Vern,myself and our friend Nancy Schuyler got into our car on April 22nd in the evening to drive to LA for a Ragnar Relay Race for two days. We had no idea what to expect, but we all had a time of our lives!
The SOCAL Ragnar Relay Race was 200 miles long. There are 12 members on each team and we each run 3 legs of the 200 miles. Each leg varies in length and difficulty. It is a great challenge to your body and mind. But worth it!
Our team name was "In the Morning, I'm Making Waffles", from Shrek, in the spirit of being in Southern California. There were 5 male runners and 7 female runners. We were divided up into 2 vans. The first van was the "Man Van plus Kari". She braved 2 days of life with boys and survived. What a trooper. The second van was "Mom's on Vacation".
Man Van was Jeremy ZoBell, Kari, Zachary ZoBell, Jon Jamieson, Rob Jamieson and Chris Scott with Owen Allen as their driver.
The Mom's on Vacation were Karen, Kris, Nancy Schuyler, Kindy (me), Kim, and Tara (Randall) Player with Vern as the driver.
The first van started the race at 8:30am and we waited and waited at the hotel until it was time to meet up with them in the early afternoon. We waited at the exchange place and I got my first look at all the other teams and runners. Wow, there were quite the unique outfits. I don't know how people can run in costumes. Karen was the lead runner in our van and got a great hand off from her husband, Chris with a kiss. Our van was on pursuit from that point on. We saw parts of LA area that you don't see from the freeway which was nice to see. Karen did amazing and passed off to Kris who attacked the hills with superb skills.
Kim, Tara, Kris, Karen and Kindy waiting to cheer on Nancy
Then Kris passed to Nancy who dominated the up and down hills. Ugh. (note we live in flat Phoenix, so hill training is near impossible).
Nancy handed the wristband to me for my 5.3 mile route. The first 2 miles were downhill which were a trick to me. I had so much energy that I ran very quickly, running downhill can do that to you. I was about 2 minutes faster than my regular pace. Then I turned the corner and started the second half and it was harder. I realised as I was climbing my first hill how tired I was, which was weird. Then on my second hill it nearly killed me. I learned at that moment that you MUST pace yourself! I finished my first leg very tired and thinking, man I have to change something. I handed it off to Kim how did an amazing job and then she passed it off to Tara who cruised to the exchange point. We were tired and ready to get to the hotel for a quick rest.
Vern got us pizza as we showered and began resting. We got about a 2 hour nap before Van 1 called and said that we needed to get ready for the next exchange. Up and at em at 12:30am. We met the other van at Santa Monica Pier where Karen, Kris and Nancy got to run a path on the beach with Vern riding a bike behind them as a "Protector" since it was the middle of the night. I got my hand off from Nancy and had to immediately climb a steep hill to get off the beach. Then I had a pleasant run at 3:30am through Torrance, CA. I had another male runner offer to run with me so that I wouldn't feel scared. So nice, but I didn't want to slow him down so instead I asked him to listen for my scream. He was always in my sight and would often turn around to make sure I was okay. Gotta love nice gentlemen. I ran 3.3 miles and passed the wristband to Kim who passed it to Tara and we had our next exchange with Van 1 in a park. I thought I had so much energy that I wouldn't be able to sleep because it was 5 something in the morning, but as soon as we started out for the hotel, I crashed. We slept and showered for 2 more hours at the hotel. I loved the shower aspect and sleeping on a bed was nice. (especially since Vern was there so I got a bed)
We went to Huntington Beach for the final exchange with Van 1. They were finished and had done such an excellent job! Wahoo. Now it was our turn to finish.
Karen, Kris and Nancy in fine form.
Karen, Kris and Nancy all did amazing times on their legs. Now it was time for my longest and hardest leg through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park for 8.8 miles (it said, but I did 9). I had learned from my first leg that pacing my run was necessary. Especially since there was a gradual uphill climb for 2+ miles, a 100 foot climb in 1/4 of a mile and just the distance was longer than I had ever run. This leg turn out to be my most favorite run. We ran along a State Route which meant nice shoulders to run on and when I got to the canyon, besides the constant wind against me, it was very pretty. I enjoyed running in places I haven't ever run. I think it made the race go faster because there was always something to be looking for. I finished and I was only a little off my said pace, but faster than I had feared I would do, so it was a good feeling! Kim and Tara both rocked it on their last legs. They were hilly and in a lot a traffic. It was awesome as we met Van 1 on the beach to wait for Tara at the finish.
Watching her run down the hill was super exciting. Exactly how my sister Kris said, "You feel like you are on a team again." We all ran in behind Tara and finished the race 3 minutes from what had been projected. WE ROCK!
It was such a fun weekend! No sleep and lots of running, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I enjoyed spending time with my sisters, we missed Kari a ton, and Nancy and Tara very well could have been our sisters they fit in so well.
I few notes. We loved Tara as our navigator with her fancy I-Phone. Who knew I could use the restroom so many times in 2 days. Eating a good breakfast is vital for a later run. You feel like you a running so fast in the dark, but in actuality you aren't. Trim all toenails before the race. I think I am going to lose one because I ran downhill for 4+ miles and it just kept hitting the top of the shoe. Oops. The pain is gone now. Have a great driver like my husband. He is the best.
Having Vern there to see me run and finish meant so much to me.
It is fun to be around crazy silly people when we are all sleep deprived!
I loved the race and look forward to run again.
Kindy and Nancy at the end
