Ragnar Relay Trail Race-Lake Vail 2013

I have done 7 Ragnar Relays, and they have been wonderful experiences that encourage bonding and a special kind of intimacy.  You know that saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"...well, the same could apply to Ragnar.  We have done and shared so much with these people.  It is a unique bond and experience that is incomparable to anything I have ever done.  Ragnar Relay series began expanding their race by including a trail race in their series.  This past weekend was the first Ragnar Trail race I have ever done, and let’s just say that I would never do it again.  I am glad I did it; I have no regrets, but one is enough.

Ragnar Trail races differ from the usual Ragnar Relay.  The teams consist of 8 runners instead of 12.  There are three colored legs  (red – 3.9 miles of steep trail, green – 3.5 miles of steep trail, and yellow 6.1 miles of relatively flat trail) and every team member runs each leg once so all the miles are the same for each runner.  There is one big campsite that serves as the exchange. Every runner and every leg starts and ends at this big campsite.  There is no need for a van.  It all appears to be very appealing, and I think under good weather conditions, it may have not been so bad, but let's just say, weather was not our friend.

Meeting at 6 a.m. to carpool to Vail Lake

 setting up camp
 

We had two teams participate so there was a total of 16 of us.  It was a great idea at first, but by the end of the race, almost everyone vowed to never do it again.  Why?  It was cold, very cold.  The temperatures went into the low 40s.  Secondly, it rained.  Who likes to sleep or run in the cold rain?  Thirdly, it was too dark.  Trail running in the dark is just not fun, and honestly, it can be downright dangerous.  Yes, we run with a headlight and a flashlight, but it is still very dark out in those hills.  You could easily trip over a rock and sprain an ankle.  Moreover, two of the legs were dangerously steep.  You had to run on a very narrow, steep, high ridge.  Imagine doing this in the dark? Crazy.  Had I known how dangerous it was, I would have never allowed Dylan to do it.

  

Trying to stay warm.

the entire two teams--At Ragnar races, teams dress in costumes.  Our costumes were superheros and villians.

The guys (Dylan is the little Spiderman)

The girls

Two Spidermans

Our good little friend GG being squashed by Lance and James

Superheros to the rescue---it was actually not cold or raining yet when we arrived.

 

 We were not allowed individual campsite fires. There was just one big fire for the entire Ragnar teams.  Because it was so cold, social interaction was limited.  I spent most of my time in the tent, in my mummy sleeping bag, trying to get warm.  Ragnar did do their best to make the event fun.  They had a live band, which actually was not bad.  There was a free pasta dinner, Quiznos boxed lunches, and breakfast burritos. There was a massage tent, and Saloman was offering a free demo of their shoes.  Basically, you get fitted with a pair of trail running shoes which you could use to run the entire race in--no commitment to buy.  It was rather amazing.

 

Saturday--most of the teams were done, but we were still running.

GG and Dylan trying to get warm by the main firepit at the campsite.

a campsite full of runners

very cool port-o-potties....eco commode!! I loved these.  You put sawdust on your turd.  It hardly smelled

firepit and the only main exchange

Inside the exhange tent where the three different colored trail legs are shown

Team captain showing us the directional signs that we followed on the trail that would keep us on the course.  These were dimly lit at night.  There were green arrows for the green trail, red for the red trail and yellow arrows for the yellow trail.

 

Regardless of the unpleasant experience I had, I am grateful that I was able to do a Ragnar with 14-year old Dylan.  He was such a stud.  He ran all of his three legs in record time.  He also ran an extra leg (red) with one of our teammates to just keep him company.  While everyone ran a total of 13.5 miles, Dylan ran 17.4.  When it was dark, wet and so cold outside, I would have paid someone to run my leg.  It took a great deal of will power to do it.  Fortunately, two of my legs had sunlight. I only had one night run.  I have very poor night vision.  Lance had to run his long leg in the rain. 

 

So proud of our boy!!

cool Ragnar jackets---since this was the last race of the year, everything was 50 percent off so we went shopping!!!

showing off our wooden medals

Dylan showing off his medal with the hills he ran up and through in the middle of the night in rain (behind him).

the entire team running and finishing the race.  When the last runner finishes their leg, the entire team runs with them and crosses the finish line together.

I think my Ragnar Relays are done.  I have no desire to do anymore.  However, for Dylan, I will run one more so that he can experience the regular Ragnar in a van.  It is much, much better experience.

Lost In Transit Team 1

Lost in Transit Team 2

Both Teams