Our Team of 12 - a novel

For clarification purposes:  Ragnar Relay is made up of teams with 12 runners.  The runners are separated into 2 groups of 6.  6 runners ride together in a vehicle and 'leap frog' along the race course; the runner starts to run, the vehicle drives a mile or 2 up the road, stops to cheer their runner as he/she passes, then drives a mile or 2 up the road, stops to cheer, give water, cold towels, etc... After a runner finishes their leg of running, they hand off a wrist band to the next runner at a designated exchange point.  This happened 36 times during the race. Along the course, there are 6 major exchange points.  This is where one vehicle finishes with their running for several hours and the next vehicle starts their running.  The 'off' vehicle would go get showered, eat, and try and rest. The 'on' vehicle would do the running.  The race started in Logan and finished in Park City.  This is 188 miles.  This is Ragnar.

"But I'm not a runner."

When approached a year ago about running a crazy race called Ragnar, this was the answer I gave.  

"But I'm not a runner."

When I started training for the race back in February, the training schedule I followed for beginners only had me running 15 minutes a day/4x a week.  Oh, was I was grateful it was only 15 minutes!  

"But I'm not a runner."

Even as I started to slowly increase my running time from minutes to miles I gave the same answer when curious people inquired.  2 miles...4 miles....5 miles.....7 miles....  I trained and I trained.  I stacked my runs, ran up hills, ran down hills, ran with a winter cap on, ran in the rain, ran in the heat.  I was faithful with my training.  I had to be because I was scared spitless about running and, in my head, I was not a runner.

It wasn't until I went in for a massage (to help work out some of my newly acquired knots in my intensely aching muscles) that I stopped to think. Allison, my masseuse, knew that I was running a race and asked me how it was going.  I told her about my diligence and dedication and then gave my standard phrase. She smiled at me, gave me a pat on the shoulder, and said, "I think you're a runner now."

While I've put a feather (or 2 or 3) in my cap for achieving my goal of preparing and participating in a huge event such as Ragnar, I now realize that the race isn't really about the running after all.  Of course, the running plays a big part of it.  Heck, 188 miles is no small feat. But I realize that the bigger part of it all is the personal growth and a reaffirmed faith in humanity. 

It's the people in the race that make the experience awe inspiring.  It's the sheer willpower that people muster up to run under a variety of adverse conditions - heat, injury, exhaustion, illness, nervousness, personal tragedy, excess weight, age, insecurities.  It's by deliberate will that people put themselves in this uncomfortable situation to challenge and push and extend themselves. These factors of vulnerability bring each and every runner closer to their deepest selves.   

It also bonds them to other runners out on the course and to the other runners on their team. People give complete strangers encouragement, cheers, thumbs up, drinks, words of kindness, sprays of water, a helping hand. We knew what they were going through.  We wanted all to succeed.  We truly felt for those who struggled and our hearts swelled when it was evident that major personal accomplishments had been achieved.  For most, the race wasn't about winning or placing.  It was about the process and experiencing some of the best of what mankind has to offer.

Compassion.  Respect.  Perseverance.  Honor. 

 

This race was not just about me.  I couldn't do a post with me at the center.  I was only 1/12 of the story.  The entire 30:02:00.7 time line ballad included 11 other incredible individuals.  Each with their own purpose for running.  Each with their own story to tell.  Each with an immense ability to add so much to our group.  12 runners.  2 vans.  1 team.

Run Like the Winded.

 

Van 1

Meredith - Energized, continuously smiling, and as sweet as could be.  This girl can run! Beautiful even with her short hair that she hates (bad hair cut drama) and incredibly bubbly and cheerful.  She ran 8+ miles down Trapper's and is my hero for doing so.  INSANE!

Mindy - Picked up a running spot after someone dropped out of the team about 4 weeks before race day.  Mindy is a good friend who I love and respect.  She loved running through her home town of Hyrum during her first leg and looked great doing it.

Buffy - AKA the "Buffinator", was the life of the party in van 1.  A seasoned runner and uninhibited when it comes to bodily noises (so I hear).  She was seen hanging out of van 1 screaming for her teammates to keep on runnin' and yelling words of encouragement.  

Randee - My Disneyland sister and Captain of our team, did an amazing job of running her 13+ miles while enduring a knee injury.  This spunky gal made the whole race possible by organizing and assembling our team.  She also provided lots of support and encouragement to me in the weeks prior to the race assuring me that I could do it.  A big hug before my first leg cemented my love for this awesome friend.

Chadwick - A fantastic co-captain and the most organized guy I know.  He put in a ton of work getting our team logo done, shirts made, time schedules managed and so much more.  He also climbed Avon pass on a dusty trail and ate about 5 cups of dirt in the process.  An awesome runner and all around nice guy.  His wife, Alysa, was a generous host at their family cabin during one of our rest stops. 

Heather - This MVP saved our team 3 days before the race by filling in a spot when a team member fell and hurt her ankle rock climbing.  Heather is a runner extraordinaire.  She had grueling legs to run and did so even when she came down with the flu on race day.  She experienced my worst fear - having to stop on the side of the road to relieve her sick grumbling stomach.  Not once but twice.  When Meredith tried to pull her off her 2nd run because she was so sick, Heather refused and insisted that she finish out her portion of the race.  

IN-CRED-IBLE!

There you have it.  The posse of Van 1.  5 delightful beauties and 1 handsome gent.  I think Chadwick now knows what goes on at slumber parties.  6 runners who I'm so proud of and am privileged to call my friends.

Van 2

C'est Moi -  I still can't believe that I did it.  I can honestly say that this was the hardest thing I have EVER done.  Running and physical challenges like this have never been in my repertoire. As an at home mom, I now realize how much I have lived in my comfort and safety zone these last 13 years, and that the best thing that I could have done for ME was to kick my butt out there into unknown territory.  I always encourage my kids to do hard things.  Why not lead the way by example?

The race was such an experience.  Looking back, I realize that my dedicated training paid off.  I was well prepared and felt awesome while running.  I shaved 3 minutes off of my first leg's projected time, 2 minutes off of my 2nd leg's projected time, and stayed right on track for my third run.  The running was awesome and so dang fun.  My team gave me so much support and love.  It was amazing.  My favorite run was at 11:30 p.m. when I ran up East Canyon.  It was a slow, steady incline the whole way with large hills for the last mile.  It was dark, cold, quiet, and I loved it.  My headlamp went out for the majority of it and at times I was running in pitch black darkness.  It was so cool!  My nerves were a little rattled from inexperience but my team rallied around me and helped me through.  Love you guys!

Summer - This was another one of my Disneyland sisters.  She is a speed demon and major competitor and kicked some major booty along the course.  She is a hoot to be around and a riot to listen to.  She and I bonded as the only 2 female runners in our van and proved that not only guys can get stinky.  She is so fun and puts Speedy Gonzales to shame.

Ned - This soft spoken guy gave us all a reason to push ourselves a little harder.  His daughter was stillborn at full-term a couple of months ago.  We each wore a pin in her honor.  It was touching to know that our running was, in part, dedicated to her and her memory.  Ned did a long and exhausting run at 1:00 a.m. which made us all tired just watching him struggle along with a hurt knee.  He rose to the occasion and pulled through.  What a great guy.

Jerry - AKA Bishop Preston, this man is one of the most impressive men you'll ever meet. He is such a kind and giving person.  He was one of the (un)lucky ones to climb our last mountain. And by mountain I mean MOUNTAIN.  He climbed almost 1700 ft. in 4 miles.  The weather conditions at this point were cold and wet and he ran up a dirt road that had turned muddy. With knots in his calves and medicated bandages strapped to his legs, he climbed and he climbed and took our team to the top of the world.  He was something to behold. 

Greg - Ah, Greg!  The comedian and one man show for van 2.  This firefighter and bona fide IRONMAN racer made our 30 hours tolerable and livened things up.  Not many people would have worn a clown wig on a tortuous uphill run in the heat of the day.  He was a machine and did not stop to rest on any of his runs.  He is the only person I have ever witnessed who has been soberly drunk from exhaustion.  At 4:00 a.m. with no sleep, we all were a little punchy and when Greg broke into Robin Hood's "Little John and Robin Hood were walking through the forest..." song, I knew that delirium had set in.  Greg's wife, Gena, was our official driver who never ended up driving.  Instead, she acted as cheerleader, mom, nurse, and positive caregiver.  

Trent - AKA Jerry's son, was the one in our van who got to wait and wait and wait for his turn to run.  Being #12 is a hard position to be in.  He lost it a couple of times complaining that he felt like a caged animal being in the vehicle for so many hours.  During our all night run, he was the one to run and welcome the sun coming up.  Craziness.   Who needs sleep when you can be running, right?  Trent brought our team over the finish line.

I love these guys and enjoyed getting to know them each better.  They all added something different to the group and helped make it so memorable.  I experienced a 2 day adventure with them that nobody else will ever understand.  We will forever be the crew from van 2.  And Trent, I will remember that "what happens in the 'Burb stays in the 'Burb."

Run Like the Winded.