Ragnar Relay Del Sol- Team Rock Solid for Solid Rock

A little more than one week before Ragnar Relay Del Sol, I joined a team of complete strangers. Having run many Ragnars with strangers, I wasn't worried about it.  I knew 30ish hours with other runners could only end in friendship.

Ragnar Del Sol runs from Wickenburg, to Buckeye, back up to Surprise and Cave Creek, over to Fountain Hills and down to Tempe.  Lots of miles, laughs, food and in and out of the van.

The team captain, Kevin, was a Ragnar virgin and I worried about over stepping my boundaries. I've learned some things over my 12 Ragnars, team and van captain experiences and wanted to share but not be overbearing.  I can be a control freak at times, especially about 'the spreadsheet' and runners paces.  It's important to me that during the race to have an idea of when someone is expected to come in.  This helps the other runners and the other van to know when they will be running.  I've had some horror stories (like the gal who ran 12 min miles but said she would run 8:30's).

Kev, despite the fact of being a CPA (which are usually anal control freaks), was quite relaxed.  The relaxed disposition could have something to do with the fact he had a stent put in only the month before.  It was ok though since we had a doctor with a complete pharmacy on board.  Kevin is going to get a huge doctor bill from Doctor Gary for the 30 hour continual monitoring and the double time billing for all the questions I asked him and the eye liner re-application I required of Doctor Gary.

Our team name was Rock Solid for Solid Rock and we were raising money for Alice Coopers youth center Solid Rock.  The best part about running for this team were the incredibly awesome long sleeves shirts and the black eye liner I got to wear to mimic Alice Cooper.  In the middle of the night I would sneak up on people wearing my orange lit hair, black eyes and say ~SPOOKY~.  Seeing their reaction was priceless.

Rather than continue my ramble, here are pictures from the race.

Will and Gary actually listening to the safety briefing.  All I remember is the gal ATTEMPTING to be funny and talking about violating someone. (It wasn't that funny at all)

Lee (wearing bib 242) is runner #1 and starts the race in Wickenburg.  Only 200 miles to go!

Lee is off to a good start 

No, no, no…don't let someone pass you.  Trip them.

Lee's doppleganger.  The van made the mistake of thinking this runner was Lee (because of the grey shirt) and from that point we called him Lee's twin.

Lee hands off to Kevin.  I think he was worried we would miss seeing him out there so he wore the brightest colors he could find.

Vulture City graveyard from 1860.  Exchange 3

Ott ready to run his leg.

Hang loose

Kev explains for lunch he'd love to eat 1/2 a turkey. Heck, if you could also have an accordion player that would be the highlight of the day.

Out of everyone, Gary was the most consistent runner.  He was right on his pace for each of the runs (the rest of us got slower and slower)

Hey dad!  I'm flying!  I'm running 7:42's!

Sunrise at exchange 24

Yep, I look just like Alice Cooper

Will, Lee and Gary (awesome father and sons picture)

There's nothing like seeing the 12th runner coming across the bridge and finishing the race.

Stephanie bailed out the team joining at the last minute and ran our team in. 

Jordan, Ott, Gary, Russ, John, Stephen, Kim, Lee, Kev,
Stephanie, Lee, Justin and me (Christina)

Thanks 'Rock Solid for Solid Rock' for an awesome time. I had a blast!

Bob and the Spirit Stick

When I ran Hood to Coast in August 2012,  I discovered Spirit Sticks and how awesome they were in locating team members in a mass of people.A Spirit Stick is a decorated stick with stuff on it and a light for the night time.  In a crowd of people, you can easily find your group because the stick waves above the crowd and at night, unlike the Gremlins, you look toward the light and easily find your team. It was my search for spirit stick parts for the Del Sol Ragnar that I met Bob.

Bob works at Home Depot in Phoenix in the plumbing department.  After showing me clamps for a sink I sprung on him my next request.  I need a cheap piece of wood or stick.  Ok he nods and starts to walk towards the main aisle.

Two steps later he stops and with a perplexed look asks if its to go between french doors.

See Bob does his job and does it well.  He is quite serious, wants to do an excellent job and needs to understand the goal and my very generic request for a piece of wood wasn't enough information.  I explain the race and what I'll be doing with the stick.  Oh, and I don't want to spend much money either.

Trotting down the aisles we go heading towards the wood dowels.  Being in a playful mood I try unsuccessfully to crack jokes with this very serious, on a mission Bob. I also tell him we're exploring his creative side.  We choose a dowel, thick enough to be sturdy but still cheap and I hand him one and tell him to hold the stick up as we walk through the store with the soon to be spirit stick.

In lighting we grab a Home Depot employee from the lighting department and tell what we want.  The lighting guy wants to talk me out of battery operated because it won't last long.  By this point with my non-stop jabbering, Bob has a complete understanding of the race and how long the light needs to last and my cheap price point. Bob locates the rectangle lights I ended up with and even comments how I can tape them to the stick. Next stop is colored duct tape.

Bob's customer service was amazing and what was fun is how this gruff, serious guy with the long beard tromped throughout Home Depot holding a stick in search of stuff for my spirit stick with me.

After the race I had to show Bob the finished product even though by that time I had broke it in two places but it was still head together with the neon green duct tape. His face broke out in a smile when he saw me and the spirit stick.

Bob and the Spirit Stick

To get a picture of me and Bob together I had to grab someone who happened to be a customer walking by.

My infamous way of holding the spirit stick during the race...over someone's head.

The customer was Magnus from Norway and wanted to understand how the spirit stick attracted spirits. I don't know if he ever quite understood it wasn't for finding or warding off ghosts.  Magnus also wanted his picture taken with me and the spirit stick.

I know Bob made my day when he helped me find all my spirit sticks parts and hopefully he'll remember me and my goofy spirit stick.

Happy Running

R.O.U.S. Runners of Unusual Speed-Ragnar Del Sol

Ever since I started running Ragnar's I wanted to be on a team named R.O.U.S. Runners of Unusual Speed.  I love the Princess Bride movie and the play on words R.O.U.S is hilarious.  After working 3 SWAT volunteer positions with Ragnar I earned a free team and became Princess Buttercup.

Van 2 hanging out in front of our van while Jacquie runs the longest leg

Putting together a team means patience as the team changes form like your pace changes during a 5K race. After having a full team, losing three runners in a 24 hour period, accomadating for injuries and those sandbaggers padding their times you never know what to expect.  Even my boyfriend John caused me anxiety. He never wanted to run Ragnar but was guilted into it by his friends (and I'm so glad they did) and I knowing his endurance running ability gave him the top miles of 23.  The funny thing about John's training is as we got closer to the race, he trained less and less where his long run was 6 miles and he was running 1, 2 or NO days a week.  I had to remind myself he's a big boy and their van would figure it out. The end result was awesome runners having great laughs and being wonderful friends.

Van 2 at exchange 6. Note the bull riding pen behind the picture. That was the real reason I got bruises on my knuckles on both hands. But it made for a better story that I picked fights with runners tagging our van.

I got van one out the door at 5:30am off to Wickenburg and had a couple hours to kill before my van left at 10:30am. Within 20 minutes Jeff received a text from his wife saying she was taking their 5 year old son to the doctor because he had a rock stuck up his nose. I can't even type that without laughing.  He was "holding' it for a girl he had a crush on. I believe that is what pockets are for but maybe putting it in the nose is better because of the polishing features of the nose. It turned out to be a plastic glitter bead which is far better than an ordinary rock and it can still be strung on a string for the gal to wear. This rock became one of the many jokes throughout the 28ish hours.

Jeff and Glen discuss how elevation charts were drawn by 5 year olds with rocks up their noses.

The race isn't about the running but the stories that come out of the race.  I heard van 1 had people taking pictures of their van and we had runners spouting off quotes after seeing all our character names and quotes all over our van. At one exchange I had a guy call me a witch.  I yelled back at him.  "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife" at which he instantly replied with "and after what you just said I don't think I want to be that anymore".

Jacquie and Jan at our start-exchange 6

Jan finishes her first leg

Jan hands off to Glen and is glad to stop running

Glen shows Jacquie (who is challenged with working slap bracelets) another way to hand off the bracelet

Is my butt blinking?

Michael is ready for his night run

Having run the Lost Dutchman marathon the week before I gave myself the shortest distance of 11 miles and the coveted spot of running in the team, runner 12. My boyfriend got the top miles of 23 and Jacquie had 21 miles.  The 21 miles, while extraordinary,  wasn't the highlight of her legs.  She ran the longest leg in Ragnar history of 13.5 miles in an astonishing 2:07 and wore her special bling metal proudly the rest of the race.  We were worried the medal bouncing up and hitting her in the eye (you should see the bruise on my hand from her medal as she was swinging and dancing around waving it) and we talked her out of wearing it the last two legs. I think she probably slept with it that night though.

Jacquie looking strong on her 13.5 mile run

When I ran Hood to Coast in 2012 I learned about Spirit Sticks and thought the were the best invention ever. A long decorated stick with a light on the end made finding your team so much easier especially at night.  We had a pom pom on ours and it also became the device to brush someones head with and turn around quickly as they brushed off what was touching their head. It also doubled as a kilt lifter and skirt lifter used on the men wearing dresses.

Michael holds the spirit stick

One of the jokes in our van is we were going to nickname our selves runners of unusual parking.  Our 15 passenger van was LONG and it was just so much easier to take up 2 or even 4 parking spaces.  With our relatively early start time and our fast team, we were towards the front of the race at the end so it was ok to park so horribly.

We did leave Jan stranded at her exchange for about 10 minutes.  We didn't mean to and had plenty of time to get Starbucks but we drove the wrong direction leaving Starbucks and were too busy chatting to realize it and then we passed up the exchange and had to drive another half a mile before the road allowed a U-turn. We kicked Glen out of the van, ignored the evil eyes of the other teams for getting to the exchange late, and apologized profusely to Jan. After all, she was a prized team member because after our first legs we showered at her house, sat in her spa and her husband picked up dinner for us.

Bringing in the team was awesome. Close to the finish line I let out my cheer yell which is comparable in volume to my zombie scream and Jacquie heard it across Tempe Town lake.  The team was waiting for me and we all ran across the finish line together. Many thanks to Megan for capturing this video and being our "official finish line photographer".

Jeff, Tom, John S, Chip, Michael T, Glen, Michael C, Jacquie, Jan
Christina, John C and John H(not pictured)

Sleeping During Ragnar or a 24 hour relay

Catching some ZZZ's during Ragnar or other 24 hour relays isn't easy but it can be done.  If you get two hours sleep you're doing well.  If you manage five hours over the 24 hours you are a rock star.

Dan, catches some sleep in the bed of the truck

I've had my best sleep and my worst sleep sleeping inside the van.  My best sleep was at Hood to Coast. I sat on the floor of the van and rested my arms and head on the seat. I slept for 2 hours.  2 marvelous hours. My worst sleep was when I laid on the floor of the van and felt the dirt and grit and the smell of the oil from the rubber lined floor.

1. Buy some earplugs. I even bring a couple pair with me in case I can't find my first pair.
2. Bring a lightweight blanket to use in the van.  When you aren't running you may be able to catch a couple zzz's and having the blanket is more comfortable.  Plus everyone will want to use it.
3. Some people like using eye masks to block light. My favorite trick is to pull my knit cap down over my eyes. It blocks light and I can still breath.
4. I bring a small backpacking pillow and a sleeping bag liner and forego the real sleeping bag.  But when I've snagged someone's full size pillow while trying to sleep in a moving van it is 10 times better.  If there is space in the van and you don't have to fly to get to the race, a full size pillow is the way to go.
5. Having a sleeping mat is helpful to roll out in the gym, on the grass, on the cement or wherever.
6. Take advantage of the gyms offering sleeping areas.  It really isn't that bad to sleep in a room with a hundred other runners.  Besides the snorers (and they are always loud), it is relatively quiet and often dark.  It isn't as stinky and sweaty as it might sound.
7. Sleeping in the van is possible but only works if well if the whole group wants to sleep.  If some of the van wants to shower and eat, they will be opening/closing the van doors while you are trying to sleep.
8. Outside sleeping areas are great....unless the sprinklers come on.  Then it's a lot of fun to watch everyone wake up and run away.  
9. At Ragnar Wasatch we use a  truck instead of a van and one of the runners cocoons himself into the truck bed and sleeps in-between all his runs.
10. Sleep on grassy areas by parking lots. After our van finishes running Wasatch we park by the exchange in a business building parking lot, roll out our sleeping mats on the grass and get some rest.
11. Don't try and sleep next to a building door that will open/close alot.  Also avoid high traffic areas.
12. Don't sleep in parking lots.   Vans come and go and you're at risk of being run over.  Plus, it's against the Ragnar rules.
13. Try and sleep when you can.  Even closing your eyes and resting will help give you energy.

What tips do you have to sleep during a Ragnar,, Hood to Coast or any other 24 hour relay?

Happy Running!

How to Survive a Ragnar or 24 hour Relay

How do you survive a 24 hour relay like Hood to Coast or 24 hour relay?  I mean, you're running your heart out and then 6 hours later you have to do it again.  And then just because you haven't had enough punishment, you run ONE MORE TIME.   How do you do your second run and  then your third run too?

Here are some ideas to help you survive your race.

1. Remember there is a lot of  excitement of the race and being with your friends gets you moving and you forget the discomfort.  The third leg is often the hardest because you are tired but everyone is in the same boat and is cheering you on.
2. Take your first run slower than you normally would. This will allow you to have more energy through the other runs.
3. Eat right. There is a lot of junk food around and you're eating at odd times.  Try and eat well, or as well as you can. If you haven't tried a food before, don't start now.  I always have pepto bismal tablets with me for when my stomach revolts to keep me out of the honey buckets.
4. Take ibuprofen 30 minutes before you run to help with the soreness
5. If you're used to taking GU's,  take a GU (Clif Blocks, etc)  15 minutes before you run and give you some extra energy. I always like the one's with caffeine.  Again don't try anything you haven't tried before.
6. I'd love to say stretch after your run but most of the times that's not realistic. You have to get moving to the next exchange so you jump in the van and off you go.
7. Relax and enjoy the discomfort. Everyone is in the same boat, tired, sore but you are a team and everyone is cheering you on.

What tips do you have for surviving a 24 hour relay?

Happy Running!

Hood to Coast

I joined a Hood to Coast team a week before the race. Because I was an alternate for another team, I already had plane reservations and an extra couple days on the Oregon coast planned.  All I needed was a team (although I seriously considered showing up at the start line with a sign).  I checked the Portland Craigslist ads and replied to the three posting looking for runners.  I quickly received a reply 'Hi. I'm Jan and I'm from Arizona too.  I recognize your name as a client from the law firm'.   What a small world that I join a random team and I knew (knew used very loosely because we had no idea what the other person looked like).The team met for dinner Thursday night and I met some of my van mates and soon to be friends.  It turns out everyone in van two (my van) was added within the last 3 weeks.  The final runner was added earlier that day and she wasn't well trained but at least we wouldn't have to run 4 legs.

 My first leg started in Sandy, OR in a congested Safeway parking lot next to McDonalds (hurray for real bathrooms).  We would meet van 1 and get bibs, shirts, etc.  and start our legs.  We were hanging around when Debbie realized her wallet was missing.  We were tearing the van apart when I heard my team number being called.  Van 1 wasn't there yet so I grabbed Jan's bib (she was runner 6 and I was runner 7) and took off on my 6ish mile run.  It is so dang pretty out there and the blackberries are abundant.  I was starting to get worried around mile 4 that I hadn't seen my van drive by.  I know they were looking for the wallet but I didn't want to beat them to the exchange.  Eventually they drove by and I wasn't left standing at the exchange alone.

After my first leg posing next to the antlers on our van (I have no idea the story behind the antlers)

Debbie ran after me and was coming off a calf strain so I gave her my compression socks to wear.  While she was out running a ham operator from the race left her a message that he had found her wallet and lived close to her in Portland.  Debbie was one happy camper knowing her wallet wasn't lost.

Robin, a veteran H2C'er,  made spirit sticks with bright (I mean bright) lights so in the dark we could find each other and gave it to the other van at major exchange 12 in Portland.  The spirit sticks are such a great idea that I'm going to make them for Del Sol Ragnar in February.After our exchange we went picked up dinner and went to Carrie's house where the children had made signs for their moms. Then back to Robin's house for a wonderful shower.

Robin, Debbie, Ryan, Bryan (with spirit stick sans lights) and me.  Check out barbie as a spirit stick.

Spirit stick in the making

For my night time leg I brought my lighted hair for all the girls to wear.  I bought the lighted hair from flashingblinkylights.com a couple years ago and it's always a big hit.  Wearing the hair makes it super easy to find teammates and the vans driving and runners passing or being passed comment on the hair.

We finished our night legs around 5am and went to Mist, OR and got snuggly in our van.   It was a 15 passenger van so for a 24 hour relay, it was quite roomy. I chose to sit on the floor and rest my arms on the seat and actually fell asleep until 8am. 

My third and final leg was 4 miles and downhill.  I usually don't run with people but on this leg there was someone running my pace ( I actually had to try and catch up to him) and we ran together the 4 miles.  Dave was getting married the next week and his fiancee was also running the race.  He told me he was the over contributor to the relationship coming in with 5 kids to her 1.  Like the Brady Bunch...but he had most of the kids. 

Bryan does his morning stretches after sleeping cramped in the van.

I loved this guys legs.  UR G8T. I'm Just Fast

Ryan talked about Cheeseburgers most of the race.  Robin took the opportunity to leave Ryan a chalk message but the poor guy didn't get a cheeseburger when he finished his leg.

I really liked this sign.

Debbie, the gal who joined the team at the last minute did awesome and wasn't as sore starting her 3rd leg as I thought she'd be.  It's really surprising to me how well our team melded together.  We all got along great and had an awesome time.

Robin exchanges for the final time with Bryan

At the Oregon Coast...Cheers

Team picture