Count me in!

Hi! It's Jeni! I'm finally back up and running, as my laptop decided to try to commit suicide. Thankfully, it did not succeed and I finally have it back so I can post on the blog. You can only do so many things on an iPhone. Blogging is not one of them.

So I am so excited to be part of this team. I put a team together earlier this year and went to register only to find out the race had sold out the week before. I was so sad, as I really want to do this. So...when Katie told me Erin needed an entire van to fill, I jumped at it. I'm so thrilled to be spending a couple of days with some of my favorite people. However, that also creates one of my biggest fears of the race--that we will still like each other when we are all through the blood, sweat and tears of it. As my sweet husband can attest to, I get just a tad onery when I'm over tired, so I hope my dear friends will disregard and forgive any comments I make at three in the morning. I just can't be responsible for my actions at that time. Tee hee. In all honesty, I'm not all that concerned about it. My other fear is running in the dark. I've never done that and frankly wild animals and bad guys scare me. I'll have to do a couple of practice runs in my familiar neighborhood.

I look forward to meeting all of you Van 2 girls. I can't say enough good about my bunkmates in Van 1. Each one is an amazing wonder woman whom I so admire, and not just for her athletic ability. Every time I think about this race, I grin and get almost giddy, I'm so excited. I'm not a strong or fast runner--maybe even the weak link. I have no desire to do a full marathon, although I've done two half marathons. If I feel good and can function after a run, then I'm successful, despite my time. I want to do Ragnar for the experience as a whole, just to say I did it.

Since you probably want some pictures of me and my cute family (I'm not biased or anything), here we go...

Karen and I after running a marathon relay last September. This is what got me wanting to do Ragnar, it was such a fun morning with just the girls.

Since everyone else has a running picture, here's one of me after a 10k in Midway. This actually was my worst race ever. It was so hilly, I could barely walk the rest of the day!

My "bosses" in our favorite Kauai.

They keep me wanting to do good throughout my day, keep me on my toes, but don't neccessarily keep me sane.

1 month check in!

HELLO LADIES!!!!

Can you believe it? We only have 1 month! Who's ready? Who's getting ready? Who knows everyone on our team? (no one can answer yes to that one - it's a trick)

Want to get to know who's here? -Lindsay E. - Katie G. - Jenny O. - Megan T. - Melissa D - Erin B - Who's next? We are half way through the introductions so don't be shy.. post something

ok Next up... STUFF!!!!

Has car 1 found a car? I have a van rented for our second car but I seriously wake up in the middle of the night freaking out about being at the start line and not having all our stuff ready so please help me sleep :)

As far as team gear here is what we need and what I have:

1. Two (2) flashlights or headlamps - I think I have 2 I will double check

2. Six (6) reflective vests - I have 2 anyone else able to get one or two of these?

3. Two (2) LED lights- ”tail light/butt light” - I don't have any

So as far as food and odds and ends we found last year it was great to have a little sign up so we didn't all need to bring everything (as space is questionable) and we didn't overlap so I will put up pages over to the right for each car check back often and email me what you are interested in

Coming soon - how and how not to pack... with pictures and all (I know you are all secretly excited)

Hi I'm the missing Link

first ever race experience, and the only one in which I look like any kind of an athlete...Great Potato Half Marathon, spring 2004.

Ragnar duds for the TX race. Thanks to Erin and Lindsay we had stellar costumes and a party-all-the-time attitude!

This is my full time job, my purpose and my passion; Raising a bunch of crazy kids to be well-rounded and compassionate adults...not an easy job as you can see!

The best support team out there, my husband and best bud, John. He can work up a killer training schedule only to see it ignored. He funds my race entrance fees and my gear purchases, and he takes time off work so I can hang with the ladies and "run like a mother". Every race is dedicated to John, and to the effort I make to stay in a size 6 or smaller until he is too old to care what I look like; which will be NEVER. :)

Ha Ha. Erin from Texas was a running buddy and Best Buddy when we lived in Texas. Then we moved (again, we've moved every so often; like 10 times, in the last 16 years). Erin needed runners for this year's race. My neighborhood in Utah is full of great runners. Thus I am the link between Van 1 (the Utah neighborhood chickies) and Van 2 (the TX neighborhood running chickies and their amigas).

I am probably the oldest person on our team! Crazy!

I am mom to 6 and wife to 1. I love travel, service, exercise, creativity and fun. Though I don't like moving so much, I've been very blessed with incredible friends and unforgettable experiences.

This will be my 3rd Wasatch Back and my 4th Ragnar. The Ragnar TX race was by far the most fun, with Erin and Lindsay as team mates we had a roaring good time. Last year's race was certainly the most memorable as I and several of our team (all family members) struggled through the race while fighting the stomach flu. My oldest child was one of the strongest runners on our team, which did my heart some good (parenting a teenager is not an easy task, trust me).

Thanks to Erin and all her great planning, I know this will be a race we will all remember fondly. Thanks to each of you and your dedicated training I'm sure we will exceed our own expectations. So great to be one of you, thanks for the chance to run, sleep, repeat!

Inspiration...

Scenes from past Ragnars... Does this get you excited? I hope so!

The starting line for Wasatch Back

A funny sign from Texas (and, yes, we did have to watch out for livestock)

Katie, in her glamour, powering up hill in her stylish tutu

Erin, post race pizza bliss

The reason I ran...my 30th birthday and some *divine* post-run cake

Texas team:  Running from the Kids! (Note:  we wonder women finished with just 10 incredible runners, with Erin, Katie, and I each picking up extra legs)

Jenny motoring through the rain; she was fast as lightning (and there was some, too!)

Van decorations for Wasatch Back

My favorite leg at sunrise

Jenny and I (and van 2) celebrating the end of Wasatch Back 09

Are you ready to rumble?

The 12th Woman

The 2 main reasons I run

La Familia Eberhardt

My Fellow Ragnarians,


Hello from Oklahoma. Seems as if I’ve been (lovingly) roped into Ragnar again by our intrepid captain Erin. I get one ‘runcation’ a year and I tried to get into St. George. No dice. So as soon as my name was not posted, text messages began to appear… and were happily accepted. See, running with Erin (and Katie and Jenny and y’all) is so much fun! This year will be all about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The good: running with fellow mothers who love their children so much that we leave them in capable hands to run like banshees…all in the name of sanity, peace, relaxation, and above all, motherhood.

The bad: I have had to sell my kidney to fly to be with you. But I did it willingly and it’s so worth it.

The ugly: I had a hysterectomy (long story that I am sure my van will be regaled with…) just a few short weeks ago and have only been ok’d for speedwalking… and my legs read something like ‘this will suck,’ ‘you’ve trained in FLAT Oklahoma for running 3 miles uphill, right?’ and ‘this is just plain sadistic.’ See how excited I am!?! I have been assured by Erin that if by chance my bladder falls out while running up hills, she’ll make sure I get medical attention and a BIG Diet Coke—as long as I finish ALL my legs. What a gal, huh?

Really though, it doesn’t matter how fast I don’t run, or how much the plane ticket is…what matters is the opportunity and ability to do it…and with such a great team! I was in the same van as Jenny O. last year. She is simply amazing. What a can-do, will-do, take no prisoners attitude she has. And, I am a member of the ‘meet at Michele’s at 6:00am on Saturday’ club with Katie and Erin. We all lived in Texas together and stole away some mommy running time each Saturday at the wee hours of the day. I miss that. A lot. And so I get to crunch some running time with my ol’ friends again. And, I get to meet all of y’all. Whoo hoo!

While we are together sweating, laughing, hurting, mountain climbing, and sleeping in funny positions, I will be sorely missed by my husband Dave and my 2 bambinos: Lincoln and Kate. I am sure there will be pizza consumed, movies watched, time at the pool, and other fun distractions while I am away. They are so good to me for allowing me to do this.

I look forward to meeting each of you and getting to know you better. (So, come on folks, start posting your info!)

Happy training,

Lindsay

Jenny O. is happy to be back on the Team!

I ran the ragnar last year on this team, or through marathon mommies and Erin! It was such a blast! I am back! I am excited to see old friends and meet new ones. A little about myself. I am 32 and I love adventure! I just started running consistantly last year and since then have done 2 half marathons and the Ragnar. I hope to complete my first marathon this fall the Top Of Utah in Logan. I thought for sure the Ragnar would be a great training for me. I am the mother of 3 adorable kids

I am excited as we train together and run together and stay up all night together in a van! Woo Hoo!