Last month, I ran in the Ragnar del Sol relay race. It was an experience unlike anything I've done before. There are several Ragnar relays held around the country. Each is about 200 miles in length, split into 36 legs between 3 and 8 miles long. Teams of 12 runners rotate running around the clock until they reach the finish line. There were nearly 350 teams this year that ran in Arizona. In the end, participants have done a whole lotta running on precious little sleep. Each team splits up to travel in 2 vans. Team members in each van run 6 legs, then "rest" for 6.
Our van's worth of runners ready to get started! (L to R) Ben, Warren, Spencer, Scott, Jon, and me - all rookies to the relay.
The other half of our team had several members that had run the relay before.
Most of the teams decorate their vans and some teams ran the shorter legs dressed up in some crazy ways to go along with their team name.
Teams track their "kills" or number of runners they pass during each leg. The Fat Man Xtreme team also tracked their "got killed's"
Team Disco Fever
Team Fast Food
At each exchange point, the finishing runner snaps a slap bracelet on the next runner as a hand off.
Your team van can stop along the way to encourage you and keep you hydrated.
At a couple of points, the race crews let the drivers shuttle the runners through some flooded areas. Notice this team named the Ultraviolets. There were a few "ultra" teams of only 6 members that would run 2 legs at a time.
Apparently, this guy's van was AWOL.
I started my first leg (#12) of 7.1 miles at dusk and finished in the dark with a 7:19 min/mile pace.
The Town of Congress Fire Dept. had a pasta dinner waiting for us after I finished. We handed off to our other van, grabbed some dinner, and drove ahead to an elementary school that let us pay $2 to sleep - er, toss and turn for a few hours - inside. Around midnight our other van had caught up to us and we started up again.
Ben ran his 8+ mile leg (#18) and handed off to Scott.
During leg #19, tragedy struck when a runner from another team was hit by an oncoming car when he was crossing to give his teammate water. He was resuscitated several times before being life-flighted to the nearest hospital. He passed away shortly after. Our deepest condolences go out to the Mayasich family. Race organizers ultimately decided to bypass the next six legs and pick up at exchange 24 to allow emergency crews to do their jobs.
My second leg was 8.4 miles at a 7:26 pace.
I ran the last leg of the race, and after a missed turn, had the chance to extend the final 3 mile experience to almost 4 miles. I was SO happy to see my darling wife (and her best childhood friend, Ashley) send Carter out to finish the race with me!
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Ragnar del Sol Relay - Feb. 26-27, 2010
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Saturday Sports with California Cousins
I love all my siblings and respect and look up to them so much! I always treasure the short visits we have throughout the year. I not only love spending time talking with them, but I love to watch them interact with their children and spouses. I think I have really taken a lot from them as we've become a family and began to raise our kids. I love that about being the youngest.
This is Chad. He's one of my four big (big as in older and also literally) brothers.
We spent a majority of the day Saturday being able to go to the football and soccer games of three of Chad's five kids. Just like their parents, they are all hard-working and exceptional athletes. What a treat to be able to see some of each of their games!
This is Chad. He's one of my four big (big as in older and also literally) brothers.
We spent a majority of the day Saturday being able to go to the football and soccer games of three of Chad's five kids. Just like their parents, they are all hard-working and exceptional athletes. What a treat to be able to see some of each of their games! Mikelle, Chad's only daughter, had a soccer game.
She had at least one goal and possibly others, or at least she assisted others. This is her first year playing and you would NEVER know it watching her lead the pack on the field!
I love this idea -- the parents all made a tunnel after the game for the girls to run through.
She had at least one goal and possibly others, or at least she assisted others. This is her first year playing and you would NEVER know it watching her lead the pack on the field!
I love this idea -- the parents all made a tunnel after the game for the girls to run through. 
What a sweetie. She was such a good cousin to both of our kids this weekend.Next was Ty's football game. 
Ty is eight. I can always remember how old he is because he was born when we were engaged. He is like Chad's little (except not so little) clone! If you knew Chad when he was younger, and even now, you can see it just in the picture. The older Ty gets, the more clear it gets. Ty even seems to move like Chad to me now. I loved seeing him in full pads and all for the first time. Makes me think of his daddy playing high school and college football. I remember as a little girl always wanting to give Chad a big hug after his games, even though he always was soaked with sweat and pretty dirty. My heart always swelled up with pride that he was MY big brother and I always wanted to get that sweaty hug to show everyone that he was my brother!
Ty's team lost, but the first thing Ty told me in an upbeat voice after the game was that they might have lost, but he had some really great sacks! I loved his positive attitude! So much focus seems to be placed on winning these days and I was know that he sees things int he proper focus. He's such a good kid.
And isn't that black under the eyes just killer?!
Ty is eight. I can always remember how old he is because he was born when we were engaged. He is like Chad's little (except not so little) clone! If you knew Chad when he was younger, and even now, you can see it just in the picture. The older Ty gets, the more clear it gets. Ty even seems to move like Chad to me now. I loved seeing him in full pads and all for the first time. Makes me think of his daddy playing high school and college football. I remember as a little girl always wanting to give Chad a big hug after his games, even though he always was soaked with sweat and pretty dirty. My heart always swelled up with pride that he was MY big brother and I always wanted to get that sweaty hug to show everyone that he was my brother!Ty's team lost, but the first thing Ty told me in an upbeat voice after the game was that they might have lost, but he had some really great sacks! I loved his positive attitude! So much focus seems to be placed on winning these days and I was know that he sees things int he proper focus. He's such a good kid.
And isn't that black under the eyes just killer?!Meanwhile, the little boys were having the time of their lives roaming the sidelines...
And lastly, sweet, handsome Cole had a game later in the afternoon. 
Isn't he {to die for} cute? Can you believe he is just 11? Well technically, he'll be 12 in a few days. If we hadn't visited at this same time last year and seen him then in his football pads and uniform, I would have been COMPLETELY blown away by this kid. However, I was already somewhat prepared for how much he's grown up. Still, I remember the day he was born, and playing with him as a baby. He's still the sweetest guy ever, but now he's got teenage swagger. Makes me feel SO old.
Isn't he {to die for} cute? Can you believe he is just 11? Well technically, he'll be 12 in a few days. If we hadn't visited at this same time last year and seen him then in his football pads and uniform, I would have been COMPLETELY blown away by this kid. However, I was already somewhat prepared for how much he's grown up. Still, I remember the day he was born, and playing with him as a baby. He's still the sweetest guy ever, but now he's got teenage swagger. Makes me feel SO old.Friday, September 11, 2009
Adoption By the Mile -- Are You Game?
(Previously posted on Adoption Voices by Shane on September 4, 2009)
I did some serious running in high school as part of the track and cross country teams. I'll even come out and say that I won a state championship in the 3200m. Now a lot of my running takes place on the heels of a three-year-old. I do some casual running with some guys at work and run a 5k or 10k here and there. I've wanted to run a bigger race like a half-marathon or even a full marathon, but haven't had the time or a good motivation to train for one - until now!
I'm passionate about adoption, so once there was an adoption spin put on training for a half marathon, I was off the fence. Mrs R is organizing a group of people involved in adoption to run in the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah on March 20, 2010. We'll wear adoption running shirts to help draw attention and send a message about adoption and the miracle that it is in our lives. Please join us! You can follow the planning on the new blog she set up just for the occasion.
You can use this opportunity as a way to take your own mind off of a seemingly endless wait, or frustrations with infertility, or just to join with others who are grateful for the blessings of adoption and help to positively promote it. I am an adoptive father of two, and my wife and I have several friends who have placed a child for adoption and we're both humbled and inspired by the sacrifices that birth parents make in choosing adoption. I hope that this race will be an opportunity for us all to make new connections with adoptees, birth family members, and adoptive families.
Take a moment to read about the miracles Mrs R experienced previously in channeling the emotions of the adoption roller-coaster ride into a challenging goal.
I hope to see you there!
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