Ragnar Relay - Team "Better Off in the Long Run"

     Well, it's all over...the most fun, meaningful, and special race I've done to date.  I want to thank all my friends/teammates for coming aboard and making this happen.  Thanks to Chrisy and Maureen from team "12 Drink Minimum" (my former team from last year) for getting a good deal on the hotel and for beating my work's discount on the vans, Melissa Pizarro for bringing me to Costco and for making the race bible binders, Marty for being my right hand man in planning the trip.  Thanks, of course, to Dan, Derik, and Quinn for all the comic relief before we headed out and help with picking up the vans before the race, Ramen for being such a beast of a runner and getting us tons of roadkills, Lisa for bravely joining us last minute (I can imagine Ragnar is a tough last minute decision!), and Katie for keeping our competitive spirit alive.  Definitely a big thanks to George for keeping us entertained and for being an awesome map reader and not getting us lost once!  Thank you Jonathan for coming along and being our cheerleader, next year you're running!  And last but not least, a special thanks to Lindsay and David Mast for coming all the way up from Atlanta to do this with us and for making that awesome video!  I think that each of us watched it at least three times the day you posted it up!

     I'm telling you, there really isn't anything like Ragnar and I don't think I'll have another race compared to this one in terms of how fun and special it is.  All the races I've done are primarily individualistic in nature (sure you can do a triathlon relay, but then you really didn't do a triathlon).  They are serious races where I'm focused on a serious goal.  If that goal isn't met I'm sure to be disappointed.  But with Ragnar, the goal is to have fun...which is pretty hard not to do!  Ok, we also want to have a lot of roadkill (people you pass) but in the end...that's just for fun, too.  I'm not saying it's easy either, there is definitely a test of physical and mental endurance.  It took us just over 32hrs to finish...that's 32hrs mostly in a van with very little sleep and running anywhere between 13-20+ miles.  Believe me, it hurts!  Especially that third leg when all you want is for it to finish.  Well, it did finish and all our team can think about is next year.  Some of us, including myself, are experiencing a little bit of post-race blues coming way down from the 32hr high we experienced.

     On top of all that, it's hard for me to believe it's over because of the time I put into it with all the planning.  I was also privileged to be chosen as a Ragnar Relay Ambassador which it was my job to create awareness of Ragnar by running with groups and doing clinics with Q&A sessions.  Then I also volunteered to help manage the race at the start line giving each team their race packet, shirts, and goodie bags.  The experience has really made me feel that Ragnar Relay is a part me and if there is something I'll be doing every year...it's this.  If you're a runner and you haven't done one yet, I highly encourage it.  Many of us take our endurance sport hobby way too seriously sometimes, but in the end it really just is a hobby (a healthy one at least) but we still get caught up in finishing times and places that we forget to have fun, which is what hobbies are for.  Ragnar Relay will definitely remind you, or even renew why you run.  Don't simply run to be faster than the guy/gal ahead of you, run because you love it, enjoy it, and live it!

     Honestly, what beats doing something you love with those that are close to you?  And if you just met someone on your Ragnar team, you're sure to bond well enough!  I remember thinking to myself before it was our vans turn to run, "I wonder if they would be on our team next year?", referring to those whom I just met (Lisa, George, Lindsay, and David).  After our 2nd leg we went to this little breakfast shack in Racine, WI and I asked all of them if they'll be with us again next time.  We made such fast friends an were having a blast that they all agreed to come back...even Lindsay and David coming from Atlanta, GA!  As of right now, barring any crazy circumstances, everyone will be back next year.  The team has already begun some planning, I brought up shirts, Dan bought a camera so we can make sure both vans get part of the video, and we are also in the process of making two teams with one of them being an ultra team (6 or less runners). Team "Better Off in the Long Run" is a family, you just don't come away from an experience like this as anything less!

     Ok, I started out thinking I was going to tell you the crazy details of our journey from Madison, WI back to Montrose Beach in Chicago, but that would have been just another boring race report.  Instead, and I'm guessing it's because all of the emotions we're going through since we finished, I decided to show you our passion for this race.  Well, we'll be back next year most likely with two teams and possibly doing multiple Ragnar Relays. Question is, will you be there?

    

 Now presenting:

Team "Better Off in the

Long Run"

(Mostly Van 2)

To the team,
     I can't wait to do this with you guys again so keep your eyes toward next year's race.  We'll come back stronger, more prepared, and ready to rock it!  Until then, I'm sure I'll see, run with, and drink with most of you anyway!  Congrats and awesome running to all of you!