Ragnar 2011

Being part of a 12 girl running race that was 200 miles long was never something I thought of or even thought I COULD be a part of, but I was wrong. This weekend the Lunachick's completed the Southern California Ragnar Relay from Huntington Beach to Coronado Island. It. Was. Awesome. To be honest, I was scared out of my mind to be a part of it. My leg distances were 2.7, 7.1, and 4.3. My first run was at 11am, and it was really, really hot running on a black pavement running trail. There was a lot of self-talk out there. And some prayers. I made it under a 13 mile pace, which was good for me. I ran toward my team-mates as they cheered me on and it felt so good. My second run was around midnight. Nicole was the runner before me, and she literally climbed a mountain, so that on my leg, I got to run downhill. So, when I say that she made my 2nd leg possible, I really mean it. I can't tell you how many people passed my as I made my way though Fallbrook, and I can't tell you how many people came from behind and said "keep it up!", "good job!", "you can do it!". The hard part was that the end of the leg was total chaos, I actually ran extra because I missed a sign, and so my 7.1 was more of an 8. Aerosmith, Justin Bieber, and Mika kept me company on the long, dark journey. By this time, I have MAJOR blisters developing. It was a few hours after that I realized there was gonna be a problem. My calves were so tight, my quads were sore, and had two MONSTER blisters....how in the world would I complete leg 3? So, I put on moleskin and wrapped my feet in duct tape to prepare for leg 3. THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE. I attemped to ascend a mountain that seemed to NEVER flatten out, with burning feet, and legs that didn't work. I was incapeable of running and so did the best fast walk I could. I was tired and feeling desperate. I made a friend, Tammy, who was celebrating her 50th birthday by doing the Ragnar. She was an angel. She encouraged me so much, and even gave me her water that her husband had brought her. I told her that was the nicest thing, and a blessing . I literally had to hold back tears as she handed me the water. She and I finished together, and I was toast. I ran into the exchange, where all 11 other Lunachick's were waiting. Anna M. came up to me and hugged me and I wept. Like, sobbing, hard-to-breath, wept. I was tired, upset, amazed by my team's love and my angel Tammy, and just DONE. Some of the highlights of the race-

-a bird wacking our windshield and getting stuck in the wiper blades, gross and funny

-catching a piece of pasta from another team in their van at a stoplight in my mouth.

-watching Nicole run up the biggest hill ever, several times, like a warrior

-standing out on a curn waving flags, and cheering on other teams as we waited for Mindi

-poop talk

-"that's what she said" jokes and text's

-meeting Biggest Loser, Eric

-watching Mindi push through on one of the hardest runs, she was so amazing -running through the finish line and the announcer saying "look how much energy they still have" thinking that we are really good fakers!

-underwear or no underwear discussions....

-people borrowing underwear

-the backseat dressing room

-anna's amazing flag skills

-being creative with reflector suspenders

-making a diet coke run with Julene, getting lost along the way back and not even caring because we were just slaphappy

-"fat man in a little coat!!!!"

-sharing our highlights in the car, and crying some more as we did so .....

The best memory is just the LOVE that I felt from my teammates! No drama, just support and encouragement. They could have had a faster teammate, but just encouraged and supported and shared in one of the best experiences I have ever had!