Where do I even start? This was an epic adventure, the likes of which I cannot adequately express. Under perfect conditions a relay is a test of physical and mental strength. Under extreme conditions, it’s nothing short of freakish.
I was delighted when I was invited to join this relay team, as it’s something I’ve had on the bucket list for quite awhile. Other than meeting Rachel and Kim briefly at the Wisconsin Half, I’d never met the rest of the team.
After months of planning and prep, at last it was time for the big event. Thursday afternoon the Caveman and kids drove me up to Madison where I spent the night at Rachel’s house. We picked up Amy from the train station and headed to a carb-load dinner at Linda’s.
Race day dawned warm and sunny. After breakfast we headed to the starting line. Kim led off for The Panty Raiders.
There were team pics to take…
…vans to decorate…
…oh yes and panties…plenty of those.
Promptly at 11am, Kim was off! Let the games begin!
Van 1 rotated runners while Van 2 went in search of lunch. First casualties of the race: a couple pairs of panties, a pirate flag and a parrot, blown away on the interstate.
Fast forward to late afternoon, exchange 6. I led off for Van 2. Fresh as a daisy….not so much…but definitely ready to get started.
True to form, I ran my leg way too fast for the 88 degree heat and pretty much died and death marched the final mile. Will I ever learn?
The handoffs continued into the night. Headlamps, reflective vests, isolated pitch-black paths and swarms of mosquitos were all the rage.
Once we turned it back over to Van 1, Van 2 headed to a high school where showers, sleeping mats and food were available. Bless them. Alas sleep and showers were not in the cards for Van 2.
Nothing like a burger for ‘dinner’ at 2am.
Deep in the wee hours, it was Van 2’s turn once again. My 2nd leg went off around 5:30, which could not have been more perfect as it’s my normal running time. It was a heavenly 68 degrees with sun just coming up. I did a progression run through Racine WI, passing the zoo and the yacht club. The whole thing gets foggy here…sleep deprivation and heat exhaustion will do that I guess.
My third leg started in North Chicago (finally in Illinois!). It was noonish, under a blazing hot, cloudless sky, well into the 90’s now. At this point it was a matter of survival. You may know I’m no stranger to hot races. For reasons unknown to me, I seem to be a heat magnet. But heat has a way of bringing out the mofo in me. This time I was determined not to go out too fast. I needed to cross ridiculously busy streets and railroad tracks on this leg. I needed to wait at stop lights before finally making it onto a trial (same trail Fort2Base is done on!) I did some run/walk action and while I did not intend to be competitive by any means, I can say I was passed by nobody and the number of peeps I passed was in the double digits.
Another facet of Ragnar is that there aren’t water stations conveniently located where you’d like them. Usually it’s up to your team to find you on course and provide water. I was never so happy to find Van 2 mid-leg with a cold bottle of water. Heavenly!
I finished up in Lake Forest, feeling triumphant. My 3 legs were complete! Now for the final handoffs and then a beeline to the finish!
These rockstars ran the final leg of the relay and brought it home for The Panty Raiders.
Montrose Harbor was gridlock. We were all so depleted and sleep deprived. Van 1 was still stuck in traffic when our final runners finished so we held up and waited before crossing the finish line.
The finish was on the beach, up over a sand dune. Our bedraggled band of Raiders ran it in together. Not sure if anyone has any pics of it. This experience was a total blast and royal bitch all at the same time.
Probably the most grueling race I’ve ever done. I’ve still got a thing going on in my nose and throat: like I’d been eating fire or something. Yet another one of those times when you dig down, way deep and see what you’re made of. I can’t tell you how awesome it was to be a part of this team and the running community. We leaned on each other and helped each other and other teams. All runners we encountered were uber supportive. Definitely could not have done this without them.
Under better conditions, this relay would have been tough. Under the extreme heat we had, it was a beast. We conquered the beast! If you’ve never done a relay, you definitely need to add it to your bucket list!
Special thanks to our sponsors! Aspaeris Pivot Shorts, MyRaceragz, Polar Bottle, Bondiband, Body Glide, GU, Blue Steel Sports, Knee Socks and Running Chics! You are all the bomb!
Man, it was hot. I was feeling for ALL my racing peeps this weekend! What a fun experience though – I really want to do this next year…
The heat this weekend was killer! You and your team kicked butt regardless.
As brutal as this sounds, it also sounds AWESOME. What an epic experience!! It stinks that you were slammed by heat, but that just makes the story better. And I LOVE the team name! 🙂
Well done!
Sleep deprivation, heat, and running around the clock, whew! Definitely would be digging deep to power through. Congrats on doing it! Perfect timing, as I’m just getting my bucket list together… I think I need to add a relay!
Congratulations!! The heat was killer this weekend and you did it all through that!!
Seeing all of those runners coming into the exchange dying of heat and just completely beat was so awful, but so exciting that they were almost done. Your team was awesome, despite the awful conditions.
AHHH!!! CONGRATS! sounds like you all had a blast and definitely conquered the relay in some tough elements. ragnars are my all time fave running experience:)
Great job!!! Those were some extreme conditions but you all did great! I’m glad you enjoyed yourself 🙂
Congrats to the team for pushing through a tough, hot relay! I hope if nothing else you were able to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery that course has, I was marveling it the year I helped work the relay as Ragnar was taking it over. Such lovely trails!
Nice work Panty Raiders!
This sounded so fun and brutual, my kind of race
Love the outfits and congrats! So awesome:)
So glad to hear that you had a great time despite the heat. This makes me even more excited for my first relay in August!
LOVE the name! And a big congrats for this! What a fun experience. I think moms who have been through sleep dep. with babies do really well at these races!
I am running Ragnar DC this fall and can’t wait. I missed out last year and my team won by over 4 hours. Hope we can repeat this year!!
Congratulations!!!! That sounds completely awesome!
I’m jealous of the van rotation, because the relay I’m doing this weekend has only 1 van!
no lie i wish i had been able to to ragnar with you instead of the half. They are so fun!! complete bummer I didn’t get to meet you though 🙁
Congratulations! Every time I read a Ragnar report, I get the urge to run one. Someday!!!
It would be so fun to do this with a bunch of runners! Didn’t it feel great to be done with your final leg? Man, when I was last year I was so ecstatic!!!
Every time I do a relay (all whopping 2 :)) I say I’ll never do another – they are utterly exhausting. Yet, there’s just nothing like that whole team comaraderie and it always pulls me back in (well, the 2nd time). Last year I did a very hilly (mountainy) relay in the worst heat so I understand what you’re saying about draining ya. At least we don’t have mosquitoes :).
Great job, girlfriend! I’m glad you got the opportunity to do it and finished well despite the obstacles. Relay: check!
xo
I could not agree more on where to start with a Ragnar recap- there is simply too much to even put the experience into words. Way to battle the heat and rock the Ragnar!
looks like it was a great time!
OMG the name and outfits are cracking me up. YOU ROCK. Now I want to get out there and do one of these races – the experience sounds so worth it. Congrats to you and your panty ladiess!!!
Sounds like a blast. Love the team name! Makes me want to run a relay so bad. I should stop reading recaps of it.
My stupid computer will not let me know when you post. I hate that crap. I really would like to follow your posts. Anyway – looks like a good time to me. Really like the team name. Peace and Godspeed
Why are relays always run in hellish conditions? And why do we feel like we’ve had the time of our lives when we’ve finished? It’s one of those mysteries that will probably never be solved.
Loved reading this. I always love to read about the adventures you are having Marcia!
Congrats and Great Job!!!
Yep, that’s the usual perfect Marcia report! I love how you say it all without saying too much. Relays are great fun–and now this one’s off the bucket list (until you do the next one!).
I can not say ENOUGH how inspired I am by the camaraderie of the relay.
LOVE INSPIRED COVET 🙂
When you deathmarch the last mile you KNOW you’ve run your heart out! Sounds like a fun race, great job!
Relays are fun. I did a very hot one too. Flew through your city on my way to CO and back.
lake Superior is massive!
This is hilarious! You ladies in what appears to be your undies!!!! I love it 🙂 and I’ve never done a ragnar but I soooooo want to. I did that one 30k relay and it was soooo much fun!
So, so cool, Marcia! What an experience! Love the uniforms – very cute and clever. Sounds like a definite must-do.
That sounds like a challenging blast! It also sounds like you had so much fun, that wasn’t your last 🙂
Wow, sounds crazy and certainly tough! Congratulations on finishing!
This looks like so much fun! I’m glad you had such a great run, and I may also never learn to not go out too fast. I feel like it’s because I’m optimistic, not just stupid. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.:)
A tough and epic adventure. Congrats on finishing.
Dinner at 02.00 a.m.: never had such experience!
Great uniforms.
You are a troop of touch chickies! That sounds just plain grueling, but you lived it up and made the most of it. What an experience! Congrats to the team!
What an epic adventure!!! I’ve got a Ragnar on my list, congrats! Hope you’re feeling better : )
Sounds fun and brutal all at the same time! Congrats!!
It looks like it was incredible and adventure to say the least! How fun to do something new and different. I love that our sport never gets old, that there is always some new goal or distance to conquer . I have always wanted to do a relay, certainly on my bucket list but after reading your recap it is rapidly moving to the top. Congratulations you and your team on a great race!
This sounds like a great experience that you’ll remember for years to come!