Ragnar Relay - Round 1

[This is a long race report, divided into 3 sections... be sure not to miss the next 2 pages!]

What is a ragnar relay?  Well, it's when you get 12 people together to form a team and then you each take turns running legs of varying lengths for ~30 hours straight, right through the night, to end up at your destination.  You get 2 vans, one with runners 1-6 and the other with runners 7-12.  As each runner in your van goes, you provide support and cheer.  After you run, you hop in the van, change your clothes as you're supporting the next runner.  After the last runner in your van goes, you hand off to the next van and you have about 5-6 hours to rest before you start all over again.  Ideally, each person runs 3 times.

I say "ideally" because our team had some injuries and we had to shuffle some things around a bit.  On our team, 5 people had to run 4 legs and then Cindy jumped in to help out on the final stretch that was missing.  This means that 6 people were running over 20 miles (a couple had 20+ mile portions with only the 3 legs).  With my injured foot, I was not able to pitch in any extra, and my portion totaled 17.1 miles.  This was a bucket list race that required a ridiculous amount of planning and organizing, and I wasn't entirely sure we were going to pull it off.... but we did.

And this is just the stuff for the runs and the van...

Heidi and Dan C had been out west on vacation for a couple weeks prior and picked up van #1 and went grocery shopping for the team.  Paula and Tommy both made it out to San Francisco by Thursday afternoon and were able to pick up van #2.  Without these vans, it would've made the race impossible.  Most of us cut it really close, not arriving in SFO until after 9:00 PM the night before the race.  Collect baggage, taxi to hotel, distribute running items in proper bags, and try to sleep for a few hours before van #1's 3:30 AM wake up call.  We arrived at the start at 4:45 for check-in and it was dark, chilly and a little misty (great, our running shoes were already getting wet and we hadn't even started yet!).  Gear checks, safety briefing, flags, t-shirts, bathroom break... and with a few photos, Heidi was off for leg one for team Mamma's Fools!

Dan S, Joann, Dan C, Cindy, Heidi, Misha, Deb, Jen

Leg Four - 5.9 Miles - Moderate

Wait... it was all fun and games cheering for Heidi who was the 3rd finisher for that first leg, and Deb going up a super long hill and over the Golden Gate bridge, but you're telling me I actually have to run also?  I quickly get ready as Dan C runs.  We park van #1 and I walk over to the exchange with all my night gear on (7:30 is the cut off and we expected Dan around 7:28.. ugh).  Here goes nothing... about 25 yards into the leg, I tossed my night gear to Joann since the clock hit 7:30 and I set into my 2:2 intervals.  My van knew that I'd be awhile so they went off to find coffee while I meandered through neighborhoods and trails.  The 3 runners before me had very scenic routes... mine was OK, nothing to sing about, though there were some areas that were quite pretty when the trail veered away from the road. 

Finishing up leg #4!

My cheer squad stopped for me twice, gave me water and applesauce.  Seeing them was a much appreciated break.  There were some hills, but nothing too horrific.  On my way down the last mile, I noticed a stray dog that started following me.  Uh oh... I was not going to leave this dog here in danger.  My van would certainly understand :-)  Luckily though, after a couple minutes, the dog turned back and ran into a yard.  Phew.  Less than a mile to the next exchange... handed the slap bracelet to Heidi and I was done.  That wasn't so bad.. and even better, there were inside bathrooms to change in, and Joann had grabbed me a scone at their coffee stop.  Awesome.  Off to the next exchange!

Maintained 2:2 run to walk ratio the whole way.

We weren't technically supposed to see Van #2 until exchange 6, but since we had Deb (who filled in for Dan S's first leg thanks to his stress fracture), they had to pick her up and get to their check-in.  Poor Rachael is sick and feeling awful... will she be able to run?  We said our hellos, and I walked Misha up to the exchange point while the rest of the crew decorated the van.  Where is Heidi?  Dan C got a text from her that she was struggling... turns out the hills were far more than we anticipated.  Heidi finally made it in (her 2nd leg of the day since she did the first for Joann) and Misha was off.  We made our way to the next exchange, and after a brief visit to the medical tent after Cindy hit her head on the bleachers (please, no more injuries!!!), we collected Misha and saw Van #2 off for their first set of legs.... time for lunch!!