Amateur Ragnar Relay Runner

About a month ago, Scott and I received a random message from our friend Richard. The message was a little hazy, something about late notice, a race lasting 24+ hours, 12 runners, 36 legs, and a reflective vest. Needless to say, we hemmed and hawed a bit. Scott needed to do a single looong run for his marathon training; I planned on going to SunFest in Ocean City with my MIL. It didn't look like it would work out.

The next day we got a desperate text, and before I knew it, Scott committed us to the race in a three-word comment on Facebook (my husband is a man of many words). A week and half later, we found ourselves standing in the chilly morning air of Rocky Gap National Park with a hundred other crazy people. Time flies when you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

With that as some background, I'd now like to tell you a story. A story of 197 miles, a giant white van, and six people, two-thirds being complete strangers.

First, the van. The back bench was for sleeping (aka my bench); the front bench was for recovery, complete with baby wipes and tennis balls (aka the grossest); the front passenger was the navigator; and whoever didn't fit any of those roles got to sit in the middle. Most notably, the van did not smell good.

The key to this story are the six Dental Runnin' Rammers runners the van carried:

First, Richard, aka "Pepto." Our fearless leader, runner number six, and owner of the much-coveted captain's shirt. I can't think of a better guy to wrangle up a team. He also completely schooled his last leg, setting a PR. 

Then we have Heather, aka "the volunteer." The leader's other half and the only one from our van to take on another leg (our team only had 11 people, not 12, so three people had to pick up extra legs). I'm pretty sure Heather had another nickname, but it escapes me at the moment. Heather was also runner numero uno and rocked it like a hurricane. Basically, she's my hero.

This is Spencer, aka "VERY hard." Spencer was runner number three. The first leg for this runner had difficulty ranked at the hardest level (very hard). To be sure, we didn't forget it. Spencer was also our videographer and drove the giant van like a champ. His past life working for the UPS definitely came in handy.

Now for runner number five - Josh, aka "The Pecerciser." Although the Ragnar had people from all walks of life, most people were pretty hard core (present company included). The hard core dudes typically ran sans-shirt, and not even a blind man could ignore the -1% body fat on these guys. Whilst driving by one particularly cut runner (you could seriously see how this guy's muscles worked. It was like watching a Discovery Channel special on the human body), Josh commented that this was the kind of guy his wife dreamed of. The ultimate pecerciser.

Then there was runner two, Scott, aka "the Hulk." Seriously, you don't want mess with this guy; just look at that mug! Scott's hulk-ability was so intense that not even his own toe nail could keep up. I can't lie, he totally killed it. That black little piggy did not go to market, but stayed home. It couldn't handle the hulk-ness of Scott overtaking the Ragnar.

Finally, there's me, yours truly, aka "livin' on prayer." I was the fourth runner. Right around the beginning of the race, I mentioned we should have a quick prayer. Then just before my second leg (around the o-dark-thirty of night), I asked Scott to say a prayer because I am deathly afraid of the dark. I kid you not, my most-hated household task is turning off the light before bed. My adrenaline rushes like no other, and how do you expect to fall asleep with nerves running like crazy? 

Any way, back on track: my third and final leg comes up, just before the dawning sun. This time, I say a desperate prayer for motivation. Even though I probably (definitely) slept the most (another nickname could've been sleepy - the most repeated phrase was probably "yeah, Mary's still asleep back there"), I was struggling. My mental and physical wills were shot. Six miles and a couple of hills stood between me and the sweet comfort of a very smelly van. Those six miles may as well been 50. 

Yet, I said the prayer and my teammates pulled me through the entire way. God granted me with incredible motivation in the form of five very cool cats. 

The Ragnar is probably one of the coolest things I've ever done. I mean, I've done a lot of cool stuff - like band in high school, or wearing pajamas all day - but this completely takes the cake. While Richard may have gotten other people to do it if we skipped out (actually, he probably couldn't, but nonetheless), I'm glad he asked us. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend (except for maybe at a spa... but I digress), than with a group of hilarious, supportive, stinky, sweaty, and sleep-deprived friends, both old and new.

So who is in for Ragnar 2011? All the cool kids are doing it (even the ones with their eyes closed; sorry, Rich. It was the only group one I had).