If you're not familiar, here's a quick rundown of how it works: teams of 12 (or 6) people run 200-ish miles over two days. Teams of 12 - like ours - divide into two vans of 6 runners and everyone runs 3 legs of varying distances, covering anywhere from 10 to 20 miles.
It was a crazy experience from start to finish, and one thing is for certain, I was part of an incredible team that showed amazing grit, fortitude, and spirit. Each one of us brought something unique and important to the team, including the ability to roll with the punches! In fact, if I could change one thing about the relay, I'd want more time for the entire team to be together.
I'm thankful for Amanda, who brought us all together, and the rest of team Just Here for the Food - Aimee, Charlie, Danielle, Tara, Sarah, Heather, Ellen, Gretchen, Heather and Sara.
The story is too ridiculous to recount in detail, but the long short of it is that Hertz won't be seeing any of the 12 of us soon, we loved our Airbnb host, Van 2 became masters of packing, unpacking, and moving our gear from place to place, and I started my first leg of the race not knowing if there'd be a van at the top of Vail Pass when I got there. Thankfully, van number 2 for Van 2 did show up and managed to make it through the rest of the weekend without a problem.
This was not an easy race. It tests you in countless ways, and I don't regret a minute of it. I covered just under 15 miles - including 8 in the middle of the night - and climbed over 1,300 feet. We lived off snacks, slept on a gym floor, and eventually gave up on trying to do any math. I'm proud of myself for getting out of my comfort zone and taking this on.
In the end, we finished 2nd in the Women's Open Division (although they currently have us listed as 11th in the Men's Division) and 18th overall. Not too bad for a team that literally encouraged each other to enjoy the runs and stop to take photos along the way!
Coming off my first Ragnar, here are my top tips for any of you planning to run your first overnight relay:
1. Go into it with an open mind. If you're not there to win, don't take it too seriously. Learn from your teammates, lean on each other, be ready to be a little bit vulnerable and try not to let things get to you. That said, if you know you need your space (which is at a minimum), download a playlist or podcast before the race, take your headphones and and zone out for a bit between runs. Your teammates will understand. There's no way to really know what a relay will be like, so be ready - or open to - anything!
2. Be ready to go with the flow. Things are going to go wrong. Your van could breakdown. Directions could be questionable. The weather might not be ordeal. You might meet every port-a-potty along the way. That's part of what makes a relay experience unique. It's not supposed to be easy, but if you can go with the flow and problem solve like a boss, you'll enjoy it a whole lot more.
3. Don't expect to sleep, but if you get a chance to sleep on a gym floor, take it. The one hour of sleep I got smashed between people on a gym mat in a middle school in Basalt was heavenly and gave me the energy I needed to power through to the end! Don't skip an opportunity to recharge.
4. Do your homework & a few training runs. No matter what, you're going to be faced with surprises along the way, but take some time ahead of the relay to read about your legs (will you be climbing for 5 miles, running in the dark or on trails?) and get some miles under your feet. It'll still be hard, but it'll help.
5. Have fun & enjoy the views! Take time to take it all in. Enjoy your time with your teammates. Focus on the beautiful views. Laugh off the craziness. Celebrate each finish and all that you've accomplished!
One last thing. I'd like to recognize all the amazing people we met along the way. Starting with Lindsay, our Airbnb host, and Tyler from the towing company, to all of the fantastic volunteers who spent hours in the hot sun or stayed up all night to support us, the police officers keeping everyone safe, the volunteers at the exchanges who opened community doors for us to sleep, rest and clean up, and other runners who kept our spirits high and pushed us to keep going.
Have you run an overnight relay? I'd love to hear your top tips.
Have you run an overnight relay? I'd love to hear your top tips.
Are you thinking about running a relay but have questions? I'd love to help!
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