Four years ago a friend called me to tell me that he was putting together a team of 12 people to run from San Francisco to Napa Valley, it is a race called Ragnar and asked: “Do you want to join?” I’m sure you all know what my answer was: Yes! I did not know what I was getting into, but the sound of running from one city to another was music to my ears, and Napa Valley? Where do I sign?
What is Ragnar? It is a relay, a race that you do with friends to accomplish something together, a race that lasts two days and one night, and a race where your friends become your family. This is where your team is all you have and they are all you need to conquer the finish line. A race where sleeping is overrated, bathrooms are portal putty, eating become a luxury, but… breathtaking views and a lifetime experience that you will never forget. That’s Ragnar for me.
We do short and long distances, they are called Legs, we do 36 exchanges along the way, if you are a team of 12 and all goes as planned you get to run three times… but if something like one of the team member gets injured, the rest of the team will cover that leg. If you are an Ultra team you will definitely run more than three times. It is an incredible atmosphere, imagine 500 teams with 12 or 6 members each. Rushing to get to the finish line, and you can make it as competitive as you want it to be. I have to say that my team is very competitive so words like “you got this” “keep running” “we never give up” “great job” “amazing time” “you are a beast” come as natural as drinking water… we motivate each as much as we push our limits, and the best part is that you are allowed to whine and complain anytime you want.
For two days and one night you feel like you live at a runners community, where you get to mingle with elite runners, grandfathers and grandmothers, mothers and fathers, pregnant woman, all girls teams, all boys teams, all KINDS of runners with one goal in mind: CROSS the FINISH line TOGETHER.
The race is organized with two vans. Van number one has runners one to six and will cover the first legs, van number two has runners seven to twelve. When one team member is running the van can either drive ahead to the exchange point, or support the runner if available. While this is happening in van number one, van number two is taking advantage of this downtime, where they can eat? Sleep? Shower? Until the time comes for them and both vans meet again at major exchange points. And yes you repeat that two more times. The average miles for each leg vary from three miles to eleven miles, some are easy? hard? super hard?.
Runners have Ragnar signs all the way to guide you and to keep you motivated during the runs, which is great, and when you pass the 1 mile to go sign… even though it always appears to be more than 1 mile it gives you a little extra something and energy to finish the run.
I’m blessed to have the best team in the world! We have done so far Ragnar Napa Valley, Ragnar Chicago and Ragnar Cape Cod together and we have conquered the finish line like rock stars! This year was even more special for me, because my brother joined the gang. A friend cancelled and I called my brother to see if he wanted to do this crazy adventure with his sister and without much explanation he said YES, I guess you can all say it RUNS in the family.
I call this race “running with a purpose”… by the time you reach the finish line you will see the world, and the people with different eyes, with much more respect than before, you become the person that can accomplish just about anything you want… it is a lifetime experience and the best making memories machine you will ever find. The 12 runners become brothers and sisters, I called them my Ragnar FAMILY.
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