Running Ragnar

Chad and I have always wanted to run Ragnar.  It is a grueling relay race that runs along the Wasatch Back from Logan, UT to Park City, UT--a total distance of 192 miles.  A team of 12 will each take three legs.  The first six teammates will ride in Van 1 and run the first six legs, then Van 2 will jump in and run the next six.  Then the process starts again.  Chad was runner 11 and I was runner 12 so we were in Van 2.  We headed to Eden, UT around 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon to meet up with our first van of runners.  The first four teammates in our van got to run flat, easy legs through Eden and Huntsville.  And then it was our turn.  Chad took off on a relentless 3.2 mile climb up Trapper's Loop.  For those of you not familiar with the area, the only way to describe it is straight up! Here he is on his first take off:

  

And look how relaxed he is while beating up this hill:

He made the climb and handed off to me at our first exchange:

And then it was my turn.  I had to run 4.7 miles along the hill that continued straight up to Snow Basin ski resort.  While preparing for this race, this was the climb I was most nervous about--especially with my injuries.

I know I am not very big in this photo.  I'm the bright yellow dot, but this picture is the only one that even gives a hint to how steep this thing was.  But I conquered!  I was able to run the entire time and then for the last mile I got to cruise downhill for a good way and then finish off with another hill at the end to throw down a 8:50 mile for my last mile.  I ended up loving this leg and by the end of the race could easily say that it was my favorite.

After I ran, it was time to eat and rest while the other half of our team ran.  We just happened to be in Morgan, UT--my native land so I knew where to take my team for a great sub and then we headed to Chad's mom's house to try to catch some sleep before our next leg.  As is always the story, the men slept soundly for two hours and the women tossed and turned the entire time.  By 1:50 a.m. it was time for us to be up and at our next exchange.  I wasn't estimated to run again until 6 a.m. and was a little disgruntled that I couldn't just stay and sleep.  But that is all part of running the Ragnar so Chad and I sat in the car and supported our team all through the cold night.  He started running around 5 a.m. and I took off for my 6.9 mile once-again-uphill run around 6:15.  The one good thing about it is that it was light enough by then that I didn't have to wear the headlamp and buttlight.

My 6.9 miles felt pretty long.  I felt like if I saw one more hill I was going to go mad.  The course finally turned downhill for the last mile, but by then I had a searing pain across the top of my right quad and was fairly hobbling into the finish line.  When I finally got there at a time of 1:08 I had to wait an extra four minutes for our next runner to get to the exchange.  Apparently they got more rest than we did!

Me after finishing my night run.  I look pretty chipper, eh?  After that we went and got a shower (the best two dollars I ever spent) and some rest on the lawn of a school in Heber, Utah.  After a good nap, I felt like I was ready to run.  Unfortunately the first half of our team wasn't doing so hot and we had to wait for at least one guy to walk an 8 mile leg.  We were there FOREVER!  We finally got going around one p.m. for our last leg. Our team had to tackle the most wicked hill of the entire race up over Guardsmen Pass.  It covers parts of three legs and is so steep you could probably reach out and touch the ground because you have to lean into the hill so much.  Our first guy ran/walked his 3.2 miles up the hill and then our best runner cruised up his 4 mile section and actually ended up taking 10th place overall on his time up this hill.  He was a beauty to behold while running.  He had finished a marathon in 2:53 the weekend before and could run easy six minute miles on his easier legs.  He is the guy standing next to me in the picture below:

When he got to the top, Chad was actually a bit further up the hill using the port-a-john so he kept on cruising up until he could meet Chad.  Chad continued to run uphill for a bit.  

As you can see in the picture, there was a ton of snow up there.  I think the Ragnar officials had gotten that road cleared just a few days before the race.  We were HIGH!  Chad finished off the hill in about half a mile and then ran steeply downhill for 7.2 miles to meet me at the last exchange. (Chad likes the above picture because he looks so honkey-dorey and the girl he had just passed looks absolutely dejected.)

He came sailing down that last part to the exchange and handed me the baton (actually a slap bracelet):

By this time, I had been sitting in the car for hours while the others ran and I had developed a bowling ball in my stomach from all the food I had eaten that hadn't digested.  It was rather warm out, and I knew I was in for it.  I had to run 7.3 miles into the finish.  When I signed up for the race my leg was only supposed to be 5 miles or so, but they ended up rearranging at the last minute and made it significantly longer.  I had to run up a huge hill from the get go and then was met by a very steep, rocky, rutted ATV trail to run back down before hitting a walking trail for a few miles.  I was holding it together okay considering the weight of my guts at that point until I came up over the crest of the hill and all of a sudden I could see a trail of runners for miles as they snaked up around a mountain. I wanted to cry as I realized that I would have no choice but to follow them.  So I creeped along, running like an old woman.  And when I came back around the other side of that mountain I was appalled to discover that it was all a big, freaking LOOP!  They had added all that mileage just to make sure that the teams would have time to get to the finish line before their last runners came in.  Now for some teams that may have been an issue, but not for me so I was not happy to have had to have run all that.  And finally I hit one more hill and then got to run downhill into the finish line.  I was one big body cramp by then and was running very short strides just wishing that finish line to be around the corner.  And finally it was there:

I came in, met my team, and we all ran under the huge Ragnar finish line together. Finally!  I ran that monster leg in 1:17 which was a miracle for how crappy I felt and how many times I walked up hills.  I managed to pose for a few pictures before heading home.

On the way home, I was holding on to a barf bag and urgently spent some quality time in the bathroom for the rest of the evening.  I was DEAD!  Luckily we got to sleep in until eleven the next morning since my mom still had our kids.  I was so sore!  Holy cow.  But even just a few days later I was ready to do it all again.  Except I will never run leg 12 again.  Besides it being honestly one of the toughest legs of the entire race, it just sucks to have to wait all day to run.  I think I would really like to try leg 8 or maybe even check out some of the first six legs that go in the other van.  I also really liked running with Chad who did amazing--especially since he only trained for a few weeks.  It isn't fair how fast boys' bodies can kick it into gear.  I have been training for months!  But it was fun and I proudly say that I ran Ragnar.  And not just Ragnar, but leg 12.  I've talked to a lot of other runners who also ran that leg and they all say that it was majorly tough so I'm not just tooting my own horn here.  I mean 18.9 miles in 24 hours in and of itself it pretty amazing, but when you consider that 80% of those miles were uphill......what can I say except, "Go me!"  And "Bring on the half!" (That alludes to the half marathon I'm running in July--I think I can handle it after what Ragnar put me through. I hope.)

Panguitch Lake

A few weeks (weeks? time goes too fast) ago, we went to Panguitch Lake in Southern Utah with Chad's family.  The first day was so incredibly windy and cold that we ended up hanging in the tent for most of the day.  But I was fine with that since I needed some R&R.  Chad was so excited to go fishing.  Poor thing had to wait until Saturday to go.  And as usual, I was the one catching the fish!  Seriously, since I married Chad and took over his fishing pole, I've had fantastic luck fishing and actually like it now!  

This picture only shows one fish, but I actually caught two.  One of which was a cutthroat--yummy!

On one of our days up there we drove to Bryce Canyon to see the sights.  Lydia rode on Chad's shoulders a lot.  She kept holding on to Chad's glasses and pressing them into his face.  She is a little nervous about being up there, I think.

The whole clan.  Russell loved every minute.

Love this picture!

We had a great time for the most part.  The nights were rough though.  Russell is terrible at sleeping anywhere  other than home.  He spent most of the three nights on our air mattress with us which means I didn't get great sleep.  One night, after he had awakened me three different times, I remember saying outloud, "I hate camping," and thinking in my head that I never want to do this again until our kids are grown.  Luckily the days made up for the nights.  On Saturday morning I had to run 9 miles as part of my training.  No time to slack off!  I could definitely feel the difference in the altitude and those hills were killer, but I made it. Unfortunately, later that day, on the way home, we had to deal with this: 

Doesn't that picture just capture exactly how it feels to be stuck in the car when all you want is to get out?  Needless to say, it was a LONG drive home.  I think next time we'll find some good camping a little closer to home.

Runner in Waiting

We just got back from our camping trip with Chad's family to Panguitch Lake, and while I'm excited to post about it, I am buried under mounds of laundry.  You know the mounds I'm talking about after a camping trip. Not only do you have your regular laundry that is unusually smelly and dirty from all the campfire smoke and dust, but you also have blankets, sleeping bags, and an alarming number of hoodies and jackets that reek in the same manner and must also be laundered.  Not only that, but we are wading through a very messy house and our fridge is devoid of anything edible.

So while I get caught up enough to blog, I thought I would share this little video with you.  The kids went downstairs this morning and randomly turned on the stereo.  Chad went to check on them and discovered little Lydia getting a workout and this little treasure of a video is the result (without any encouragement from us).  I think someone has been watching her mama.......



I especially love the part where she gets a "drink" and goes into super speed mode before wiping her brow and calling it good.  What a woman!

A Little Boy and His Backyard

So I looked through the pictures that we took at the ranch, and they weren't terrifically blog-worthy.  But I thought these were cute of Russell.  What little boy doesn't love playing outside? 

 A boy, his blanket, and his binky.  I really should do something about that binky but.....

And this is our newly planted garden.  He is pretty good to just dig around the edges.

I love that my kids are now old enough to play outside by themselves for awhile.  They play relatively well out there (with the occasional fight over the car), and I can happily see them through the kitchen and office windows or bask in some sun myself and sit on our patio while they play.  Having a backyard is the best thing about owning a house.  I told Chad that if we ever, for whatever reason, had to move back into an apartment, I would cry.  And this outdoor fun is the thing we would miss most!