In July I joined a team of women in running a 200 mile relay race called RAGNAR. The 12 team members are divided into two vans with 6 runners in each van. The runners in the van would each run one leg (varying in lengths from 2.9 miles to 10.9 miles) of the race and then hand the baton off to the second team van of runners. The runners in the first van would then take a 4-5 hour break/rest while the other half of the team was running their legs. Once they were done they would hand the baton back to us and it would start all over again. We repeated this routine three times over a 29 hour period. Some people call this fun. . . I would be one of them.
I was in van #1 (note to self . . . always be in van #1 in the future.
The running schedule is much easier than van #2)
Our first runner is off in typical Washington rain. She got to follow a guy running in his underwear for the first few miles . . . until she passed him!
Our second runner had a little reprieve from the rain (note how everyone is always smiling). Our van would follow each runner and provide rockin music and water as needed along each route/leg.
This lady had the longest run of our first leg (over 8 miles), it was uphill the entire time, and there was no van support available. (no dance music, no water breaks from her crew = not so much fun)
The last part of my first run was down hill and glorious. I ran right past my mom (an awesome volunteer at the event) who didn't even recognize me despite my saying, "Hi Mom!" as I went by.
There's nothing more peaceful than finding your stride along the route. She rocked each of her runs by knocking several minutes off her estimated pace!
This lady gets the cheer award - she always had a smile and she always had the water ready . . . even in the dead of night.
A nice exchange in the evening. I learned to point my headlamp up a bit to keep the bugs out of my face and, after tripping and falling over a non-existent crack in the sidewalk, I learned to pick my feat up a bit more too. Luckily nobody saw me biff it - but I had the bloody knee to prove it later.
Our team captain and one crazy lady (she was the first runner for van #2). This is her at the exchange when she takes off to run her very last leg (9 miles . . . uphill). Words cannot express how organized she made us and what an awesome job she did in leading our team.
Our entire team at the finish line. Overall we took 6th place for the women's division (out of 34 teams . . . not too shabby) and we beat our friendly men's team by 6 minutes.
What impressed me about the whole experience was viewing all the different ages and levels of runners out on the course. You had the elite teams (I fantasize about being one of them but let's face it, I'm not willing to put in the time to train for it), the middle of the road runners (that's more my style), the lite joggers (this is me when I have to run by myself) and many teams with people who you knew were fairly new to exercise. I was so happy and proud of them all (especially the "new to exercise" group) because it was hard physically and emotionally (I was so scared of my last leg that I cried right before it started) but it was also very fun and you ain't living life by sitting on the couch.
I can't wait until next year!
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