Reasons Why Ragnar is better than a Regular Race

1. You get to run a 200+ mile race without having to run all 200 miles. You and eleven other people assign yourselves three legs and each runner covers around 9-20 miles. The race consists of 36 exchange points where you pass your 80’s style slap-bracelet onto the next runner.2. You’ll have eleven new best friends. I signed up for my first Ragnar after begging my parent’s neighbor to find a spot for me on her team. She came through and pretty soon I was part of a facebook group of strangers, planning out who was bringing diaper wipes and bananas for our Blaine to Langley trek. On Friday morning I met that group of strangers and we headed north. We were all friends by Bellingham.3. Running at different times a day. You get to run at......sunset......sunrise... ...middle of the night......and the blazing heat of mid-day.4. Your team is responsible for you, and you them. There are (practically) no water stations so each van is responsible for keeping their runner hydrated and happy. This meant stopping every few miles and waiting for your runner so you can offer......laughs......hugs......water......and photography skills to take that picture at the top of the gnarly hill you just conquered.5. You need a diverse skill set. It’s not enough to just be a good runner. A successful Ragnar team must have the skills to…

• Decorate the vans.

• Maneuver be-dazzled vans through crowded exchanges.

• Be able to fix car glitches while on the run. When our driver was running we somehow turned all the dome lights on. Despite scouring the owner’s manual we couldn’t get them off. When we met up with him in the middle of his run he barely broke his stride as he reached through the window and turned off the lights, yelling “This is the opposite of support!” as he continued on.
• Read maps (and owner’s manuals) and give directions. U-turns are your friends.
• Analyze and update data. You are constantly calculating pace and mileage to figure out where your van needs to be when.

•  Be a social media pro. Our data plans all felt a little shutter over the weekend. #RagnarPNW

6. You do get to sleep! 7. Side games: These include keeping track of kills (runners you pass) and tagging other cars with magnets featuring your team logo.8. Running bonding moments9. After you finish as a team, all your medals fit together. Awww…