I have just had the most fun of my entire life I am not just saying that. I literally have not had more fun ever At first I was really looking forward to writing this recap. I thought, “I get to relive the entire experience!!” Then after a few days, I realized, “Crap! There is NO WAY that I can properly relay everything that happened last weekend!” The order seemed too tall and daunting. But here I go anyways, I will try and capture all of the awesomeness and badassery that occurred… 2015 RAGNAR CHICAGO RECAP 12 people + 2 vans + 200ish miles |
what an understatement…
Things had gone so smoothly for our team all winter and spring. No injuries. No need to replace team members. Then about a week before the race, we had to replace two team members. We all reached out to friends and we finally got two replacements, but we needed an existing runner to switch vans to make it work. I like to make people happy, so I really wanted to offer to switch. But two of my closest ladies were in my van and I really didn’t want to move. I also really liked the legs I was running and didn’t want to give those up. If no one else had offered, I would have switched. But I’m so glad I didn’t.
Come race day, we thought we were smooth sailing. Van 1 rented their van Thursday afternoon. We watched the pictures and updates on Facebook detailing their journey to Madison to spend the night and wake up at the crack of dawn to start the whole adventure at 7:30am. We saw the pictures of Runner 1 starting and I was getting excited to leave with Van 2 at 10am. Then at 8:43am, Kathy sends us a message:
“There is no van for us”
WHAT?!?!
Most people rent 12-15 passenger vans for Ragnar. That way you have lots of room for your bags, sleeping bags, pillows, coolers and extra room to sprawl out and sleep. When my husband did the race, his team took a minivan and he said it was cramped and smelly and that we should definitely spring to rent a larger vehicle. The fact that we had to now scramble was unsettling. I was packed and ready to go, but having to leave earlier than planned so I could just be at Kathy’s house so we could figure this thing out, left me with negative energy. Kim, one of the teammates that I had never met before graciously offered to let us take her minivan and we made it work.
We headed up north to Lake Mills, WI to exchange 6 where we’d meet Van 1 at the end of their first set of legs and where our runner 7 (Kathy) would begin our first set. Energy was high and the positivity, togetherness and love of running was tangible in Lake Mills, WI that morning. We got our bibs, watched a safety video and waited.
Finally, we got word that Runner 6 was close by so Kathy got in place and not soon after, she got slapped with the 90’style slap bracelet that serves as the baton that is passed continuously for 200ish miles. We cheered her away and then headed for the van to meet her at the next exchange. We made it through our first set of exchanges pretty easily, although one exchange was very nondescript and it turned out that Kerry ended her run too early and then Kim ended up increasing her leg almost a mile! But these ladies were so flexible, so ready to have fun, so ready to support each other that it didn’t become a big deal.
My first leg would be the first leg of the evening in which night-time protective gear would be required. So I had to be all decked out in a reflective vest, head lamp and tail-light.
All of this leg’s miles were on the Glacial Drumlin trail. It was a pretty run. Much better than just going through the downtown of a small town. I made pretty good time that leg, 9:21 pace for my 6.8 miles which I was happy about. I got to my first exchange and slapped Runner 1 so they could all get started up again. I was super happy to see my oldest friend, Rya and her family at that exchange since they live in that town. I got back into the car and we headed to the next major exchange where we could change clothes, shower if we wanted to and there were even places to sleep. Long story short: there was no sleeping happening for me, at least those two days. I tried. I brought ear plugs and a face mask and I was tired, but even when the dude next to me was snoring on the floor of the exchange and Kim and I tried sleeping in the van by ourselves, I still think I got less than an hour of true sleep. And that was it for the rest of the trip. Our other 4 team mates got us up around 12:30 am because Kathy was up soon again. This part of the trip is the haziest for me to remember. I saw every one of my team mates to their starts because I just couldn’t sleep. That was exciting and I’m thankful for that. I figured that I’d just crash after my second run. |
We were finally done with our second leg. We decided to drive close by the town where the next major exchange with Van 1 was and find something to eat for breakfast. We settled on Denny’s. Pancakes, coffee and eggs never tasted better. It was our first real meal of the whole time. It boosted me physically and mentally to sit and actually eat.
By the time our last set of legs started, it was close to 1pm. I don’t know how we did it, but we were a little ahead of schedule! As each of my team mates finished their legs I could see in their faces their sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that they were done. I got a little nervous about being the very last runner. “What if I am too tired and take way too long?” “What if they’re all waiting for me and getting impatient?” I didn’t want to let my team down.
I get the sense that this is true for van 1 as well, but the vibe in Van 2, the van I was in was outstanding. I had my two closest ladies with me, so there was guaranteed fun. Another one of our team mates I had met at some outings before, but didn’t know that well. I met the last two teammates the day of the race. I can’t say this emphatically enough: these ladies made this experience for me. Everyone was so supportive, flexible and just fun. I literally laughed so hard those last two days, my abs hurt. We shared laughter, stories, wisdom and too many embarrassing details and bodily functions to name. And it was amazing.
As I got ready to start my last leg, I was pretty pumped. I was nervous, yes, but I wanted to just enjoy it. I knew that I’d be running along Lake Michigan for the beginning and end and then in the city for most of the middle. I wasn’t going to be concerned about time. I was going to have fun. I started at Northwestern University and as I ran away from my team mates, knowing that when I saw them next that they’d be close to the finish line, I was a little sad. It was almost over! But I shook it off and got going. |
So alive.
This race was one of the hardest things I’ve done. But it was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. After I came home, I had more adventures. I kayaked down the Nippersink and tipped my kayak over for the first time ever. It took at least 15 minutes to get myself up the current to rescue my paddle so that I could get back into my boat and carry on. Thursday I went running with the MUDD runners in Sterne’s Woods and face planted in front of everyone when I tripped on a root sticking out of the ground.
“Geez,” I thought to myself as I got back into line with the others. “Maybe I just need to live in a protective bubble. Then I wouldn’t be getting myself into these crazy situations.”
After the embarrassment settled, I realized that up until 3 years ago, I had lived in a bubble where I didn’t take risks and I didn’t push myself. That was no fun. Living in that bubble I was tired, overweight and unhealthy.
Listen to me know, hear me later: Life is definitely better outside the bubble.
Thank you so much for sticking with this post this long! I know it was a whopper this week. Marathon training is in full swing! More about that next time! Have an awesome week, friends!