Ragnar So Cal

DISCLAIMER: For those of you that know me well, you know that one of my greatest strengths is that I am very spontaneous.  Some would say brave even.  Well, sometimes this can bite me in the butt--I didn't prepare very well for this race at all.  When Mike asked me to do the Ragnar I thought well, ok why not?...my good friend Christine told me this was her favorite race once so I better check it out!  Well, as I surely enjoyed myself, it could have been 1,000 times better had I known before what I know now...so I am writing about my experience and offering some free advice for those of you who may be headed to Ragnar bliss in the near future.  I highly recommend it!!  It is a really really fun race that tests your limits and allows you to be a kid again.

The Rompompachomp Dance!

El Capitano Mike-8 minute miler w/no training

Ok so last weekend was the Ragnar So Cal.  The route was 200 miles from Huntington Beach down to Coronado.  We ran as a team of 12 runners and ran 3 legs each.  We left Thursday night for Anaheim and that's when the excitement started as we packed 9 runners into one minivan (8 seatbelts)!  We ate in the "Pope Room" at Buca Di Beppo and had a great family style carb load with the pleasure of the Pope's head in the center of our table!  My favorite part of the meal was the calimari.  At dinner I finally put faces to names that I had been emailing for the last couple of months.  So first there was Mike Skidmore the Team Captain.  He is the crazy guy that got me into this Ragnar thing!  He is in my ward.  Our team name was ROMPOMPACHOMP!  Inspired by a wonderful dance coined by the well-known band "The Wiggles".  Apparently Mike really likes to do the Rompompachomp dance that is inspired by a big green dinosaur.  We had two huge vans that we decorated with dinosaurs and beautiful art compliments of the whole team but mostly Johanna.  In van 1 there was Ron Farnbach, Ray Robertson, Andy Ek, Jen Fifield, Matt Downs, and Trevor Downs.  In van 2 it was Me, Mike, Beau Lawler, Johanna and Ryan Darton (married), and Miguel Cervantes.  We slept at the Holiday Inn.  All of these people were friends of Mike.  Some knew each other and some didn't.  I didn't know a soul.  Not even Mike really!  I slept with Jen in a queen bed and couldn't sleep a wink because I was afraid to move all night.  Which brings up my 1st piece of advice: GO WITH THOSE YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN.  Even though you can luck out like I did to go with awesome people, you should remember--you will be with these people every minute for two days.  The race started at 11am on Friday April 15th and ended at 9pm Saturday night April 16th.  Lack of sleep, junkfood and smelling your own stink can get to you by the end.  But the misery is part of the fun, right?

Our awesome work of art

Of course I packed at the last minute and realized half way through that I had way too much stuff.  I also made the mistake of bringing three different bags.  I brought a purse, backpack and bag for clothes.  Not efficient in a van full of 6 people, food, water, running gear, sleeping bags, blankets and pillows.  I was losing things left and right--my ipod, camera, reflective vest, headlamp, phone...they were always in a different spot and if I ever do a Ragnar again this would be my 2nd piece of advice:  BRING ONE BAG.  Have everything in one central bag and don't bother with books to read, or journals to write in.  You won't use them.  It is true that you are in a van for hours waiting your turn to run.  But somehow the time goes fast.  You are driving throughout the course the whole time cheering on your runner.  You cheer and stop at a half way mark to hand your runner some water and shake a cowbell at them, and then you drive to the next exchange where the next runner will grab the wristband and start the next leg.  However, there are two vans and the first 6 runners go first so you are waiting for them race and this gives you a few hours to sleep or eat.

Me, Johanna and Ryan in our Ragnar t-shirts

One of the funniest parts of this race is the sleeping situation.  I was the last runner so after my run when I was all pumped was when my team was ready to sleep.  I think I may have slept a total of 30 minutes total in the 36 hours of the race if that.  The first time we crashed was at a house in Temecula.  Someone in our ward.  It was an incredibly nice place with an awesome pool and hot tub.  Mike, Beau and I were the only ones to do the hottub (DUMB!)   Ryan, Johanna and Miguel all went to sleep (SMART). Our second crash was in a beautiful park under a tree.  A lady asked us if we were in a "Sleeping Club"  Mike just smiled and said, "Yeah."  My 3rd piece of advice: SLEEP WHENEVER YOU CAN BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL BE SORRY!  I hardly slept at all and I was fine until the last 12 hours of the race.  The irritability and exhaustion and then the cramping set in...and my last run was miserable!!!

I love this picture of Ryan and Johanna

Our team started late and then fell behind on account of poor assessments of personal pace.  This references the next crucial piece of Ragnar advice: #4: MAKE SURE YOUR TEAM PUTS IN A CORRECT AVERAGE PACE PER RUNNER OR YOU WILL REGRET IT! This will make or break your experience.  It was very hot the first day we ran.  Our runners were running one minute slower per mile than usual.  This added up to 4 hours behind!  Since we all had such fast times listed to begin with we also started very late in the day.  This was another mistake in my opinion.  So on top of getting behind, we also started late, so we were about 6-8 hours behind where we should have been.  We missed all the freebies, parties and really what is most fun I think--being in all the hoopla of the 500 teams!  Plus since I was the 12th runner, I was waiting all day and into the night to run.  I ran in the dark twice--fun once but not twice!

Starting my first 8.1 miles Fri. at 9pm

Finishing--lots of cheers and support from my team!

Also I put in a "wishful thinking pace" that I didn't even touch.  I put an 8:45 pace thinking that I will be fast because it's a race. I didn't count on the fact that I would be running in the dark-sometimes pitch black on uneven trails and gravel.  I should have studied the course closer.  Free advice #5 STUDY YOUR COURSE BEFORE CALCULATING YOUR PACE.  Also I didn't factor in the lack of sleep and what that would do to me.  My first run of 8.1 miles (8pm) I ran a 9:07 pace.  My second run was better and during the day 6.1 miles (7am) at an 8:50 pace.  My last run was in the dark (8pm) at a 10 pace.  I was so exhausted by the end!  I felt like it would never end!  The last few hours of the race I was ready to put a bullet in my head.  I seriously wanted it to be over.  Then after we crossed the finish line, elation resumed, and I was a happy camper again!  It was incredibly fun to cross the finish line with 12 other runners! 

Team Rompompachomp!

  

Beau Lawler sporting the Ragnar Tat

Now for more lighthearted advice and some personal stories.  The other day we were on the freeway half way to Disney Land when nature called (or should I say blew a blow horn).  I told Steve to just stop anywhere fast (please).  There weren't any nice places to stop with bathrooms inside.  All of the places were old.  He had stopped before so he was familiar.  All of the restrooms were on the outside of the buildings.  Gross.  Have you ever stopped at one of these?  Well they are always heinously dirty and often run down and abused.  Maybe used as meth labs, crack houses or who knows.  Well the one we stopped at was no exception.  It was on the outside of a Weinersnitzle.  Sorry I have no idea how to spell that.  My point is that it was sick.  Disgusting bathroom.  But guess what?  I have done a Ragnar.  Yes I have.  Nothing scares me.  NOTHING--not even this scary bathroom can ruin my chances of successful pooping.  Nothing compares to how gross it is to go no.2 in a filled to the brim port-o-potty that has been ransacked by 1,000's of runners (500teams x 12=6,000runners).  Seriously, and also to do it after not eating what you are used to eating and going on demand because you don't want to be stuck having to go on a run...etc. etc.  The poop situation becomes such a priority and such a normal topic of conversation during the Ragnar.  At least in our van it did.  Passing gas and pooping was so natural to discuss and complain about.  So, my 6th piece of Ragnar advice: DO IT IN THE SPIRIT OF CAMPING OUT.  No pre-madonna's please.  Don't be surprised if things aren't just so.  This race is not for the particular, choosy, picky or OCD.  BONUS:  If you have a hard time going potty in public places this race will cure you of this issue for life!

I loved this leg--Beau's leg in San Diego

The two times that my team was supposed to sleep, I could not.  I was in misery both times.  I had just finished my run so I was pumped with adrenalin and the first run I had taken caffein.  I had a really hard time settling down and turning my brain off.  As soon as I was beginning to slumber I was awakened by Mikes voice saying it was time to roll.  The first time we were in a house and it was dark.  The second time was the funniest.  I was so tired, that I just grabbed my blanket.  I didn't bother to grab my sleeping bag.  It was a gorgeous, hot sunny day after all!  I could not fathom going to sleep.  Two people on my team brought an inflatable air mattress.  Highly recommended!  They slept like babies.  I however had forgotten my pillow at the hotel the first night.  I was so tight from running, stopping, sitting in a van, running a second 6...sitting...I did my TENS machine for a while and tried to sleep but just couldn't.  I was so uncomfortable on the grass in the middle of a park with people walking around staring at us and kids playing nearby.  I was ready to pack it in.  But I had about 12 more hours to go at that point!  I was starting to get grumpy.  Advice #7: MAKE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED AND HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY.  Use heat to relax you at night?  Bring an automatic heat wrap.  Have a bad back?  Bring an air mattress.  A big mistake I made was to not sleep.  I paid for it dearly in those last 12 hours.  I thought I would die of irritability, boredom, anxiousness and exhaustion all rolled into one.  But I think the misery brought me to a new level of appreciation for a warm comfy bed and soft pillow to sleep on at night.  It gave me a new appreciation for my family and for life itself!  Oh man I almost never have been so happy to end a race in my life!!  When I got home to my front door with a "Welcome Home" sign written by my 8-year-old daughter Riley, I wanted to weep.  When I saw my husbands face I almost cried.

La Jolla was so beautiful!!!

  
For me, the best part of the race was the zaniness all around us and seeing adult runners have kid-like fun with abandon.  I absolutely loved joining my team members in covering our van with polka dots, one-liners and dinosaurs.  Just the act of painting a van is an experience you don't get every day.  I enjoyed giggling at all of the different vans and costumes.  There were so many creative themes and crazy funny outfits.  My hat was off to the ones who really went all out...and were over the top.  Of course I tried to get the ones that I liked the most on film.  Another fun part was the overall feeling in the van.  There was no serious talk.  It was about having fun, laughing and goofing off.  Believe it or not, this was something that I should have prepared for.  I am a serious runner.  I had a hard time letting my hair down because I have never run a race like this before.  I wanted to run well, get good times and win.  Ha ha!...this may sound funny, but I wasn't prepared to enjoy myself!  Which brings me to my next thought--#8 DON'T TAKE THIS RACE TOO SERIOUSLY-SERIOUSLY HAVE FUN!  Leave your Garmin at home.  Go back to your college days (maybe even High School) and see how much fun you can muster up.  Maybe pretend you are 15 again or run all your legs backwards...I don't know, just have a blast!

Silly dentist!

These guys were supposed to be "Ravers"

"Project Rungay" 

One of the things our team captain did was offer some awesome awards for certain categories--not ones that you would think, but "Ragnar" language awards:


1.  Number of Deaths.  Translation: Number of people who pass you (sadly!) during a run.


2.  Number of Kills.  Translation:  Number of People you pass and force to eat your dust.


3.  Who personified "Rompompachomp" the best.  Translation:  Mr. or Mrs. Ragnar Rompompachomp.

Me after my first leg which was on uneven terrain in pitch black in parts--crazy!

Here are some other ideas offered by fellow teammates:



-The person who was the most sunburned.

-The person who did the rompompachomp dance the furthest during a run.


- Number of Gu containers consumed during the race.

- Messiest van.

- Grossest and most unidentifiable object found in van during the race.

- Number of mushy, brown bananas found in your van.

- Number of times you felt sick during the race and wanted to puke your mushy banana all over the van.

- Number of drugs taken for pain during the race.  (Ray - at least 8 Tylenol, 4 Advil, 4 Tums, 2 Percocet, & 1 Dramamine)

- Number of donuts eaten as a reward for running the race.

- Number of times you heard Ron mention that we HAVE to stop for donuts at the donut store along his leg. (at least 28! )

- Number of minutes late to meet your incoming relay runner.  (Ray - 10 minutes - I  guess I was busy finding and taking drugs! )

- Number of miles that you ran over the amount you didn't think you could run.  (Ray - 12 of the 14 miles I ran!)

- Number of stinky guys you had to put up with in a van for 2 entire days.

- Number of runner costumes (or lack of costume!) you were grossed out by seeing during the 2 days of the race.

- Number of ideas you came up with for using our Pick Ax (found in van #1) during the relay race.

- Number of people in your van who got sick from stuffing our faces with 5 Guys hamburgers and fries after running the race.

- Number of times you thought Jen Fifield was a Pure Angel that would be admitted directly into the highest degree of heaven for the wonderful act of kindness of supplying a comfortable bed to you during the relay race when you needed it the most.

- Number of times you thought your legs might seize up into a massive muscle spasm and you fall to the ground and pass out.

Our whole team at the finish--we ran through the finish line together!

Taking a look at my medal

Ragnar So Cal 2011

So so happy to be across the finish line--and love my medal!  It's the only medal I think I'll get that doubles as a bottle opener...

Here is the email our Team Captain Mike sent us about the RESULTS:

"I know it seemed like we did really bad since we finished so late but we actually did decent considering a couple hiccups with exchanges and lost runners/poorly marked courses.
Our final time was 34 hrs 43 min, which works out to be a 10:24 average pace. (again that includes the 20-30 minutes lost at exchanges and the several extra miles we ran) Our official estimated pace was 9:38 so we were only 45 sec/mile off.  Several teams went over 40 hrs, yikes!!
We placed 332nd out of 475 teams, so we still beat 140ish teams!!
Cant believe we didnt win best team name or best van....wtf (why the face?)
Planning on next year!!!"