A few months after I moved from NYC, my tri team sent out an email putting together a team of the Pennsylvania Ragnar Relay. I jumped on the chance, figuring the course was halfway between DC and NYC, and it would be a perfect way to catch up with my friends, log some miles, and do something new and different.
When I actually started thinking about logistics, I realized it was a 202-mile point to point race, so 'meeting' my team anywhere wouldn't really work - my car would then be 200+ miles from the finish line. After wavering, I decided to just book a bus ticket to NYC and join the team there.
The weekend ended up being so much fun, and if anyone, ever, has a chance to do a Ragnar event (assuming you like the people on the team!), I would 100% recommend it. Of course, the team dynamic is key, as you will be spending 30+ hours in a van with 6 people.
Really the only hiccup of the entire weekend was when we arrived at the rental car place in NYC on Friday morning at 7:30 and they had no more 15-passanger vans left. It didn't matter that I had a reservation and confirmation number in hand, and had called the place 24 hours prior to be sure a van would be waiting, as we had to be in Lancaster by 12pm to meet for our first exchange (we were 'Team B', so our other van with 6 members starts the first six legs at 9am). After some scrambling, we ended up in a mini-van with a heavy discount. A quick stop to pick up a teammate at the Philly airport, then at Walmart to stock up on costumes, glow bracelets, and the necessary Walmart-brand Ruffles chips, and we were finally on our way. [Didn't matter much, as one member of Team A took a little 'detour' (ie got lost) and added about 30 minutes to his run - oops!]
Our first runs (legs 7-12) were on beautiful country roads in the middle of Amish Country. For most of the routes, you saw more horse-and-buggies than cars. However, it was then that we realized that the course elevation maps were QUITE deceiving as well as their leg classifications. 'Easy' didn't mean anything, and 'Very Hard' became feared. I got ready for my first leg (Child's sized Small Batman!), 5.9 miles, and was ready to run after hours of waiting!
My calves were quite sore still from the Giant Acorn run, so I opted to wear my compression sleeves the entire time, and I am finally sold on compression! (I have used full socks for recovery in the past, but this was the first time I have actually run in them). I also chose to forgo any type of watch/Garmin, and told my team over and over again that I would be taking my legs EASY! My runs over the 24 hours would add up to more than I have run in a long time, and wanted to stay healthy and not reaggrevate my foot.
...Well easier said than done! When the first 3 guys on your team average well under 7 minute pace, and you've been waiting 6+ hours to finally run, I was OFF ... a bit too hot. I settled in, and then pushed the last mile as I finally saw someone ahead to pass. I made the pass with about 200 meters to go, and felt great!
Our team then sped ahead, and while the sun began to set, started to cheer on our last runner for our first section!
After making the hand off to the other team, we regrouped, had a diner dinner (I tired to keep it simple with a spinach salad and a loaded baked potato, we still had lots of running to do!), then headed to the next exchange point. The temperature started to drop (We LUCKED out with weather, absolutly perfect), and I started to fret about my first ever 'night' run. I was lucky, as my 4.2 miles at 2am ended up being through a quaint town with street lights, and again, despite warnings to my team about 'jogging', I ended up feeling even better on this leg and averaged just under 8 minute miles.
SAFETY FIRST! I swear when I was packing I didn't not mean to bring only pink options, however, it worked out quite nicely :)
We finished our night legs, and headed to the next exchange, where we were the 2nd or 3rd team to arrive. I had not anticipated getting any sleep, but was actually able to curl up on a high school gym floor and get about 3 solid hours of sleep.
Our next legs began right at sunrise, and due to a little injury on our team, the ladies mixed up their legs and I ended up getting to run the very last leg of the race. I was very excited, but during this time we actaully got into a bit of a 'race' with a few other teams, and we realized we were one of the first teams on the road (teams started staggered, so who knows when every started, but it was fun to make it a race to the finish!)
I started off third on the road, and this time, realized I may have to push the pace to move my team into 'second' (second to cross the line, that is). I kept a steady pace, and made the pass about 2 miles into my last 6.2 mile run. However, I needed to keep this pace in order to avoid getting passed by another team quickly gaining. Unfortunately, after 295 miles of amazing, beautiful backroads, the last leg was run on a quite heavily traveled road with no shoulder, then for a mile on a main highway, before turning off towards the finish area. This was literally my only complaint for the entire route - there MUST be another way to get to the finish area!?
Our team crossed the finish line 2nd, and ended up getting first in the 'Mixed Open' division (at least half women/half men...we actually had 7 women/5 men!), averaging right around 8:10 for the entire 202 miles. I think we were right around 10th overall, including men's and ultra teams. We quickly cleaned up, and headed for some pizza and beer! It was such a fun experience, and I would jump at the chance to do it again (we are already planning for next year - they just released a new route for the Anirondacks Ragnar, Saratoga Springs to Lake Placid!).
Overall, I couldn't believe how well my body held up. My race the weekend before took more out of me than I had expected, but my legs felt great once I started running, and actually felt better as the day/night/day went on. During my last leg, it was more of a mental challenge to put one foot in front of the other than anything. I don't do well with little sleep, and I realized that with the excitement of the day, it was approaching 1pm and I had only eaten a bagel with cream cheese and 1/2 a larabar. But pushing through mentally, and focusing on the finish, made me realize, I am ready for Ironman. I made the decision perhaps in the last 2 miles, when I was running alone on a 4 lane highway, in the heat, soooo hungry, that I am ready. So I am in the process of finalizing a few things, but, decision MADE :)
Oh, and I also learned another lesson. 17 miles in 24 hours, plus sitting in a van for 30 hours, followed by a 5 miles 'walk' to recover, followed by a 5 hour bus ride back to DC = CRAZY PAINFUL SWOLLEN FEET. My toes were like little sausages! hahaha. Note to self: After removing calf sleeves, replaces with full compression socks!!
When I actually started thinking about logistics, I realized it was a 202-mile point to point race, so 'meeting' my team anywhere wouldn't really work - my car would then be 200+ miles from the finish line. After wavering, I decided to just book a bus ticket to NYC and join the team there.
The weekend ended up being so much fun, and if anyone, ever, has a chance to do a Ragnar event (assuming you like the people on the team!), I would 100% recommend it. Of course, the team dynamic is key, as you will be spending 30+ hours in a van with 6 people.
Really the only hiccup of the entire weekend was when we arrived at the rental car place in NYC on Friday morning at 7:30 and they had no more 15-passanger vans left. It didn't matter that I had a reservation and confirmation number in hand, and had called the place 24 hours prior to be sure a van would be waiting, as we had to be in Lancaster by 12pm to meet for our first exchange (we were 'Team B', so our other van with 6 members starts the first six legs at 9am). After some scrambling, we ended up in a mini-van with a heavy discount. A quick stop to pick up a teammate at the Philly airport, then at Walmart to stock up on costumes, glow bracelets, and the necessary Walmart-brand Ruffles chips, and we were finally on our way. [Didn't matter much, as one member of Team A took a little 'detour' (ie got lost) and added about 30 minutes to his run - oops!]
Our first runs (legs 7-12) were on beautiful country roads in the middle of Amish Country. For most of the routes, you saw more horse-and-buggies than cars. However, it was then that we realized that the course elevation maps were QUITE deceiving as well as their leg classifications. 'Easy' didn't mean anything, and 'Very Hard' became feared. I got ready for my first leg (Child's sized Small Batman!), 5.9 miles, and was ready to run after hours of waiting!
...Well easier said than done! When the first 3 guys on your team average well under 7 minute pace, and you've been waiting 6+ hours to finally run, I was OFF ... a bit too hot. I settled in, and then pushed the last mile as I finally saw someone ahead to pass. I made the pass with about 200 meters to go, and felt great!
Our team then sped ahead, and while the sun began to set, started to cheer on our last runner for our first section!
After making the hand off to the other team, we regrouped, had a diner dinner (I tired to keep it simple with a spinach salad and a loaded baked potato, we still had lots of running to do!), then headed to the next exchange point. The temperature started to drop (We LUCKED out with weather, absolutly perfect), and I started to fret about my first ever 'night' run. I was lucky, as my 4.2 miles at 2am ended up being through a quaint town with street lights, and again, despite warnings to my team about 'jogging', I ended up feeling even better on this leg and averaged just under 8 minute miles.
We finished our night legs, and headed to the next exchange, where we were the 2nd or 3rd team to arrive. I had not anticipated getting any sleep, but was actually able to curl up on a high school gym floor and get about 3 solid hours of sleep.
Our next legs began right at sunrise, and due to a little injury on our team, the ladies mixed up their legs and I ended up getting to run the very last leg of the race. I was very excited, but during this time we actaully got into a bit of a 'race' with a few other teams, and we realized we were one of the first teams on the road (teams started staggered, so who knows when every started, but it was fun to make it a race to the finish!)
I started off third on the road, and this time, realized I may have to push the pace to move my team into 'second' (second to cross the line, that is). I kept a steady pace, and made the pass about 2 miles into my last 6.2 mile run. However, I needed to keep this pace in order to avoid getting passed by another team quickly gaining. Unfortunately, after 295 miles of amazing, beautiful backroads, the last leg was run on a quite heavily traveled road with no shoulder, then for a mile on a main highway, before turning off towards the finish area. This was literally my only complaint for the entire route - there MUST be another way to get to the finish area!?
Our team crossed the finish line 2nd, and ended up getting first in the 'Mixed Open' division (at least half women/half men...we actually had 7 women/5 men!), averaging right around 8:10 for the entire 202 miles. I think we were right around 10th overall, including men's and ultra teams. We quickly cleaned up, and headed for some pizza and beer! It was such a fun experience, and I would jump at the chance to do it again (we are already planning for next year - they just released a new route for the Anirondacks Ragnar, Saratoga Springs to Lake Placid!).
Overall, I couldn't believe how well my body held up. My race the weekend before took more out of me than I had expected, but my legs felt great once I started running, and actually felt better as the day/night/day went on. During my last leg, it was more of a mental challenge to put one foot in front of the other than anything. I don't do well with little sleep, and I realized that with the excitement of the day, it was approaching 1pm and I had only eaten a bagel with cream cheese and 1/2 a larabar. But pushing through mentally, and focusing on the finish, made me realize, I am ready for Ironman. I made the decision perhaps in the last 2 miles, when I was running alone on a 4 lane highway, in the heat, soooo hungry, that I am ready. So I am in the process of finalizing a few things, but, decision MADE :)
Oh, and I also learned another lesson. 17 miles in 24 hours, plus sitting in a van for 30 hours, followed by a 5 miles 'walk' to recover, followed by a 5 hour bus ride back to DC = CRAZY PAINFUL SWOLLEN FEET. My toes were like little sausages! hahaha. Note to self: After removing calf sleeves, replaces with full compression socks!!
got caught up today! great work both at Acorn and Ragnar. And very exciting news about feeling ready for an IM. Have you picked one yet??
ReplyDeleteThe relay sounded like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWhich IM are you doing?