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Ragnar Relay = Complete!

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Just popping in with a fun “life” update today. If you are only interested in strictly financial posts, just skip this one and check back tomorrow – I’m finally posting my budget!

I’ve mentioned a couple times about how I’ve been training for a big running relay race called Ragnar.  Well, the race is complete! It started Friday and ended Saturday. Today, I’m at home and in full recovery-mode (meaning, as little movement as possible and fully stocked with ibuprofen) 😉

Here’s a picture I posted on my Facebook:

23 hours, 15.4 miles of mountain running, 2.7 hours of sleep, 8 crazy teammates. So much fun!

Each member of our team had 3 different legs ranging in length from 4.1 – 6.6 miles of trail-running/mountainous terrain. I ran my first leg on Friday evening, my second leg on Saturday about 3am, and my last leg on Saturday at 10am. This photo was taken as I was taking off for my last leg of the relay. My shirt, appropriately, says “Everything Hurts and I’m Dying.” A little tongue-and-cheek, but definitely fitting for how I felt at that moment. I wore my Fitbit the entire time and for Saturday, my stats indicated that I’d gone 37,726 steps (= 17.91 miles), and climbed the equivalent of 114 flights of stairs (from the mountains we were running)! To say I’m pooped today is an understatement!

BUT – tired as I may be, I had an absolute blast! It was THE BEST time ever! And, as I’ve got 3 half-marathons under my belt (but nothing longer), this is a PDR (personal distance record). YIKES!

All my teammates immediately said they wanted to sign up again for next year. I’m still on the fence. I loved it, but I typically only sign up for a big race once every couple years. Committing to do it again next year feels like a lot to me. There’s a lot of time and effort dedicated to training, but it also costs money to go (the race was $120/person + we all pitched in another $25 for team shirts + a day off work, food and snacks for while we were there, etc.). We’ve got a few months to think it over so we’ll see.

For today, though, I just wanted to share this major accomplishment! I’ve heard of Ragnar races before, but never really considered doing one myself. If it weren’t for my teammates (friends/colleagues from my department) I probably never would have pushed myself to try to complete a Ragnar race. But the feeling of pride and accomplishment is huge! Just the little psychological boost I needed going into a new month! If I can accomplish something this big physically (15+ miles of running on mountainous terrain), surely I can conquer our monthly budget. Right?

I’ll be back tomorrow asking for your advice! I’m already nervous, so bring your patient pants, as I could use your support!

Have a great end to your weekend!

~Ashley


11 Comments

    • Reply Ashley |

      Wow, that’s awesome! After hearing all about the road ones, I don’t know that I’d be able to do it! The trail run was super fun because we got to camp in the meantime (instead of being stuck in tight quarters in a smelly van driving the whole time)! The smell, alone, would probably get to me! Ha! Do a trail run if you are able!!!

  • Reply Nicole |

    Congrats! Ragnars are a neat concept many people probably never heard of. My brother has run the Madison – Chicago one several times (his team does it annually now, I think). They have a blast. The mountain running and camping aspect sounds fun!

  • Reply TENN |

    Road Ragnars are more expensive because you have to rent the van and get hotel rooms for before and after the race. Smell does not end up being a problem if everyone ‘washes’ with baby wipes after their run, changes their clothes, and stores their dirty clothes in a sealed ziploc bag. I’ve slept in the van, in a gym, and at a hotel on the overnight run portion of the event. Sleeping in the van was not pleasant, but was a bit of a rookie mistake.

    The centralized camping of the trail Ragnars worry me. Does it become a party zone?

    • Reply Ashley |

      Not really, but it depends where you set up. The camp sites closest to the transition area were always a little loud, but that’s where the Ragnar folks had set up all the entertainment (huge bonfire and smores station, outdoor movie screen, music, etc.). Our camp site was a little further away from transition and you could definitely notice a difference – the further from transition area, the more quiet at night.

  • Reply Kili |

    Congratulations!
    Sounds like fun! Not sure if they’re super popular in your area, but Obstacle Races are also fun if you and your team mates look for something different in some other year 🙂

  • Reply Megan |

    Congrats! I’ve been a runner fur a while, but never done a Ragnar. That’s such a huge accomplishment!

  • Reply Alice |

    Congratulations! What an accomplishment!

    I’ve got a friend who got interested in marathons, started training and has run several. Then he heard about an ultra-marathon and has done a couple of those. One this summer was around the edge of the grand canyon! 50 (FIFTY!) miles. And last month, he did the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of… a 100 mile marathon. I think he finished in something like 25 hours. He. Ran. 100. Miles.

So, what do you think ?