Ragnar, Ragnarley, Choose the Ragnar

For my 18.4 miles!!!

Heidi-2nd run

Personal Trainer Heidi (the one responsible for getting this thing started, Driver Kristen, Nurse Misty, Birthday Girl Lauretta and Power house Ally!

Out for a birthday run!

Our college girl! Nice to have some young blood! This is Lauretta's daughter-can't you tell?

Misty coming through her last exchange!!!!! They threw in a hill at the end of her run which we didn't know about...she still did awesome!

We supply support, water, cheering, and toilet tissue...just in case!!!!!

Kristen and her friend Chucky!!!!!!

One of the prettiest areas! Sorry I wasn't better with the pictures. Misty, you'll have to fill in where I'm short! I did better remembering pictures last year!

Last year I was talked into doing the Vegas Ragnar and LOVED it enough to turn around and sign up for the Wasatch Back Ragnar. This Ragnar relay was tougher, longer, higher elevation, climbs, more heat, more people! It wasn't an easy race! We had a great team this year. We had our friends and neighbors collaborate to make a 12 women team. This race went from Logan, UT to Park City, UT. It was 188 miles in gorgeous back country. We ran past small, cute, country towns with enthusiastic citizens and residents who hosed us off, gave us drinks, cheered us on. We ran on dirt roads alone bubbling brooks, green wilderness with snow capped mountains in the distance, and many bodies of water-lakes and reservoirs. It was spectacular scenery! Our team was "van #1" so we started at 5:45 a.m. on Friday. We ran long runs. We were lucky enough to have the luxury of friends and family with homes in the area where we could shower, eat and rest before our next run! This is HUGE when you could be camped out in a parking lot with a hundred other tired runners, in the sun, with porto potties! We had some hot late afternoon runs which I felt was my hardest run (not my shortest distance). The heat is NOT a runner's friend! It was draining! The only thing that kept me going was Kayley pouring cold water over my head every 1/2 mile! Also, I had a little help from the neighbors who happily left their sprinklers going for the hot runners! Late that night we went to our friend's cabin and crashed for 3 hours. We got up at 3:00 a.m. to go again. This was NOT fun! We were so tired and it was freezing cold! I ran my last run at 6:00 a.m. I was nervous and cold. My last run was a hard run 8 miles long up a mountainside near Jordan L. My knees were killing at the start but slowly warmed up and I was able to have a pleasant, cool, shady run! I felt good like I was finally getting that second wind! It felt so good to be DONE DONE DONE! Our team pushed hard and never gave up! We had good time (beating our predicted time!) We had a blast together as always! Our driver, Kristen who drove us last year was entertaining as usual. Our favorite line for her was "Could you put the van in park?" (Mini vans...can't get out the door without the van in park...safety first!!!!) I loved this race and we are already planning the next one! I hope to do many more...for now though, it's nice to know I can take a break and relax for a bit. We are all tired and worn out, sore. I slept like a baby last night and have been drinking so much water I feel like a camel! I'm so proud of our 12 ladies! They all did awesome! One of the best parts of Ragnar is the people, the vans, the costumes, the team spirit! I had many other teams give me sprays of water, or cheers as I ran. Everyone is so happy and friendly and the van decorations are so clever and fun. Our team was Run, Walk, Crawl. We decorated our van for Lauretta's birthday which was the day Ragnar stared. We had a pinata, a blow up birthday cake, streamers etc. It was fun to surprise her and make her day fun! Her daughter got married the night before so she was really a trooper!!!! And her daughter Kayley filled in for us at the last minute! She did great! They had more reason to be wiped out than the rest of us! I think we all dreaded the hard runs but when it was all over, it felt so good! We had runner's high! It felt great to have that medal around our necks! To my lovely team, I love you! This has been a great experience for me! RAAAAGNAR!!!!!!!!!

Highlights:

-Kristen "Wooo, Hooooo" (out the window to say hi to runners)

"Kenneth!!!!!" Oh wait, that's not Kenneth. Oh. Ok, well go Kenneth! You rock! Lookin good Kenneth!!!!"

-Ally and her mullet wearing, denim cut off's running buddy/boyfriend!
-Heidi running behind Mr. short shorts. (Too short!)
-Finding an extra Jiff Peanut butter single to eat after thinking we ate them all!
-The once beautiful brownies eaten smashed, soggy, and very warm.
-Finally eating real food after snacking for two days!
-Seeing the other half of our team!
-Seeing the "one mile left" sign
-high fiving kids along the street
-using a gas station toilet verses the "honey bucket"
-girl talk, girl time!
-Chucky, the clown! (Our pinata) He'd frighten any kid or adult for that matter!
-Misty's amazing supply of remedies, pills, heating pads, massage sticks, icy hot...we all smelled and tasted the menthol! I felt like I was minty fresh without brushing! You should always run with a nurse! Thanks Misty!!!!!!!
-running through the finish line with our WHOLE team!!!

*BTW, if anyone finds a blow up cake on the freeway, it's ours. Luckily we still have Chucky!