Ragnar Relay Overview
For those who do not know what a Ragnar Relay is I will try and explain the race itself, however, the experience of it is a whole other story(see below). Twelve people (in our case 6 men and 6 women) drive out to Cumberland, MD in two vans. It is a point to point race that is 197 or 201 miles long depending on which day you check the website. The event ends in DC (National Harbor, it has the ironically-named Awakening Statue). Each person runs a various preset distance to an exchange point where the next teammate is waiting to run their preset distance. The first 6 of van #1 do this while van #2 drives to the first exchange that begins the next series of their 6 legs. While one active van chases and supports the runners on, the inactive van has down time to eat, sleep, etc. The vans leap frog each other day and night until they've reached the finish or DNF'd. Think you got it? I'm still not sure...
Day 1 Ragnar
I wake up at 3:30 am, get a few things together, and head north to meet my team at Denise's house. We were supposed to meet at 4:30 to load and organize vans. Our BRRC Team 'Runs Well With Others' finally gets rolling around 5:15. We have to be at Rocky Gap Resort for a 7:30 safety meeting.
When we roll in (we're van #2), we see the resort against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains and lake. Though a little foggy, you can tell the trees are beginning to change. There are so many great team names: 'More cowbell', 'My third leg is hard...and long', 'WTF, I thought this was a 5K', Pimp my Stride, etc. All the Ragnar garb is spread out around the field.
Team Leg #1
Amelia was our first leg. She took of at 8:30 for her loop around the lake. Everyone hung out until she came in and handed off to Yurgen, leg #2 and then van #1 and van #2 part ways.
We arrive at exchange #6 for our first bit of down time. Each major exchange (6,12,18,24,and 30) is set up with a roped-off area for sleeping; this is to prevent passed-out runners from getting run over by vans coming and going. We checked in, listened to our mandatory safety meeting, and found a spot in the sleeping area that was shaded to relax and prep for what lie ahead. The day was roasting; the van temp said 95. Our van already anticipated the afternoon legs filled with record-high temps and insane mountainous climbs.
We finally get the call that Dave (the anchor leg of van #1) should be coming in 20 or so minutes. Van #1 arrives, and they share stories of how their first legs went. Jeff (our first runner) gets ready to take off in the day's brutal sun. Shortly after, the race volunteer gets the radio call that #56 (our bib number) is coming in. Jeff goes to the exchange chute and waits as Dave runs in, hands Jeff the slap bracelet, and takes off.
We jump back in our van after 20 or so minutes to chase after Jeff. Our van rolls along and we are in awe at the size of the hills and hairpin turns, we are also in awe of how far Jeff has made it in such a short time. When we see him, we shout cheers of encouragement then drive ahead a ways to pull over and hand him water as he comes through. As he comes by he shouts a number at us and then runs on, jumps in the air, clicks his heels together, and charges on. He's having a blast! We realize that the number he shouted was the total runners he has picked off so far. And so, the body count begins...
Our team is charged. The next leg is me. I pin my number on and head into the chute. Jeff comes flying in, hands me the bracelet and I'm off! The description of my leg clearly stated that I would have the most elevation gain of any other leg in the race--1000 ft climb! I had three solid miles of uphill, but I ran that sucker! I picked off one runner on the uphill. She had pom-pom pigtails, so it had to be done. My van drives by and asks what I want. I expel the word 'gatorade'. I started with a little 8 oz Deerpark water bottle thinking that would be enough to get me through my 5.6 mile leg, but had that thing finished in the first two miles.
Jeff jumps out, I hand him my empty bottle, he hands me an enormous 2L gatorade. Jeff says, 'Take it with you'. I start to run with the two liter bottle and realize how ridiculous it is to carry that thing. I run across the street and put it down as my team pulls up and picks up the bottle. I continue running and send my team my thoughts. Sure enough, they read my mind, have my little Deerpark bottle filled w/ gatorade and run it over to me.
My team is waiting at the top and they hand me an ice-cold bottle of water. I dump half on my head and then head downhill. I pick off four more runners, my legs are on autopilot and I'm flying down that mountain; I couldn't stop if I tried. I totally chicked three guys and passed one more. My body total: 5. I run through the chute, slap the bracelet on Rob for a flawless exchange. I'm done...for now.
Rob Santoni knocked off 20 or so, Jenn Zanni a few more, Speed Queen Brenda Dailey also knocked of 20 or so, then our van's anchor leg was team captain Christian Creutzer, who crewed Serge Arbona only the weekend before running his own 83 miles, he took out 15 and charged through the chute at exchange 12 where van #1 was waiting for us.
Team Leg #2 approx. 7:15 pm
After getting another briefing from Van #1 about the area, they took off and we decided to hang around for a little bit. This major exchange was at Clear Spring High school. Rumor had it hot showers were available, but the wait was long. Jen and I went into the air conditioned school, found the locker room and decided a sink/baby wipe shower was our best bet. A spaghetti dinner was being offered for $6. Our team stood in line for a much-needed hot meal. Looking around at the other seated runners enjoying their food, we anxiously waited our turns to enjoy noodles, green beans, applesauce, and cake. After five minutes of waiting a woman approaches us and the few runners in front and behind us. "I just wanted to let you know that we are about to run out of food and I didn't want you to stand in line for no reason." So much for our reward dinner!
I call Curt, a BRRC race volunteer, to find out when they are arriving at their exchange site. Curt and Dechen are at the next exchange, so we drive out to see them. We tell them all about what's been going on and they inform us that there was a head-on collision that was probably caused by a runner. It's dark now and it is a mandatory race rule that runners wear a reflective vest, headlamp, and blinking tail light. Even with all this gear on, cars are not expecting to see you out there and accidents can happen.
We part ways from our beloved volunteers and head up the road. We find the Cadillac of convenient stores-Sheetz, refill the tank, and buy more ice. I reward myself w/ cheese burger sliders. We head out once again to major exchange #18. We arrive a little before 10 pm. Already exhausted and only one leg complete, we head to the sleeping area. It's a calm, pleasant evening and I'm comfortable laying on my blanket and pillow on a grassy hillside. I simply must get some sleep!
We get the call about 10:40 that our team should be there in the next half hour. I received my first wake-up call. 30 minutes of sleep, if you want to call it that. Jeff is already getting ready and I figure since I'm after him I will get geared up too. I put on my flashing reflective vest, my head lamp and an extra glow stick bracelet for good measure.
Dave comes in around 11:30 and hands off to Jeff and he's off. Once again, we get caught up and exchange experiences w/ van #1 and part ways. Off to exchange #20--my leg.
When we arrive I see ice cream for sale. However, I have no time to eat it since Jeff will be coming in soon-he's just so damn fast! We see Tom Nasuta, a BRRC's legend, volunteering the graveyard shift. Lots of hugs and smiles all around. Here comes Jeff!
I take off on my first night time run. It's a little before 1 am and I am rolling over country roads that are only lit by the light on my head. I have no idea how fast I'm going and I don't see any more runners on the road. I skip the iPod for this run; I need all my senses. I am motivated to go as fast as possible to get away from the occasional rustling sounds coming from the bushes along the road. It's comforting to see so many other Ragnar vans driving by, I don't feel so alone. My van comes along and hands me a water half way in. By then I haven't passed any runners, but I finally have one in my site. My team cheers me on as I pass my first runner. I see the 'one mile to go' sign and check my watch 31:34 at 4 miles! I try to focus on the Ragnar blinking signs to stay the course. After cresting the last hill, I see the exchange and book it in and hand off to Rob. It's becoming too much, I talk myself out of hurling. My body is shaking, my brain is mush, I still have one more leg.
This night run went fast, but there weren't as many runners to knock off for whatever reason. Rob got more kills, Jenn held pace with Reflective Tape man and they battle it out for their finish, Brenda knocked out her 3.8 in just 26 minutes, and Christian tore up his feet on a brutal 8.5 mile run that was mostly on a rocky road w/ pot holes-not good in the dark. Exhaustion really set in for Rob and we had to pull over until he got it out of his system. We pull into major exchange 24 around 4 am
Final leg #3, Day two approx 4:15 am
When we arrive at the exchange, the volunteers inform us that the sleeping area is full. In the race bible it claims that this stop has hot chocolate and Starbucks coffee; they have neither. Our teammates inform us that they were sleeping on gravel and a train goes by every half hour, it also smells like a full port-a-potty. We decide to head on to the next major exchange since this was a bust.
With everyone else trying to sleep in the back, I take on the job of navigating Christian to the next exchange. It's 4:30 am and we've had no sleep for over 24 hours. I am trying to read the directions with a flashlight, and time and time again we keep getting lost. I can barely keep my head up. We finally find an alternate route, stop at a gas station to pick up a case of water and drive to our final major exchange. At 5:30 we pull in. I immediately hit the port-a-potty and then collapse on the ground with my blanket and pillow. I'm freezing, but I try to sleep, next year I'll remember to bring a sleeping bag.
A little after 6 am the volunteers fire up the generator to start cooking pancakes. Between freezing and the noise I decide to walk back to the van. Christian is asleep and I quietly sneak in and curl up in the front seat. Good ol' Christian snores and grunts away in his slumber. I do my best to fall asleep.
Around 7:30 the rest of the team comes to the van and we slowly start coming around for day two of our adventure. Delirious with insomnia, we eat a make-shift breakfast. Brenda, clearly out of her mind, starts a peanut butter fight with me. She smashes it in my face, I get her back. She looks at me, I look at her, then she nods towards Christian. I smile and we sprint towards him. Good thing he's fast!
We get the call that van #1 should be there soon. We start getting ready. Baby wipe showers, cleaned the van out, found my missing shoe. Apparently there was a communication error with van #1 and it looks like they will be later than expected (Steve). We finally make our way over the the exchange around 9:30. Van #1 shows up. At this point I am toast. I sit on the curb with my head on my arms asking myself if I can pull off another 6 miles. Everything is telling me no way. Brenda, who is a stronger runner, only has to run 2.5 on her leg. She offers to switch, and I seriously consider it.
Dave comes through and Jeff is off. I go back to the van and get geared up. I decide that if I can just lay down from the time it takes to drive to my exchange I may be able to do it. I tell my team, just throw me out of the van when Jeff comes in.
Around 11 am, Jeff comes in and I take off. At this point its just about surviving. I'm in no hurry, so I stick with a very comfortable and reasonable pace. It's hot again and I take a full bottle of water. I wind through a neighborhood and then onto some paved trails through a park. I see my team after 10 minutes in and they give me some water and gatorade. I tell them to find me again and give me more water...little did I know.
I think my section of run was on the C&O trail. I'm sorry, but what a dump! Talk about a ghetto trail! It's more like a gravel road that goes under highways and past urban neighborhoods. Smells of old fast food,and sounds of constant traffic-a far cry from a nature trail for sure. The trail traffic was insane as well. I had no idea who was just a runner and who was a Ragnar runner, so I didn't want to waste extra energy trying to pass a runner to discover they are out for a casual jog. The trail, or what I would refer to as just a 'traffic bypass', came to an incredibly odd section. I entered a concrete tunnel. It was paved, lit up and resembled a subway station. Very strange, but none the less cooler and I finally pass one Ragnar runner. The 'trail' had traffic crossings, so several times I had to stop and wait for the sign to change always looking over my shoulder for any encroaching Ragnar runners. This also ate up time.
It occurs to me that there is no way my team will be able to access me and give me water. I hold out as long as I can to drink the last sip in my bottle. I'm feeling loopy. Though my legs could go forever, my brain has checked out of my body. I finally finish to find my whole van #2 team waiting for me cheering. Christian was all apologies for not being able to get to me w/ hydration. I don't care, I survived, and now I don't have to run anymore! I'm now the envy of the rest of my team, they still have to run.
Rob takes off in the scorching sun. He has some trails, he gets to run past the Pentagon. Rob is disappointed to have no 'kills'. However he and another runner helped push each other through and finish; our team does 'Run Well With Others' after all. Now its up to Jen. Her 4.5 mile run is all city running which means lots of traffic and no shade. Then the bracelet hands off to Brenda. She smokes her 2.5 miles. It is now a little after 2 pm, temps are pushing 100. Christian packs a bottle of water w/ ice. We tell him we will try and find him to give him more water. After he leaves I get a call from Curt. He wanted to check to make sure we are okay. He heard several people were going down and one guy even died! I quietly pass this news onto my team being sure to leave Christian uninformed since he still has to run.
Christian has an 8-mile run ahead of him. While the rest of us fight DC traffic to get to the finish line, we realize there is no way to access Christian and give him more fluids. We get lost and finally find National Harbor and park in the free area designated for Ragnar; its clear on the other side from the finish line. We have to walk practically a mile to the finish line on dead, exhausted legs!
As we walk to the finish line we see Christian flying up to us. I instantly react and hand him the ice cold bottle of water I made for him. He grabs and shoots by. He's ready to end this insanity. Unfortunately, we don't get the the finish in time to see him cross-he's just too damn fast! But all of van #1 runs him in. Christian apparently wobbled at the finish and they rush him over to first aid. When we find him he's got ice packs under his arms and a blood pressure cuff on. The paramedics are asking him questions to check for coherency.
It's over. We stick around, eat some snacks and enjoy Smoothie King, take some group pics, get our medals and head home. I fall asleep in the back almost the entire way. We arrive at Denise's house, unload and go our separate ways. We are all, ahem, Ragnared. Though everyone knows a new found bond had been formed, no one had the energy to properly express the love and gratitude. I think, though, we know it's there and if you ask any one of my teammates if they would do it again, the answer would be "F--k Yeah!" Sorry, but that's how we roll. :-)
