometers from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. We accompanied the Cool Runnings team on their journey through the desert. The plan: "No rules, no spectators, no set course - just get to Vegas as fast as you can."
The Speed Project is a relay race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas - about 340 miles. There are no rules, no set route, and no spectators. Teams take turns running non-stop through desert, highways, and crazy conditions. It’s not just a race, it’s about pushing limits, teamwork, and doing something wild and unforgettable.
The journey already started a few weeks earlier with ‘The Test Project’ – a run from PUMA HQ in Herzogenaurach to solebox in Munich. After finishing with ease, the team was ready for The Speed Project.
THE BEGINNING
Equipped with two SUVs and a RV the journey started at 4am from Santa Monica Pier. The days before the team prepared, got the routes, had a few shake outs and got fueled by the amazing setting in Los Angeles and joyful anticipation for the race. After an energetic start Cool Runnings left LA behind around 4 hours after starting the journey and entered the wild around 8pm.
DAY 1 - THE DESERT
That’s where the real challenge began – the desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Heat, sun and dried out lungs followed by a cold and windy night. Not to forget sketchy neighborhoods, snakes and wild dogs.
With nearly zero sleep, dwindling energy and a few hiccups the team made it through the night with a sunrise at the infamous Death Valley that fueled the minds and eventually also the bodies again.
“26 hours on the road, nothing but the desert in sight. Moving as a unit – as always and maybe even more then ever before. It felt like the hardest part was done, still 18 hours to go. ”
DAY 2 - EVEN MORE DESERT & HOMECOMING
Even though the night was done, the desert was not. So the journey continued through more and more sand, legs getting more tired but the mind being more hungry than ever before. Fueled by the competitiveness of seeing other teams down the road the team outgrew itself.
“Pain, blisters and dog bites can’t do damage if you got each other. ”
The kilometres went as the day went and after the son got down there were bright lights in the distance – the lights of Las Vegas. The last bit of the journey, pushing each other more and more and achieving things none of team could ever imagine.
The sign got nearer and after 44 hours that felt like two blinks Cool Runnings arrived at the finish line. A place they all had never seen but felt so much like coming home. Changed by the desert. Exhausted but happy. As a unit.
The race is done but the memories will stay forever. Thanks to PUMA and all the supporters. Huge congrats to Yannic, Tithey, Julia, Claudia, Dino, Carlo, Leonie and Phillip – you did it.