I won!

Ok, I didn't actually "win," technically, but I had a great time! I'm telling you, these relay races are where it's at. So much fun. I had a few people in my van that I didn't know very well, but we sure know each other now. 24 hours together in a stinky van will do that for you.

My first leg was 6.5 miles and started at I think 2:30ish in the afternoon. The weather was misty and cool. It's a really good thing the race was so well marked because I only saw 3 other runners the entire time. I was hitting solid 7:30 min milesthe whole way until I got stopped at two stoplights in a row for several minutes about a mile from the finish. So irritating!

Anyway, My 2nd leg was 5.5 miles through farmland at 11:30 at night. It smelled like poop out there, but no stoplights so that was good. I passed several more people on this leg, but couldn't make it past the chick in front of me. I stayed with her for the first 3 or 4 miles though at between a 7:15 and 7:30 pace, but then had to let her go. I finished at an average 7:38 per mile.

Yeah, so the last leg I was out of energy AND there was an out and back portion, which is just mentally demoralizing. Luckily it was only 3.5 miles. The people who thought it was 6 were mistaken. I slowed to maybe an 8:15 on this one and it was clear that I'd spent everything on the first two legs. This picture is of me just finishing the third leg. I'm a lot happier than I look in the picture.

In conclusion, everyone should run a relay race. This was my 5th one. I've done Hood to Coast in Oregon 4 times and this was my first time doing a Ragnar relay. They're all over the place.  It was much less crowded and better marked and just a fantastic time. I can't wait for next year.

Now I