Ragnar CO Adventures: The Race Continues

It’s throwback Thursday!!

What a great day to post the last bit of team High Nuuns racing experience in Colorado. It was nearly two weeks ago now. And just to keep you updated on the wedding…it’s in 2 days!! Woot Woot!! OMG I can’t wait!!

Spoiler Alert: Let’s just say I don’t like running in the dark in Colorado near interstates……

So, as you know from my previous post, I wasn’t feeling so great. It didn’t matter if I ate anything, it was going in one way and coming out another (sorry for the TMI). After finishing my third leg, I tried to snooze for a little. No sleep, but I did get to lay down. Meghan does the best at displaying what it looks like when you sleep in a van with 5 other girls……

Not much for comfort, but it got the job done. All the racing two exchange zones was killing me. We were moving so fast it seemed. At one exchange there was no bathrooms and it happened to be mine and Holly’s exchange, so I was praying I could hold it all in.

Leg 4: 3:11 a.m., an easy run with very little climbs and some downhill

Holly handed off to me, but failed to mention it was the scariest run she’s ever had. Once the slap bracelet was on, I was off. I was a little nervous, because on the way to the exchange runners were running on the interstate in all directions, but then there were headlamps below the interstate. It was 3 a.m. and I didn’t know if I was just losing it or everyone else was. Ned asked at the exchange what was with the runners on the interstate. The volunteer told me “When you get to the fork stay right and you’ll be fine. It’s about 2 miles in.” I didn’t want to end up lost in the dark or on the interstate so 2 miles, right at the fork was repeated over and over in my head.

After leaving the exchange it seemed to get darker and darker. I couldn’t see anything, even with my knuckle lights and headlamp. Runners were slim and I was trying so hard to find blinking lights, to no avail. I followed the bike trail into a PITCH DARK tunnel!! I was freaking out. I was so close to turning around and calling my team. I felt like I was swallowed by a dark hole. I didn’t know if there was anything or anyone in the tunnel with me. My Garmin couldn’t get any signal in the tunnels and kept beeping trying to locate satellites. I had NO idea how far I had gone, so 2 miles, right at the fork was pointless information.

Just picture this: Bike trail with rushing river to your left after a drop, and a huge cement wall and covering to your right leading up to the interstate. There’s no way of escaping if anything or anyone tries anything!! It’s completely dark out and you can hardly see 5 feet in front of you!! This is all I could think about. I caught up to some runners but they were walking at times. I wasn’t going to walk, because I wasn’t wasting any more time in the dark abyss. I don’t know whether I righted at the fork, but I eventually made it to a rest area, which was the exchange zone and about cried. The first words out of my mouth to Holly “NEVER AGAIN.” And I meant it.

4.6 total miles (or abouts since my Garmin didn’t calculate in the tunnels) 31 minutes (about)

After that run, I was cured of any diarrhea, headaches and nausea. I don’t know if the dark scared it out of me, but I was feeling so much better. A bit shaky and frightened but better. I was happy to see sunlight before my next leg.

Holly was up again, which meant it was time for me to get ready. We seemed to rush to exchange zones throughout the entire race, because there were so many short runs. This made for some interesting means of changing. There wasn’t always time to change at the exchange, so that meant changing in the van and resulted in the following challenges:

We cheered Holly on as she flew done the hill.

Leg 5: 7:22 a.m. Easy flat run with little elevation gain

My short 2.1 miles was tough on the overworked legs. My legs definitely felt like heavy weights again, but that’s to be expected after 20 some miles in less than 24 hours. After a short 14:19 minutes I was rolling into the exchange. 

Before racing to meet Lisa. We had a country photo op.

Magical!! #cowgirlup

One leg left. It felt so great to have one leg left to do, but also daunting since it was my longest and hardest leg in the heat.

It called for bells and whistles…okay maybe just the bells made by my wonderful team.

I realized it was my last race as a single women.

I was motivated to finish strong and tried to mentally prepare myself for what lied ahead.

Last leg: 1122 feet of elevation gain

I was only allowed in the exchange zone, no team. I walked to the exchange zone with water in hand and muttered a few prayers. Holly came in, I gave her a big hug, and began my journey.

I will say this was the hardest run I have ever done. On an average day it would be tough, especially during summer heat with no shade and a gradual climb. After running nearly 30 miles it was extremely difficult. The trail seemed to go forever.

I never thought I would reach the exchange zone. I was running at a slow pace and I knew it. My legs weren’t going any faster. I was cramping in my calves.

I looked down at my Garmin and saw I was at mile 8. I wanted to cry. I didn’t think I could make it another 1/2 mile. I caught up to a gentlemen and kept pace with him. We talked to try to pass the time and forgot about our aching bodies. He wasn’t entirely coherent, and was saying some goofy things. I asked if he was alright and gave him some water. We stopped to walk up a steep incline and then began running again. We were definitely running more than we should have because of a trail detour. After we descended a steep hill, we were met with another steep climb less than a mile from the finish. We were pissed.

Again we walked up the incline for a ways, the steepest climb in all the run. As we grazed the top, we saw the exchange and we said “We can do this.” He said I was crazy for doing this 2 weeks before my wedding and as an ultra team. I agreed.

 

When I saw my team I was flooded with emotions. I was so thankful and blessed to have them there and to be done. I will be honest and say tears were shed. I couldn’t believe I had covered the 10.83 mile distance. Yes it was slow for me, 1:44:12, with a 9:44 avg pace, but I didn’t care. I was happy to be finished and I was blessed to have a team who believed in me and supported me along my entire personal 39.67 mile journey at Ragnar CO (as a team 192 miles).

We were going for under 30 hours to beat our Wasatch Back time. It was in the bag. Meghan had one of her toughest legs left and the last leg for our team, but we all knew she could do it. She is a phenomenal runner.

I changed into my bridal outfit, compliments of team High Nuun, and we waited for Meghan to come. (I loved my outfit!! The girls really made it a special racing experience)

We were dressed and ready for her arrival.

And just like that Ragnar CO was over. We were in the van heading back to Denver and our adventures had come to an end. Saying good bye is never fun or easy and I can honestly say I miss these girls so much!!

I am excited for what lies ahead for team High Nuun next. I wonder what challenge we’ll try next!! .