The Crazy Ragnar Adventure Part 1

People are pouring in to the small park in Liberty, UT where, in the early morning hours, racers are preparing to begin the 7th leg of the Ragnar Wasatch Back. The air is think with anticipation. The first half of our team has been running since 5 a.m. and is now nearing the first major exchange where we will take over for the next six legs. We check all our safety gear and get our #7 racer ready to grab the baton and be off to the next exchange point.

Two hours after having arrived our #6 racer has made it to the exchange. #7 grabs the baton and off she goes on a short three mile stretch to the next exchange. My stomach begins to tighten as I realize I am the next runner up. I've never run in a relay before and I'm nervous and worried about pretty much everything. Have I had enough to drink? Have I trained enough to make it through this? Am I going to be so slow the team won't finish by the time we we want to finish? Running with a team is so much more stressful than running by yourself...

We meet #7 at about a mile into her run to give her some water and then we dart to the next exchange where I warm up and stretch...My heart is pounding and I can feel the adrenaline start pumping through my veins. I can see #7 come around the corner and I get ready to take the baton...

Then I have it!! I begin the 3.4 mile distance to the next exchange point.



As my legs start pumping, I let the steady rhythm of my feet lull me into my happy place where I'm running for fun. There is no team....I'm just me...running down the street. I can feel the stress melt out of my body and I enjoy the cool breeze as it blows around me, keeping me from over heating.



Two miles down the road my team has stopped to offer water. I drink up. It's getting hot out here!



Almost done with the first leg! The last mile is the worst. I keep thinking I'm almost there, but it feels like it is taking me forever to get there! I just don't know if I can make it, but I focus on the steady rhythm of the feet to keep myself going.

Finally I can see the exchange in the distance, I pick up my pace and hand the baton to runner #9.



I got a good time on that one! We hop in the car and race to the next exchange....

(Lunch is over. :0( I have to get back to work now, but look for more of "The Crazy Ragnar Adventure" later...)