Ragnar 2019 By The Numbers

I know that most of you haven't done a relay race and the whole idea of it is confusing -- confusing as to WHY would anyone want to do this, and confusing as to HOW it all works. Thanks to my 1,000 plus photos with time stamps, I thought I'd share how it all goes down and maybe help it all make sense!

It really is a crazy idea -- 12 runners (for most teams - 6 for ultras - 2 for those couple of legit crazy teams) split up a 200 mile course. Each person runs 3 times. Van 1 sets out first with each person running once, then we hand off to Van 2 for their 6. We repeat this until we are done. It is non-stop action. Sleep is very minimal, bathing is pretty non-existent, a lot of us can be found brushing our teeth in the parking lots in the early mornings. You live out of a bag. You forget to eat and drink. You have the absolute time of your life! You make new friends that you didn't even know existed before you lived together in a van! So here is how Glory Daze did the 2019 Ragnar Northwest Passage!

For Heather and I, our Ragnar adventure began Wednesday evening around 7:30pm when she arrived at my house for our pre-relay sleepover. We made sure our bags had everything packed. I finished off preparing 2.5 batches of Rice Krispy bars for the team. Heather had a tea party with Katura.

THURSDAY 

I had Katura at school extra early Thursday morning, and by 7:45am we were on the road with Shawn heading to Beaverton, Oregon - via Subway and Dutch Bros. Priorities! Around 10am we were picking up Sara in Albany, and continuing on our first leg of this trip!

11:24am: We have two roomy 15 passenger vans in Beaverton and are on our way to Amber Dawn's house to take out a row of seats in each van and get loaded. While Shawn and Sara drove the vans I made a detour to steal Jenn away from her kitties.

1:19pm: Van 2 (Hope, Amber Dawn, Sara and Heather) is on their way to pick up other Shawn and Savannah, while Van 1 is not 5/6 of the way full with Shawn, Michael, Dustin, Jenn and Ronda. Washington here we come!

6:02pm: 1 hour behind schedule now, Van 1 has Jack in the Box while waiting for Dan to arrive at the post-race hotel across the street.

7:50pm: Van 1 is having the mandatory safety briefing at Bellingham High School - and shopping for Ragnar souvenirs!

9pm: The vans are reunited at Boundary Bay Brewery for pre-race dinner -- that didn't seem to really consist of all that much food. There was a cool little music group playing though. And beer. I'd like to have stayed longer and hung out with the team, but knowing I was runner 1 and we had to travel in the early morning, my nerves were running too crazy to sit back and relax. Part of van 1 left early to hit Target for some last minute food and drinks for the race, with the rest of the team reuniting together at Motel 6 around 11pm. Teammates, I humbly apologize for Motel 6. I'll do better next time!!

FRIDAY

4:45am: My alarm went off. I quickly got ready for our Van 1 departure.

5:30am: Van 1 leaves Bellingham and heads to Blaine, Washington - the last spot in the US before crossing into lovely Canada.

6:18am: We officially have the slap bracelet that will be passed from runner to runner.

7:15am: Our race begins!!

You can find me in the hot pink shirt off to the right!

10:01am: The first phone call to a locksmith as we figure out how to get back into our van. EEK!!

10:39am: Donnie the locksmith arrives!

10:55am: Jenn, Dustin and Ronda are back on the road. Michael has finished running. Shawn is out for his run, Michael and Dan are catching a ride to the next exchange to meet Shawn when he finishes.  Meanwhile, van 2 is having breakfast!

1:24pm: Bellingham High School for our first major exchange -- and our first sighting of the Colonel! Attention Ladies!!

1:45pm:  Jenn hands off to Shawn in Van 2. Van 1 gets to rest, Van 2 is on deck and running!

2:30pm: Van 1 gets their food on at Red Robin. Some may have enjoyed adult beverages. Some may have also colored the kid's menu and made a paper airplane. All may have gorged on French fries and campfire sauce!

4:56pm: Van 1 Shawn gets some rest. He started out sleep deprived and was our main driver. Let the man sleep!

6:45pm: Savannah finishes her run, handing off to Ronda. Van 1 is back on the course while Van 2 gets to rest.

SATURDAY

12:58am: Jenn finishes her second run, handing off to van 2 Shawn. Van 2 is back on the course for those crazy, awesome middle of the night runs. Van 1 is heading to Oak Harbor High School. Dan and Michael will sleep in the van. Shawn and Ronda got sleep in the cafeteria. Jenn and Dustin found another place inside to rest.

5:00am: People are stirring in the cafeteria. The sound of zip lock bags and plastic-ish sleeping bags being rolled up annoys Ronda, so she is officially up and heading back to the van to brush her teeth and get ready to run.

7:00am:  Savannah hands off to Ronda again, with Van 1 now on their final runs of the relay.

8:36am: Michael finishes a smokin' 25 minute uphill 3.1 miles with an injured ankle - beating the van to the exchange. #Goals 

12:09pm: The final major exchange, Jenn hands off to van 2 Shawn. Van 1 is DONE! Van 2 is heading out for some final, hot miles!

3:19pm: After initially being mortified when Shawn told the guys "this lady over there wants a photo with you" .... I got my photo with The Colonel Angus! Only 3 years waiting for this!  

5:41pm: The vans have reunited and are crossing the finish line together!

7:08pm: A final good bye to the bunnies, the vans head to the infamous line to get on the ferry back to the mainland.

9:01pm: We are on the ferry!

Family shot!

10:24pm: We are at our hotel in Everett, Washington. Some go to sleep. Some go to Buffalo Wild Wings. Some hang out at talk. Some shower!!

SUNDAY

6:15am: Ronda is obnoxious and pounding on the door to the boys' hotel room. Departure time is in 15 minutes!!

7:15am: Space Needle sighting on the way home.

Some time prior to 12:00pm: Vans are reassembled.

12:15pm: Both vans have been returned. Everyone starts to head in various directions.

12:16pm: We already miss each other.

1:21pm: The last grouping officially leaves the Portland area on our final stretch home.

And there you go.... awesome, right?!?! It probably seems scary before you've done one, but once I did my first relay in 2014 I recall saying I could just stick to relays from now on (skipping standard races) and be happy. I still hold to that! So Ragnar 2019 is done ... what do you say we start to think about something else? Something like the Mother of All Relays... HOOD TO COAST! Only 30 days away!! I need to go pack.