Relays: More Than Just Running

I've just finished running the Ragnar Relay Series Del Sol event in Phoenix, and I am still on a high from my adventure. I spent thirty-six hours with my team, Kilty Pleasures, and we had such a great time that I have difficulty even finding the words to describe it.

Looking back on the relay, I realized that when I've described it to other people, I've focused on the running exclusively. "Oh, you run thirty-six legs, three per person." But that really only scratches the surface. There's so much more to running a relay race than just the running. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to explain the different roles people play during the event.

Runners
Of course, there are runners. Twelve of them, usually. And each runner does run three legs each. So runner 1 goes out and runs anywhere from two to ten miles, on average. Then runner 2 does the same. Then runner 3. And on it goes until runner 12 finishes. At that point, runner 1 starts again and the cycle repeats twice. Some runs are easy while others are difficult. Some are flat and some are all uphill or downhill. Some runs are during the heat of the day and others are in the cool of the night. But rain or snow, sun or shade, all the runs must be done.

Drivers
While the runner is on the course, the rest of the team is either off the course inactive (six members) or in the van leapfrogging. As the runner goes out, the van will pass him, wait to check on him and make sure he is okay, then drive ahead, then wait on him, etc. This happens until the runner is close enough to the exchange, at which time the van drives ahead and the next runners gets ready to go out. Being a driver at a relay can be incredibly stressful. You have to watch for regular traffic, other vans, and all the runners out on the course. You have to stay awake when others are napping, stay alert behind the wheel, and stay focused on everything around you. It's a lot of pressure but it has to be done.

Navigators/Safety Officers
The driver is assisted by the front-seat passenger. This person acts a navigator, making sure the driver knows where they are going. This can be extremely confusing, as there are potentially three different routes - the runner's route, the directed van route, and the most direct route offered by GPS. Sometimes it's easy when the runners all go down a long, long highway. Other times, it's made difficult by lots of turns and different roads. This person is also the designated Safety Officer, tasked with helping keep the driver, the other passengers, and the runners safe.

Timekeepers
Keeping time in a relay race is super important. The first part is paying attention to the time your runner has been on the course. You need to know when to expect them to run by during a check-in stop and when to expect them to come into the exchange at the end of their run. You don't want to screw it up and miss your runner. The other important element of timekeeping is when you are switching from one van to the other. The inactive van needs to keep up with the active van so they know when to get to the exchange and take over. Screw up the timekeeping and you end up with a runner coming in and no one there to replace him.

Social Media Team
Be honest, half the fun of running a relay race is the chance to show off your adventures on social media. But that takes time and energy, so it's good to designate a person to keep up with Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, etc.

On Deck and Recovery Runners
While one runner is on the course, there are two other runners to deal with. One is the person who has just finished. She needs time to recover after her run, so she will usually settle in the van and spend time cooling down, getting out of her running gear, and often grabbing a quick snack and a drink. The other runner is the On Deck runner, who needs to spend time getting ready to run. That means they are fidgeting with their earphones and music, GPS watch, running shoes, etc. They are focused on themselves and need that time to get prepped to run.

Cheerleaders/Supporters
This may be the most important role of all. While your runner is on the course, you want to make sure that you stop alongside the road, wait for them to pass, and then cheer and encourage them. You might also meet them with water or snacks, depending on how long they have been on the course and what they need. You also want to be at each exchange to cheer your runners in and out.
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If you're counting, you'll see that makes eight distinct roles, but each van only has six people. And that means that people often have to cover more than one job at the same time. Teammates will shift around and take responsibility for different tasks based on the needs of the van at any given time. And each job is important.

So, if you want to run a relay race, be prepared to do more than run. This is truly a team event, and there is something for everyone to do at any given time.

Okay, now who wants to run a relay race with me?

Ragnar Del Sol?

Last weekend, I ran the 200 mile Ragnar Del Sol relay race in Arizona. I'm still smiling about having such a great time. I'm also going to blog in detail about it, but another night has come and gone and I'm just too relaxed and lazy to spend time typing. 

So, I guess I'll have to blog later. For now, I'll just share some pictures from the weekend. 

Enjoy your Friday and I'll be back soon!

Action 360 - Get My Ragnar On.

Tomorrow is my chance to give back to the Ragnar community, and I'm excited to get started.

Action 360 - Get My Ragnar On. I am volunteering twice tomorrow, first at Exchange 32 at 4:30am and then again at the finish line at Coronado at 12:30pm. It's an all day Ragnar-fest, and I am going to be cheering and encouraging and celebrating with every runner that goes by.

This is my chance to see the race from the other side, and I'll appreciate the volunteers that much more the next time I run.

Go, Ragnar SoCal!

Action 088 - Reap The True Rewards.

I described the shiny medal from Ragnar Del Sol as a reward worth having. And it is. It's something physical and tangible, an item to hold in my hand and proudly display as proof of my accomplishment. But at the end of the day, it's just a medal. There are far greater things to celebrate.

Action 088 - Reap The True Rewards. Below is a picture of my team, Kilty Pleasures. And having the opportunity to spend time with them, to get to know them, to now be able to call them friends... well... that really is the true prize I am walking away with.



I knew three people from Ragnar SoCal last year - John, Kat and Timm. And even they were going to be in Van #2. So once again, I was getting into a van with five strangers. Jan and Marianne, kind enough to allow me to ride to Phoenix with them. Ryan and Brent, easy-going guys that made me feel instantly part of the team. And James, at least as crazy as me and happy to let the world know it. I was surrounded by five fantastic people who welcomed me from the first moment onto the team.

And Van #2? They were just as incredible. I enjoyed my fleeting moments with them so much that after my van had finished our last set of runs, I decided to ride along with Van #2 as they ran their last, too. And I'm so glad I did. I got to finally get to talk with John, Kat and Timm. And I got to know Chris, Bobbie and Jerry. All six people in that van made sure I knew how glad they were that I was riding along with them for the final legs and that my being there helped keep them motivated and pumped up for their runs.

And the party after? John and Kat opened their home to all of us runners, plus we were joined by the extended circle of friends, including Rachel, Karrie and Pebble. And to a person, I was so completely overwhelmed by how immediately comfortable and connected I felt. And don't get me started on the ride home to San Diego with Timm and the music connections we have. I have never been around someone who has as eclectic a collection of music as I do. And his explanation of "I just started saying yes" was fantastic inspiration to me.

It's funny, but all of this happened because I made the same connections last year at Ragnar SoCal. My van was full of amazing people that I am still connecting with and getting to know today. And nearly a year later, the rewards of that weekend event are still revealing themselves to me. I can only imagine that the rewards of this weekend will unfold for many, many months to come.

And Ragnar Del Sol's Team Kilty Pleasures? You all are truly amazing, and I can't put into words how much this relay meant to me. With all the crazy that is happening in my life right now, I really needed a chance to get away and experience something completely positive. You all gave that to me, and I will always be grateful to you for that.

Action 087 - Reap The Rewards.

With passion comes determination. With desire comes commitment. And with effort comes results.

At the Ragnar Del Sol, I wanted to do well for myself. I needed to do well out of respect for my team. And I worked hard to do well for them and myself.

And Action 087 - Reap The Rewards. Finishing an event like this means a handful of bling, and Ragnar does not disappoint.



This is the Finisher's Medal for Ragnar Del Sol. Sweet, huh? Guess my husband will need to expand that medal display case of mine sooner than he thinks!

Action 086 - Take The Moment.

It's so easy to move quickly from one thing to the other, wrapping something up and immediately launching into something new. And when running a crazy and complex event like a Ragnar Relay, it's really easy to fly through the whole thing without acknowledging moments that matter.

Action 086 - Take The Moment. After completing my third leg, I climbed into the van and felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I had done it. I had run 7.4 miles, nearly half of which was a crazy hill, and this after running 11.2 miles on two earlier legs.

I had finished my part of the Ragnar Del Sol. I had done what I came out from California to do. I had stepped in for friends in need and completed what was asked of me. And fortunately, I was smart enough to know that I needed to take a moment and let it all sink in.



Challenge accepted and met. And this is me, taking a moment to bask in the glory of it all. And that smile stayed plastered on my face just like that for at least the next fifteen minutes.

Action 085 - Meet The Challenge.

I've run a full marathon. I've run a Ragnar. I've run a Tough Mudder and a Super Spartan. I'm not afraid of trying something new or difficult. But that doesn't mean that I don't get a little nervous before I do it.

My third run at Ragnar Del Sol was a 7.4 mile leg, half flat terrain and nearly 3.5 miles of significant elevation gain. Yep, uphill. And I would be running it on little sleep after having already run a 5.5 and a 5.7 mile run earlier.

Action 085 - Meet The Challenge. I signed up and agreed to step in as Runner 2, and that meant doing Leg 26. I was determined to hit the ground running - literally - and keep going until I hit the exchange chute 7.4 miles later. And here's what I had to do:



It was a tough run. It was pitch dark when I started, though the blackness gave way to a pre-dawn show of colors in the sky as I ran. And my time was slower than my earlier pace, but I truly gave it everything I had. By the time I finished, one hour and twenty-something minutes later, I felt confident that I had truly met the challenge.

And yep, it felt pretty good.

Action 084 - Have Fun.

For those who know me, this might seem like a no-brainer. I mean, when am I not fun, right? Believe it or not, it is not always an automatic thing. I make a conscious choice to enjoy myself and have a good time rather than stress about the unknown or worry over whatever might not work out perfectly.

Action 084 - Have Fun. When I decided to accept the invitation to run Ragnar Del Sol at the last minute, I knew that I would be joining a group of people already bonded together. Even the three people on the team only knew me as "that guy in the other van last year." So there were lots of reasons for me to be concerned. But I told myself that the people I did know were great people and that, by extension, the rest of their running buddies had to be good people, too. And I decided that I would be bring my very best attitude and make it a fun experience for me and, if I could, for others.

Yeah. That happened. We had fun from start to finish. The group of people turned out to be absolutely amazing and I loved every minute of the experience. These few photos barely scratch the surface of the fun I had. It was absolutely fantastic!

This is our van, decorated from top to bottom... with a kilt!

Ryan and Brent, doing a little pre-run kilt check.



Me, finally finding a way to have long legs.



These folks were taking a picture of our van and of me and Jerry in our kilts, so we turned the tables and asked to take a picture of them, too. They were good sports and said, "sure!"

Action 083 - Remain Calm.

If you know me at all, you have seen me in "organizer/planner" mode. I admit, it can be a bit manic. And regimented. And inflexible. And...

Alright, you get the idea. Planning and organizing a big event with a lot of people takes wisdom beforehand, skill during, and patience always. I know that from firsthand experience. That is why I make such an effort when I am the recipient of someone else's planning to be as easygoing and relaxed as I can. I know they are already stressed out and I don't need to add more to it.

Action 084 - Remain Calm. Getting from any exchange to another is stressful. Every other team is doing the same thing, and trying to get that many large passenger vans into small spaces can be a chore. And if the exchange is a major one, where the last runner from one van is replaced by the first runner from the other van, there are twice as many vehicles and at least twice as much confusion.

This is just one quadrant of the parking lot at Exchange 13. Each team's second vans are picking a runner up, and each team's first vans are dropping a runner off. So every van comes through at some point, and it is chaos.



What my team driver needed was for the rest of us to remain calm, get from and back to the van quickly, and help guide him as he backed out of the space and navigated through the onslaught of foot traffic.

I was not in charge, so my task was simple. Remain calm and assist the driver. That's it. And that's exactly what I did. And surprise, surprise, but the entire exchange went off smoothly and we were on the road in plenty of time.

There's something to this remaining calm business, eh?

Action 082 - Enjoy The View.

Running the Ragnar Relay is a series of "hurry up and wait" moments. Sometimes, you sit in the van and wait for your runner to catch up to you so you can give them water. Or you sit at the exchange point waiting to drop off and pick up a runner. Other times you hurry to make that support stop or exchange drop. And any attempt to eat or sleep between running sets is crazy busy.

It's important to remember Action 082 - Enjoy The View. An event like the Ragnar Del Sol offers so many opportunities to see absolutely spectacular scenery, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and desert landscapes and mountain backdrops as far as the eye can see.

It does the soul good to take in the greatness that is nature. And on this trip, that greatness is truly all around me.

Action 081 - Rise And Shine.

It's 4am and I'm back in the van. We just left the hotel after just over an hour's sleep, and we are now heading to the Exchange where we will begin our last set of runs. It's pitch dark and cold outside. And me, I am about to run my longest and hilliest leg, ever.

Action 081 - Rise And Shine. The rise part, already done. I'm awake and ready to go. The shine part? Well, my team is looking to me to deliver a solid 7.4 mile run. And this guy is just the runner to do it!

Oh, and the best part? I'll be almost done with my run just as the sun comes up over the beautiful Phoenix desert. Sweet!

Action 080 - Help And Be Helped.

Some of life's greatest lessons come to us in the most unexpected of moments. Running through the night at Ragnar Del Sol isn't a place I expected to be reminded of the good in humanity, but still, there it was.

Action 080 - Help And Be Helped. Ragnar is a relay race. Teams compete to be the first across the finish line with the fastest times. But it's way more than that. It's also an amazing experience of fellowship and camaraderie and team-building. And it's a opportunity for complete strangers to share moments of support and encouragement.

While running my second leg, I was passed by a few people and I passed a few others. Without exception, each person that passed me took the time on their way by to say, "good job!" or "you're doing great!" or some variation of. Being passed can be demotivating, but the encouragement of other runners keeps you fired up and encouraged.

It's a great reminder of the simple power I have, to help someone with a kind word. It means the world to me when I am struggling through a run, and I need to remember to help others when I have the opportunity.


(Photo from Ragnar Relays. Just another example of teams cheering each other on.)

Action 079 - Follow Through.

It's important to do the work, but it means nothing if you don't see it through to completion.

Action 079 - Follow Through. When running a Ragnar Relay, that means making sure you do the "paperwork" after running your leg. Here I am, checking off my 1st Leg. Yep, that baby goes in the done column!

Action 078 - Bask In The Glory!

After Wednesday's treadmill and shin debacle, I was really worried about running my first leg here at Ragnar. I really had no idea what to expect. I was hopeful but not confident.

Pfft, no reason to worry. Action 078 - Bask In The Glory! My run was 5.5 miles, gently downhill most of the way. And ladies and gentlemen, I kicked its butt! I was hoping for 10 minute miles, and I blew that away. I ran 5.51 miles in 48 minutes and 24 seconds. That means my pace was 8:47 minutes per mile.

Bam! That's how we do it, baby! And my shins feel great and I feel great. I'm ready for my next leg!

Action 077 - Gear Up!

I'm Runner Two, so I need to be ready right away. Our first runner will be hitting the exchange point soon, and then I am off.

Action 077 - Gear Up! My cell phone service up here is sketchy, so I'm not going to run with my phone or use my RunMeter app. Instead, I'll use my iPod Shuffle for tunes and my Garmin to track my pace.

I'm ready!

Action 076 - Saddle Up.

It's Friday morning, Day One of the Ragnar Del Sol Relay. We spent the night at a hotel here in Wickenburg, Arizona, and are now gathering our stuff and getting ready to head out. There were six of us sharing the hotel room, so it's a bit hectic gathering everything up.

Did I mention the hotel has a bit of a western theme? Action 076 - Saddle Up. Time to get over to the start area and get checked in.

The patio in front of the hotel.




And me, waking up just a bit slower than usual.

Action 075 - Get It Started.

Every experience has a beginning. And I'm ready to enjoy mine.

Action 075 - Get It Started. I arrived here in Phoenix and saw that my name was already emblazoned on our van!





Fun, right? We have all of our names on the van, and we mark the checkboxes each time we complete a leg.

And we are loaded up and heading out.





Go Ragnar!

Action 065 - Commit To Tomorrow.

I know that it's early in 2012, and I still have many, many miles to run this year. But racing calendars fill up quickly, and there's only one sure way to make sure I get signed up for the new races I want to run.

Action 065 - Commit To Tomorrow. And I am, to the Ragnar Relay Race from Miami to Key West. The event runs January 4-5, 2013, and I am making the commitment now to run. I was invited by an amazing buddy of mine from SparkPeople.com, and she is an amazing success story. She is now pulling together a team of people who have all dropped a lot of weight and become runners, and how flattered am I that she invited me to join!

Katie, I'm in. You asked, and I am going to commit right here and now. Ragnar Florida, here I come!