Super R.A.C.E.R.s : Ragnar Relay del Sol

Incredible.


Running the Ragnar relay was incredible. I enjoyed being with my team, running in the beauty of Arizona, and being challenged. The Ragnar is a relay race of over 200 teams. Each team has 12 runners. Each runner runs 3 legs of the 202 mile race from Prescott to Mesa, Arizona.



Janae started our race Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.


The team was split up into two vans. While one runner was out on his leg, the other runners from his van frequently passed by to give him water and let him know how much distance he had left. The support of team mates was huge.

Sharon with Mike as he ran his first leg up a mountain. I couldn't believe how he ran up that mountain. I think I would have sat down and cried. Wow, Mike.
Sharon was a morale-booster for the whole team.

My first leg was really pleasant. 1:15 Friday afternoon outside of Prescott. I ran down the mountain Mike ran up. The sky was blue, the temperature was comfortable. I felt great.

I was so impressed by Marinda's speed. She is fast. And she's fun!
Janae is a babe. I've known her for about a year but I got to know her on a new level through the race. That girl has determination. Her second leg took her on an unlit trail littered with debris. It was like an obstacle course in the dark. Afterward she got quite sick and required an IV. The next morning she ran a long, uphill leg. She just kept going, and going, and going.

Some of our team. We were the Super R.A.C.E.R.s (Really Awesome Cool Expert Runners). The Superman on top of the van was great. It made me laugh inside whenever I saw him driving toward me.

Team support: Jeff giving Mike water on his third leg of the race.

My second leg was at about midnight. It was cold and very dark. My dreamboat came up and paced me on his bike. I was so glad to have him there. He kept me from being afraid the boogie man would jump out and get me. Distances at night also seem much longer than during the day. I appreciated his company.
I love this picture because I look like my little brother, Jordan, before his races when he was in high school.

My third leg began Saturday afternoon at 1:20.

My family came to watch me run. Seeing them gave me a big burst of energy. I was so happy to have them there. Lily hung out the car window and cheered, "Go Mom!" I loved hearing her little voice shout for me and seeing her little hand wave out the window. Carter just wanted out of the car and into the stroller!

Look at this cool picture! Lily jumped in the air just as I ran by her. Look at those feet off the ground...what a jump! It looks like her shadow is trying to jump onto my shadow's back.

I felt energized for the first half of that leg. In the second half the sun beat down on me. I really appreciated the water Jeff passed on to me.

Passing the baton to Sharon for her last leg.

My biggest fans!...My mom, my husband, and our kids.

Chatting amongst ourselves while we wait for Zach to arrive.

Zach ran a hard 8 miles. Passing off to Julia.

Larry and Sheila were an essential part of our team: the cooks! They made delicious meals for us that hit the spot after our runs. I felt so bad for the other teams who had to grab Campbells soup or a hot dog (gag) at gas stations along the route. Thanks, Larry and Sheila!

We finished the race at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night. It was an experience I'll never forget!