FLOWERGIRLS - Relay Recap

163 km, five girls, one van, 18 hours, hundreds of handovers, what felt like thousands of hills, and endless snacks... Flowerpower, the Flowerboy girls team, was one of the 30 teams that ran around Bali as part of the Relay of the Gods. Going in, we were prepared. We trained well, we bonded, we asked all the questions, and we had many many spreadsheets :) During the relay, very early on it became apparent that relay running meant stripping things back to the basics- you run hard, recover quickly, try to not get lost, stay hydrated, support each other, then repeat. There wasn’t much time for anything else.

 Somewhere between the 2am flag-off, constant transitions, changing light,
beautiful scenery, and also the shock of seeing our mens team have an accident, the distance stopped feeling intimidating and just became meaningful. It was a collective experience shared with friends, and each of us came away with our own stories to tell...

EMMA

For me, the relay became a reminder of connection and gratitude, to the land beneath our feet, the people around me, and to myself. The route took us through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Bali, and when the running felt hard, the mountains/rivers/rice fields/trees had a way of giving something back and making me
smile. The nature seeped into my body, grounding and energising me at the same time. It was a surreal feeling. That sense of gratitude and connection extended to the people beside me, my girls and our crew. Every handover, shared snack, check-in and giggle reinforced how much we were there for each other. Beyond our own team, there was a deep sense of connection to all the other teams too. As you would pass each other there was constant cheering each other on. It felt deeply meaningful, we were all in it together. A special mention to the Flowerboy team- even after their accident they continued to send us love and encouragement throughout the entire run. Many times, I was running
for them. Lastly, connection and gratitude to myself. A storey for another time perhaps, but I was unwell for many years and my body wasn’t a place of strength, joy and freedom. So now to be able to run, move and trust it again in an experience like this was magic to me. My mantra for the day (which my best friend gifted me before the race) was “I GET to do this”. What a blessing. My heart is still overflowing.

DEA
If I had to sum it up, it was all the feels. Raw, emotional, grateful, quietly magical- but also
heavy, tired, sleepy, sore. I was nervous going into it because my period decided to show up a day early, and I’m so thankful for the girls who kept checking in and being supportive. Starting from Sanur at 2am, I ran the first leg- 6 km along a long stretch of beach sidewalk. Adrenaline was high, and I caught myself going too fast in the first kilometer. I slowed down and tried to settle into a steady pace, reminding myself there were still many kms ahead for the day. I thought I knew the area really well, but at that hour, it felt unfamiliar. Near the harbour, it was pitch dark, breezy, and quiet, except for the occasional Bali dog appearing out of nowhere. I was alone, intrusive thoughts creeping in, just hoping I’d see our van waiting at the end of the street. After passing the harbour, I saw 3 guys from other teams coming from different directions, and there was an immediate sense of relief. We ended up running together toward the dock, only to
realise we were heading the wrong way. Eventually, we figured it out and found the right route. That moment, the shared confusion and experience, made the whole thing feel grounding, yet quietly powerful.

BANYUEverybody was tired. We saw the boys collapse early, and it made us sad. We kept
reminding each other to eat, “Udah makan apa nih?”, or offering help during the run, “Mau digantiin gak?” But we were already 100 km deep, in the middle of nowhere. No one was paying attention to where we were anymore; all we needed to remember was the last kilometer we ran and to find the next 2 km of jalan or gang to keep going. The navigating part was so stressful, the race not so much. My watch died, but surprisingly, I wasn’t that obsessed with my Strava record at that moment. The rain started to feel like a breeze. Wide rice fields, tall bamboo trees, and tropical greenery came in and out of view. We went through multiple downhills and steep uphills. I remember thinking and laughing to myself, “Wow, what a blessing to experience an endurance race like this. Two years
ago, I couldn’t even finish 5 km.” I didn’t know what to expect at the finish line, but I was genuinely surprised that so many people and friends came to welcome us. Some said they were teary too. I was so touched. I’m not sure how to describe the race, but it felt like we were finishing because of the community...for the community... representing the ordinary? Women? Who knows. But I do feel that you’re incredibly lucky if you can find a community that turns into friendship. I’m not saying all friendships should be like that. As a mother in her 30s, it feels like such a cute find, that unspoken token of respect.

MICHELLE
Running a 160km relay not long after coming back from injuries felt daunting at first. My
main concern was dealing with recurring pain that might stop me from contributing fully to the run and the overall experience. I was genuinely relieved and excited when nothing major happened. Most of my runs felt smooth and were faster than I expected. Maybe it was the excitement and adrenaline, or maybe the training I’d put in over the past few months. The real surprise for me was the hills. I struggled with them a lot during training, but during the relay my pace stayed steady, and I managed most of the climbs without feeling completely draine (to be fair, my hill segments weren’t as brutal as some of the other girls’!). That alone gave me a big confidence boost, until the downhills.
Rolling downhill brought on throbbing pain and stiffness in my right knee, making it impossible to run more than about 500m per segment. This wasn’t a recurring injury; it was something entirely new. Thankfully, my teammates were tough and stepped up to take on the downhill sections when I couldn’t. I ran as much of the flat sections and gentle hills as possible during my remaining turns. I’m incredibly grateful for the Flowergirls, our crew, the Flowerboys, and all our friends who supported us. Running through some of the most beautiful corners of Bali made this an unforgettable experience. It was hands down the most epic run I’ve ever done, and I’d do it again in
a heartbeat.

ALEA
“We’re doing this for the experience. To push ourselves beyond our limits. To see what our bodies can do. ” That’s what I kept reminding myself before the start. I’m still learning how to be kind to myself, especially when it comes to running. It’s hard when you’re alone, and sometimes even harder when you’re with other people. You want to show up well. You want to support those around you and not be the one who holds things back. But there are feelings that only show up when the body is tired enough to stop pretending, and often they’re softer and kinder than I expect. The nerves were there at first, but after a few swaps we managed to find our pace. We settled into  the day together. There was exhaustion, but there was also laughter and encouragement at every  pass of the tracker. Being outside in nature helped. So did the stunning views. We are so lucky to live in this beautiful  part of the world!!! But this relay was really about the people. I felt this especially when moving through Bali side by  side with our team. Feeling supported, and supporting others in return. Being reminded that we  don’t have to do hard things alone, and that there’s real joy in showing up for each other and sharing  the weight / kilometers. That’s why coming back felt so special. Because it was never about how  fast you were. It was about your own personal journey and the stories you get to tell the people you  love who are waiting for you to come home.

FINAL NOTE
A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: ON Indonesia, Kynd, HYGO, Jaan, Doughboys and  Sinamon. Also to our family, friends and community that made us feel like rockstars- your love,  care, support and cheering meant the world to us. And to Flowerboy itself- What you have created  is so special. You gave us each other. You believed in us. We couldn’t have done it without you.  
Big love, the Flowerpower squad x