Ragnar training as a mom of 4

**after several quizzings as to when I was going to blog about training and participating in a Ragnar Relay, I realized that I NEVER did post the journey I did last year with pics and journaling.  I think I was waiting for some "official" pics from ragnar, which I wasn't organized enough to download.  So without further ado, here's what I journaled about my ragnar training and relay that should be titled 

"HOW NOT TO TRAIN FOR A RAGNAR"

:)

The Ragnar is over!

I say that with GREAT relief and joy, ha!! 

I survived to blog about it 

Living in a van for 24-36 hours with 5 other team mates and running through the night, sleeping on a gymnasium floor is really something.  

It seems so funny to say that it was a FUN experience!  

But that end of it, as a whole, it truly was. The running (for me) was awful.  I had the long leg of the Ragnar.  I showed up at the "exchange" on the blacktop highway in full sun... only to discover the entire run would be uphill.

In fact, my APP on my phone tracked the incline and this is what it looked like:

There was no van support (meaning our van/team was not allowed to stop and give water or encouragement).  They did meet me at the 5 mile mark to cheer me on.

Soon, I lost service on my phone, which meant i lost my music (which was key for my endurance).

I ran out of water until a passerby ragnar van tossed me a bottle from across the highway. 

I was feeling desperate at one point, I could barely keep going I was so dehydrated. Insert major inner dialogue of persevering, ha!

The VERY hardest thing of that long run, was watching vans pull over and switch out their runners (which isn't supposed to be legal to ragnar rules). So I have fresh, hydrated runners being dropped right next to me and I'm watching the ones I started with, jumping into their vans to kick their feet up. 

NOT easy for me. 

Our van driver, Andy,

snapped these photos of me as I finished 13.7 miles of brutal highway.

I made it.

My reoccuring thought was this:
Motherhood & life's routines prepares ladies well for ragnar training. 

You can't quit just because you want to.

You have to push through and deny your flesh that wants things to be comfortable and easy.  Keep going. Keep striving. 

My second run was at 2:30 AM.

It was to be 5 miles or so.

The light ran out over the course's turn sign.

And so I kept going straight.

4 miles

off course, out of the way, in the desert, alone.

pretty much scary.  My van kept me on the phone, tracked me down and got me back on course.  

Not good. 

 

My ragnar training was not ideal. I ran 10+ miles on the weekend because John was home to be with kiddos.  But during the week, I was lucky to run even a few miles.  Our life is just too crazy.  The ONLY thing that saved me was lifting weights for 2 hours a week.  I truly believe this is what helped build my muscle mass and endurance for those long runs.  My "training" was not as recommended, but it worked for the loco schedule that our family keeps.  I ran 25+ miles in 24 hours, the week before the ragnar (as suggested by program)-- and crossed my fingers, said a prayer it would sustain me for the competition.

My final leg was in the morning.  I was set to head out when the guys showed up at our exchange (having just finished their end of the relay).  They took one look at my knee (or lack of kneecap) filled with fluid and told me I'd need surgery and to get back in the van.  I thought it was fine but they all started swapping and switching to finish my 3 miles.  

Turns out, those prior runs that were up hill, they had done a real number on my kneecap.  (The good thing is, no surgery was needed, just some ice and elevation of my leg).  It's been fine ever since, even running back to normal in no time.

All in all, we had tons of laughs, I LOVED my team.  The other ragnar teams were HILARIOUS- many had costumes (shown above) that had us ROLLING.  It's all in good fun, proceeds go to lymphoma research.  It's a win-win.

Everyone from our team is already planning "our next year" for 2015.  I told them I wasn't sure if I'd be on board for that (I haven't forgotten how grueling it was yet).  Another teammate volunteered to take the leg I did this year so that makes it a little more imaginable for me :)

 

It was an amazing experience.  It's awesome to train for something for so long and finally complete it.  We all ran as a team across the finish line and it felt great.  I remember running mid-day for that 13+ mile leg, on that black top highway, exhausted and dehydrated

... thinking I'm totally mentally and emotionally prepared. Physically prepared was a second thought.  As a mom, you learn to put yourself and your own flesh behind the prize in sight.  I kept going, persevering, and finished with my team.  It was a good day :)