Ragnar is over. What a cool and amazing experience. Especially when you consider that 8 days ago I didn't even know I'd be doing it. Taking a group of 12 people and running nonstop from Madison to Chicago is a logistical masterpiece when done right! Luckily, I had the opportunity to join Rank Strangers, the only team that has run this relay every year it has been in existence. That makes for some serious experience! For those of you that don't understand how it works, it's about 200 miles from Madison to Chicago, and it is divided into 36 running legs. There are two vans of runners with six runners in each, so each runner runs 3 legs. Van 1 started at 9 am in Madison. Each leg there is a bracelet that is handed off to the next runner. Van 1 took legs one through six, then handed off to Van 2. They ran 7-12, and handed back off to Van 1. This continued all day Friday, overnight Friday night and throughout the day Saturday until reaching Chicago just after 4 pm. Saturday.
I ended up having one of the shortest totals mileage wise. My first leg was only 2.7 miles. It was early on in the day as I was runner 3. I started to find a rhythm about mile two, then it was almost over. I handed off to the next runner and got back in the van. My next turn was leg 15. It started between 10:30 and 11:00 pm and was 5.3 miles. Weather was cool, and it was dark. It was a pretty cool experience looking ahead and just seeing red blinking lights of other runners ahead. After Van 1 finished that round, we headed to the next major transfer point. We got to the YMCA in Racine in the middle of the night, and were able to pay $2 for a shower and a spot on the floor for a little shut eye. A couple of hours later, it was up and back into the van as we got ready for our last legs. My final leg was 5.6 miles that started along Lake Michigan and wound through some nice tree lined neighborhood streets. Teammates were asking me how I felt. I was tired, stiff and a little sore. I was pretty sure one of two things was going to happen. Either, 1. I was going to start slow, loosen up and have a great run, or b. Stay tight and crash and burn spectacularly. It was really a 50/50 chance. I was hoping for the former, but totally prepared for the latter. As I started, the temps were cool and the views of the lake amazing. I started out at what felt comfortable, and after a half mile or so checked my watch and realized I was at about a 9:30 per mile pace. As I continued, I was feeling better and stronger, and noticed my pace was improving. 9:22, 9:13, 8:57. When I hit the one mile to go mark, I was feeling pretty good and "Sweet Home Alabama" came on the iPod. I decided to pick it up and finish as strong as I could, and my last mile I ran the fastest of all miles on the entire relay, about an 8:30 per mile pace! All in all almost 14 miles of running over 3 segments with an average pace of 9:20 - 9:30. Considering it was 5 days after my 100 mile ride around Lake Tahoe, I'm pretty happy with it.
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| Rank Strangers 2013 Ragnar Team Madison - Chicago |
Now, in addition to continuing to train, I need to set my sights on fundraising. I am doing the Chicago Marathon in memory of a friend, Jenny Boyce, and doing it the same way she did it. Fundraising for charity. I have chosen Team in Training, part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I coach cyclists for TNT, and decided to do my first stand alone marathon as a participant. I have agreed to raise a minimum of $1,900.00 for research and patient services for blood cancers.My goal is to raise twice that. I'm asking for your help. You can click on the link below to go to my fundraising page. If you enjoy reading about my adventures, then please take a moment and donate what you can. Even $5 or $10 helps. Please pass the link along to friends, coworkers, family members, anyone you know. It's a great cause and well worth it. Thanks for your help!
My Team in Training Fundraising Page
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