Ragnar Great River 2010 was a freaking blast! I refer you to last year's post to get caught up on the experience.
The night before, we all went to Kate's for pictures and van-decoration planning. All our pictures were on the van this year. I love this picture (it was Kate's idea but when she said it, I knew it would cool) but it drives me nuts that I'm holding a gun.
Slightly before the crack of dawn, we all arrived at Kate's and started packing the van before packing ourselves in. That's right. 12 people in one van this year. One team, one van, one smell.
The siren held up very well but certainly wouldn't have survived the highway speeds on the trip down. There was another team that attempted the siren but theirs fell apart during the race. I forget the team's name. (Sorry.)
This is also where the antics began.
Arriving at the start line, I felt like a celebrity. Great. Tons of people wanted to take their pictures with us. Some remembered us from last year. Some even told us they used our video from last year to recruit people to their teams. (Parents: you may want to watch this before showing it to the kids, depending on their ages.)
We got some of these people who wanted our pictures to take some for us too.
Calisthenics (can be seen in last year's video, go ahead, I'll wait) were bigger and better this year. So much so that when a friend of the team's arrived at the start line two hours after we left, people were still talking about how funny it was.
The starting line is right on the river in Winona. Runners are only in Minnesota for about one mile before crossing into Wisconsin. (See the bridge in the background?)
Just more antics. Is it any wonder people remembered us?
Let the violations and citations begin. The crime: excessive rust. That team actually just duct-taped the crime scene tape to their vehicle and kept it their the whole race. (What do you imagine the duct tape did to their already worn exterior?)
At one of the exchanges we saw a rather serious looking guard who was helping direct traffic. That seriousness was only a facade apparently. When we got out to cheer on our runners he said, "I run our group's blog and I just have to get a picture". Did anyone get the name of the blog? (We should have been cited for that.)
If fashion prizes went to individuals and not the team, this guy gets my vote hands down. I want to know who he is. I heard a rumor he was on one of the other Bolder Options teams.
Directing traffic ::Ahem:: Waiting to give another runner hydration in the 90* uber-humid day.
Having the entire team in one van was nowhere near as dreadful as I was imagining. Sleeping was the hardest part. It was great to be with everyone the entire time.
Here's Darshan about to join the D.O.N. club. (I have no idea what D O N stands for. Ryan started it.)
We start going a little nuts when people start finishing their legs of the race. Gotta have more cowbell!
I don't remember Graham being so animated last year. Maybe I just know him better after spending 30 hours in the van together.
Best team name?
Saturday was generally an overcast day. Until about an hour before I started running when the sun came out in full force.
Seriously.
Here we are at the finish line waiting for our final runner.
All done. Boom!
The medal does still double as a bottle opener, although it's better hidden than last year's model.
Did I mention Bolder Options was the charity for Ragnar Relay this year. Fantastic. Go give them money and tell them I sent you!
The night before, we all went to Kate's for pictures and van-decoration planning. All our pictures were on the van this year. I love this picture (it was Kate's idea but when she said it, I knew it would cool) but it drives me nuts that I'm holding a gun.
Slightly before the crack of dawn, we all arrived at Kate's and started packing the van before packing ourselves in. That's right. 12 people in one van this year. One team, one van, one smell.
We drove down to Winona before stopping at McDonald's for Sausage McMuffins (it drives me crazy that I ate them but they were surprisingly good for something so bad). Then we did a little van decoration in the parking lot. Comments from customers and staff at McDonald's include:
"Oh, you're from Reno? The humidity here must be driving you nuts." - To me from a customer.
"I thought you were some kind of park rangers" - To me from an older lady with a European accent in the parking lot
"What's the deal?" (or something like that) to Paul from what must have been the Men's Club that meets at McDonald's for coffee.
The siren held up very well but certainly wouldn't have survived the highway speeds on the trip down. There was another team that attempted the siren but theirs fell apart during the race. I forget the team's name. (Sorry.)
This is also where the antics began.
Arriving at the start line, I felt like a celebrity. Great. Tons of people wanted to take their pictures with us. Some remembered us from last year. Some even told us they used our video from last year to recruit people to their teams. (Parents: you may want to watch this before showing it to the kids, depending on their ages.)
We got some of these people who wanted our pictures to take some for us too.
Calisthenics (can be seen in last year's video, go ahead, I'll wait) were bigger and better this year. So much so that when a friend of the team's arrived at the start line two hours after we left, people were still talking about how funny it was.
The starting line is right on the river in Winona. Runners are only in Minnesota for about one mile before crossing into Wisconsin. (See the bridge in the background?)
Just more antics. Is it any wonder people remembered us?
Let the violations and citations begin. The crime: excessive rust. That team actually just duct-taped the crime scene tape to their vehicle and kept it their the whole race. (What do you imagine the duct tape did to their already worn exterior?)
At one of the exchanges we saw a rather serious looking guard who was helping direct traffic. That seriousness was only a facade apparently. When we got out to cheer on our runners he said, "I run our group's blog and I just have to get a picture". Did anyone get the name of the blog? (We should have been cited for that.)
If fashion prizes went to individuals and not the team, this guy gets my vote hands down. I want to know who he is. I heard a rumor he was on one of the other Bolder Options teams.
Having the entire team in one van was nowhere near as dreadful as I was imagining. Sleeping was the hardest part. It was great to be with everyone the entire time.
The thing about being the 11th runner on the team is that I woke up at 4:30am 4:45am and was up all day cheering everyone on, partaking in antics or photographing them, and I didn't get to run until 8:10pm. (Don't ask why I know exactly what time it was.) As with last year, my first run was probably the fastest although not quite as fast as last year. It was uber-humid. Also, it was super buggy. All the moths wanted to fly into my headlight and therefore my face. I almost spit on a passing runner trying to spit some bugs out. (I am sooo sorry. I really didn't mean to do that.)
Then I got into the van and didn't do much (including take pictures) until the morning. We did see one of the other Bolder Options teams. I got to see Maria, the staff person who matched me with my teenager way back in the beginning of time.
People in the van liked to listen to 101.3 and 96.3. I don't typically listen to those stations so I heard some new songs that I liked. The two we heard most often (read: about 20 times each) and provide the soundtrack to this experience are Eminem's 'Love the Way You Lie" and Ke$ha's 'Tik Tok'. I think ultimately they'll both make excellent running songs.
My second leg wasn't nearly as bad as last year. I did a much better job of both hydration (have I mentioned the heat and humidity?) and nutrition than last year. Last year about two miles into my run I wanted to die because I hadn't eaten enough before trying to move. This year, no problem. My second leg, I just run us up a big hill and once we get to the top I stop running and some other runner gets to go down the hill and take the team into Minnesota. I asked the team to wait on the hill somewhere and cheer for me. I didn't see them and figured they couldn't find a legal place to pull off. So I was delighted to see them at the top of the hill. It was really nice of them considering it was so close to the end of my run. The second they saw me they had to pile in the van and get to the exchange so the next runner could get ready.
Then I got into the van and didn't do much (including take pictures) until the morning. We did see one of the other Bolder Options teams. I got to see Maria, the staff person who matched me with my teenager way back in the beginning of time.
People in the van liked to listen to 101.3 and 96.3. I don't typically listen to those stations so I heard some new songs that I liked. The two we heard most often (read: about 20 times each) and provide the soundtrack to this experience are Eminem's 'Love the Way You Lie" and Ke$ha's 'Tik Tok'. I think ultimately they'll both make excellent running songs.
My second leg wasn't nearly as bad as last year. I did a much better job of both hydration (have I mentioned the heat and humidity?) and nutrition than last year. Last year about two miles into my run I wanted to die because I hadn't eaten enough before trying to move. This year, no problem. My second leg, I just run us up a big hill and once we get to the top I stop running and some other runner gets to go down the hill and take the team into Minnesota. I asked the team to wait on the hill somewhere and cheer for me. I didn't see them and figured they couldn't find a legal place to pull off. So I was delighted to see them at the top of the hill. It was really nice of them considering it was so close to the end of my run. The second they saw me they had to pile in the van and get to the exchange so the next runner could get ready.
The other thing about being runner 11 is after I do my second and one other runner goes, people are starting their third legs and finishing their portion of the race (and I get totally jealous). After my second leg is also where I got into dry clothes for the first time and ingested sausage mcmuffin sandwiches from a gas station. (I am so grossed out but they weren't that bad...)
Here's Darshan about to join the D.O.N. club. (I have no idea what D O N stands for. Ryan started it.)
We start going a little nuts when people start finishing their legs of the race. Gotta have more cowbell!
I don't remember Graham being so animated last year. Maybe I just know him better after spending 30 hours in the van together.
Best team name?
Saturday was generally an overcast day. Until about an hour before I started running when the sun came out in full force.
Seriously.It's true: the third leg is the hardest. I did better on that hill than last year. My goal was to run all the way up it which looking back was unrealistic given my limited hill training and the heat. But still, way better than last year. At mile 2 a co-worker came to cheer for me which was really nice of her. Then my team met me on the other side of the bridge with power-ade. It was so hot. Minneapolis was much better running than St Paul, which was really slow. As I approached the end, I started hauling tail.
Team: "Liz, what are you doing? The van's right here?"Welcome, Liz, to the D O N club.
Me: "I just need to walk that off..."
After that, we waited for one other runner to bring us home to the Island of Boom. We did stop to give Graham water at the Stone Arch Bridge and Tesha, a runner from last year, came over to see us. She started talking to the group and didn't see me at first. I said something and she turned, saw me, started to give me a big hug before pushing me back and saying, "oh my god, you're wet, did you just finish running". Funniest. Move. Ever.
Here we are at the finish line waiting for our final runner.
All done. Boom!
The medal does still double as a bottle opener, although it's better hidden than last year's model.
Did I mention Bolder Options was the charity for Ragnar Relay this year. Fantastic. Go give them money and tell them I sent you!
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