Team Results!

Dear Team,
I was reading the results for the race and saw that Team Nordic Track Elite Womens team finished in 23hrs! What! 10 hrs before us! I thought we did pretty well. Then I got to thinking, Was this the team that ran on a treadmill? It better be, that just goes to show it is much easier and faster to run on a treadmill. If they did the regular race that fast then wow!

I am packing and ready to go!

So Van 2 I just wanted to say that I can bring bottled water, do we need a cooler? Food to share, baby wipes, garbage bags, I also have a headlamp and tail lamp and a running vest. I am happy to bring what ever makes this trip more enjoyable. Erin thanks for the ride I will see you at Chevron at 545am! I email you my cell phone.

Get your groove on...

Updating my running playlist for this weekend. I really wanted to whittle the 4 1/2 hours of music down to something more manageable, but just can't. Who knows what I'll want to listen to. I do know one thing...I'M SO EXCITED!!! See you all in 35 hours (give or take)!

No Worries... Be Happy

After a few quick text messages - spot has been filled :) Carry on!

Rock. Hard Place. Me.

My Fellow Ragnarians,

It seems that every time you get a group of moms together there is always the last minute one to bail on the group--a case of strep with the kids, flat tires, emergency appendectomy. Luckily everyone is healthy and the tires are filled with air.
I will throw this out there though, if you know of anyone is would like to join van 2, they can have my spot. It looks like I might have to be the one that, sadly and with regret, jumps ship.
We found out some great news last night that requires me to be in OKC on Sunday. And flights from SLC to OKC are scare and super expensive. I wouldn’t even be able to run all 3 legs. Even if I switched to van 1, it would be near impossible.
Every time I go to buy a ticket, I get a funny feeling in my tummy. I just can’t shell out another $300… So, if you know of anyone who wants my spot, please let me know asap. You know—that fun neighbor, the dental assistant, your sister in law, a friend’s cousin’s dog walker.
I hate to not run. Really I do. I have already started preparing my bag to come. Treats have been purchased for you all and another special little something from me. Argh. This is tough. But I just wanted to see if anyone knew of a fellow runner who’d like a Ragnar experience….
With love,

Lindsay

0% makes me so happy!

I am a habitual weather checker for races for the 10 days before a race! And guess what the is a 0% chance of rain- but after last year don't count on it being accurate, just saying.

So here is the low down on some details:

1. We are going to have dessert at Katie G.'s house on Thursday night at 9. We would for everyone to be there but if you can't that is totally fine too. I will email everyone her address instead of posting it for the whole world to see. It will be for about an hour seeing as how we all need to sleep to get up bright and early the next morning.

2. Our start time is 8:30 am in Logan and Ragnar needs teams there an hour before their start to do all the new safety stuff. Mindy has graciously offered her driveway at least for us to get things together and she is only about a mile from the start line so we should be getting to Mindy's probably about 7. So I will be pulling out of Draper at 5 picking up Lindsay and heading up to get Jenny (and Melissa?) so Jenny I am not exactly sure how long it takes to get from Draper to the gas station - do you know?

Erin
-- Post From My iPhone

A week Away! anyone excited like me!

I am so excited! But need to final up my plans, anyone up for a concrete plan! Are we meeting at the start line? Can anyone offer a ride from Kaysville area? Or maybe I can take the frontrunner up to Ogden? I don't mind ditching my car somewhere, anywhere besides Logan if I can help it. Does van one have a rental van? Who is driving it up to Logan? I am so excited but would love some feedback. I am also good to bring as much as is needed for this fun weekend, food, supplies, whatever is needed! I heard someone on the team lives by the start line, should we meet there to get situated? Decorate the vans? If you can't tell I am excited to run! Please respond if anyone has any suggestions or ideas of what is going to happen.
Jenny O.

Hi, I am Kelly Hoole. I am in van 1, running leg 6. I am excited to be running Ragnar (at least that's what I keep telling myself), I am more excited to spend time with the fun girls in the group. I ran my first race nine years ago when we were living in DC. It was the Race for the Cure 5K. Over 75,000 people ran that day, so that when we finished there were still people that hadn't crossed over the starting line. I am happily married to Greg, we will be celebrating our 15th anniversary this October. I am a mother to four; Nate 12, Caroline 10, Anna Sophia 7 and Lucy 5. I am a mental health excercisor which means that I excercise so that I take out my aggression on my running shoes and not my children. I am excited to meet everyone. My goals for this race are to have fun, hopefully get some sleep and above all FINISH!

Other new info...

Hey guys! I went to one of the Ragnar meetings on Thursday night. They talked about lots of things (which I'm sure many of you previous participants knew about). But they went over several new things I thought I would post on here in case anybody was curious. I'm sure they've covered all this in the Team Captain meetings etc.

*Each van needs to check in with all the equipment for their van, and attend a safety meeting about an hour before their start time.

*We have to get six 'support' flags for our team. Someone in Van #1 gives them a credit card at the start (they won't charge anything unless they're not returned) where they will get three of the flags. Van #2 will get the other three flags at the first major exchange. We return all six at the end of the race.

*Five of the legs will be 'non-support' legs...but Ragnar staff will be providing water on those legs.

*The start is at a new spot...the Icon Fitness Center in Logan.

That was most of the new stuff. I'm sure Erin already knows all this, I just thought I'd post in case anyone was curious.

I talked to some ladies at the meeting that have a 5:00 am start time! I'm glad ours is a little later. :)

Can't wait to meet all of you!

Melissa

Pick your pocket, pick your nose.

Hi everyone. I'm Megan A. and I just learned how to post on a blog. Never had any experience with blogging and now I know a little. I am thrilled to run this race. I loved running. I gave it up to protect my knees. And so I am coming out of retirement to run the race of a lifetime.

I am married (happily on most days - no just kidding). I have 3 kids, Josh 7, Abe 5, and Ellie 9 months. They keep me very busy, but I love it (again, on most days ;)! Somethings we love to do as a family are go on trips, snow ski, camp and have sleepovers in our very own basement. Things I love to do are workout, play with my kids, dates with my husband, and cooking.

This race is going to be awesome. It'll be great to push myself and to get the old competitive juices flowing again. But most of all I'm excited to be hanging with the gals I'll be racing with. Race on!! (by the way, my high school cross country coach used to tell us to loosen up our arms by yelling , "pick your pocket, pick your nose."----- Plan on me yelling that to the girls from the van)

NEW FLASH!! THIS JUST IN...

Headphones are back!!!!! Ragnar got enough response from us 12000 runners that they are now allowed again. Resume your running to your tunes just a few guidelines:

New Rules
For safety reasons, we still strongly discourage the use of headphones. The safest and best answer is not to use them. If you still choose to use them, you do so at your own risk and must meet the following requirements:

1. Hear traffic
2. Be aware of the sounds around you
3. Be able to hear instructions from course officials when speaking at a reasonable tone (not yelling)

Strikes will be given out if you are unable to hear instructions. Three strikes on any rule may result in disqualification for your entire team.

Tips on safely listening to music
Should you choose to use a personal (or impersonal) listening device, below are some tips:
1. Put the headphones behind your ears rather than in your ears
2. Use one ear bud rather than two
3. Use a device likehttp://www.safesoundsports.com/product.html
4. Keep the volume low
5. Use a device like an iPhone or Blackberry on speaker mode

Epic long post full of VERY IMPORTANT INFO!!!!!!

Hello ladies! We are about 2 weeks out and is any one else freaking out???? We have some things to get done so I am going to resort to bullet points so I remember everything - Here we go....

~ We have a start time! 8:30 AM which is fantastic... last year they had our teams start at 12:30 and we were the second to last team to come staggering in to the finish line so 4 hours earlier and we should be finishing up with the pack :) that being said I have updated the spread sheet with estimated start times for every one's legs in case you are a little OCD like myself and find beauty in organization

~ Just when you think you know what you are doing Ragnar goes and changes a few things... (haha ok a lot of things in one fail swoop)

1. Mandatory Safety Meeting
A 10 - 15 minute safety meeting for all team members of the active van will be held prior to the start of the race (for Van #1) and at Exchange #6 (for Van #2). Safety materials will be passed out to reinforce the safety rules of the race. A Safety Certificate will be given out at the close of the meeting; this certificate will need to be submitted prior to the start of the race (for Van #1) and at the start of Exchange #6 (for Van #2). We recommend you arrive an hour before your start time in order to complete the safety meeting and start on time. (THAT means we need to be there at 7:30 AM!!! ready to go)

2. Required Items for Check-In
Van 1 must check in at the start line at least one hour before their official start time. Van 2 must check in at exchange 6 at least one hour prior to starting their legs. When checking in, each van must present the following items:

(So this is all new Please let me know where you can help fill in)
-Two (2) flashlights or headlamps (this means a team needs a total of 4) - We are good here I have 4 {Lindsay this includes the one you have} But it would probably be nice to have a couple extra flashlights
-Six (6) reflective vests (team needs a total of 12) - I now have 6 {Lindsay don't forget the one you have :)} Katie has one and Melissa has one so we are still in need of 4 more - anyone anyone?
-Two (2) LED tail-lights (team needs a total of 4) Jeni has one and I have two so we are going to need at least one more

Designated Safety Officer
All teams must designate a safety officer to be on duty at all times during the race. This person must be seated in the front passenger seat and have a copy of the rules with them. This person is to stay awake and alert and to remind team members of the safety rules. The responsibility of being the safety officer may be rotated among team members.

Didn't we all want to do safety patrol in 6th grade :) I guess now is out chance!

Support Leg Rules
The supporting of runners (i.e. handing them water or spraying them down) is allowed only on those legs marked "Support". After dusk, any team member outside of the van must wear a reflective vest. Team members do not have to wear reflective vests at major exchanges, unless they are within 20 yards of the exchange. All team members must exit the van from the passenger side (with the exception of the driver, of course).

If a team member is crossing the road to support their team member, they must do so carrying an orange flag. Flags will be provided at the start; a credit card deposit of $10 is required for each, but that amount will not be charged to the cards if they are returned at the finish. No roads with more than 2 lanes (one in each direction) may be crossed except at crosswalks.

Non-Support Leg Rules
If a leg is designated non-support, teams are not allowed to provide food or water to their runner during the leg. You may pull over in a legal spot to cheer your runner, but you should not impede traffic in any way. If you do see a runner in distress, you are allowed to stop and help. You must obey all pedestrian and traffic laws, however.

Runners are encouraged to carry their own water on these non-support legs. However, for all legs over 4 miles in length, there will be one water station along the course. Legs over 8 miles in length will have two water stops provided.

Designated Sleeping Areas
All runners must sleep inside of their vehicles or in designated sleeping areas; there will be no sleeping on the ground in the exchange areas allowed.

Alcohol Not Allowed on Course
The consumption of alcohol is not allowed anywhere along the course. Ragnar will still have a finish line party with alcohol available.

So I guess the idea of running Ragnar hill falling down drunk is out - dang it!

Headphones
In accordance with USA Track and Field rules, the use of personal music devices with headphones while running is prohibited. In an overnight relay, roads are not closed during the race and participants are running through the night. This format requires that all runners be alert and aware of their surroundings at all times. Wearing headphones causes distractions and the inability to hear what is going on around the runner.

Ok so this one is terrifying to me but Jeni and I chatted a little about this and here is what we came up with....

I am going to have my ipod with me and I will tuck my headphones in my bra straps and crank the volume so I can still hear it and hear what is going on in the world around me. I might at times have 1 ear in :)

Rules Enforcement
There will be course marshals on the course who will be available via text message. They will text message any team seen violating any of the safety rules; if three violations are reported on the course, the team will be required to check in at the next major exchange. If the violations are found to be valid, that team will be asked to leave the course.

so they have said this one for the last couple times I have run and I have yet to see one of these 'marshals' so I am not going to say they don't exist but we will see

~ Well there are all the fun new rules. so on to the rest of things. We need an emergency contact info page so I need the following info from everyone:

Name, cell phone number, insurance carrier, emergency contact and their phone number and any allergies or health concerns/ medication

~ In lieu of getting shirts made (extra cost lots of time and really do any of us wear them after the event?) if everyone could have a black top to wear for the finish line so we do all look like a team that would be great!

~ Enough info to make your brain hurt? Watch for info on a fun little get together here next week :)

Salt Lake Running Company's checklists

Salt Lake Running Company has posted two Wasatch Back checklists on its website. I'm not sure which one will be more important. See you all soon!

www.saltlakerunningco.com