Starting out Ragnar on little sleep and not sure how my back will hold up beginning stuck/sleeping in a van for 2 days, with over 35 miles of running scheduled for me, and heat index of over 100. Well, no turning back now! Here's how it went down: My 1st leg (2.7 miles/kinvaras/10:37 AM/not yet toasty) 7:49 min/mi Okay they said to study your map and look for the signs on where to turn. I blast out of the gate running sub 8s. I wasn't sure what pace I should be running so I just went with what was comfortable. I was supposed to turn right on Villas road. I'm running on uneven gravel and glance up quickly to see a sign that has "Villas" on it. A runner ahead of me turns right so I turn right and ask if this is the right road because there was no race turn sign. He says "yeah", so I go with it. Kill 1 down as I pass him. I maintain a sub 8 pace, see no other runners and begin to wonder if I'm really on the right road. I'm at 2.5 miles and have a sharp turn ahead so I figure the exchange is just around the turn. I make the turn and all I see is more road!!! Well, and an intersection head. I'm lost!! I run to the intersection stop my garmin, call my teammates. I'm on "Villas-Hope" road!!! And, it ends up pretty far from the actual exchange. Not a good start especially with such fast splits! 7:35/7:52/8:00 My 2nd leg (6.3 miles/Pearl Izumi/12:43 PM/hot!) 8:06 min/mi A longer leg, wearing my trail shoes. It's getting hotter at this point. I start out at low 8s. Not sure what will happen towards the end of my run but it feels comfortable. I realize during my run that I actually trained for this leg by adding trail runs to my training about a month ago. :) But then I enter the roadways. I begin to wonder if trail shoes were the best choice, please don't develop any knee issues! I begin to forget about my shoes and realize what a tough leg this one is. The roads are hilly (not as hilly as Nashville!) and it's hot with no shade anywhere! The wind picks up, and I think, well, at least it's cooling me off. But then I turn into the wind! Great! Oh wait, I just raced a 10 miler into the wind, I got this! Okay, now this run is combing 2 pretty tough recent races and I'm liking my mentality. I maintain low 8 min/mi pace pretty well throughout the run. Not too shabby! Splits were 8:10/8:06/8:00/8:22/8:03/8:00/7:51 My 3rd leg (5.8 miles/Pearl Izumi/6:51 PM/warm) 7:50 min/mi I'm feeling good, and our team is doing pretty well. This is the first time I have to run with my nighttime safety gear (headlamp and vest). I figured it would probably slow me down some, but at least it isn't as hot as my earlier leg. Well, I start out faster than my previous leg, I guess I'll just stick with it. It's comfortable! I realize I need to figure out this stupid headlamp. I couldn't keep it from falling down on my small head. I tried different positions and angles, but then just tucked it in my bra strap. We didn't officially need them until 7:30 PM. Maintained my pace pretty well. My splits were 7:51/7:49/7:47/7:51:7:58/7:43 My 4th leg (3.9 miles/Pearl Izumi/11:14 PM/cooling off) 7:51 min/mi Ahh, shorter leg. Okay, maybe tightening the strap and adding a hat will help keep this headlamp in place. At this point I'm not too worried with how my legs will feel tomorrow, I'm feeling great!! Shoot, my headlamp is still falling! Not as bad and at least this is a shorter leg. I'll get this figured out before my longest run with required headlamp! Wow, this is weird running with this thing. It's completely dark out and there are some parts you have to tilt your head down to avoid the pot holes. I feel so hardcore at this point!! This was a nice, faster run. A cop stopped me from crossing the street right before the end of my leg. The cars were stopped for us, dude, so not necessary!! Ugh, I was mad, but proud with my average time. I wanted to beat my previous leg time! This is getting exciting! My splits were 7:46/7:43/8:04/7:47 My 5th leg (7.1 miles/Wave Precision/cool temps/3:05 AM) 8:05 min/mi I head into this leg a little more nervous. I haven't had a lick of sleep and it's my longest run. I tighten my strap even more to avoid headlamp issues on this one. I finally switch to my Wave Precisions for this longer, road run. I start out and my run doesn't feel as easy. Hey, these shoes don't feel as responsive! Hey, these are the shoes I normally run in, wait, I like my trail shoes better, they're firmer. Hey, if I find road shoes with a firmer sole than these I might be faster!! :) Cool, project when I get home. Okay, gotta battle through this for 7 more miles. I maintain my shoe frustration throughout my run, but I'm still pretty quick. I develop a greater appreciation for my trail shoes as I develop the same blister I got running Nashville in the same BARE spot! Wahoo, blister battle for the rest of the relay! P.S. Lulu reflective shorts are a hit on night runs, I got a lot of comments during my kills that I am very visible. :) My splits were 7:57/7:54/8:01/8:14/8:18/8:09/8:05/6:50 My 6th leg (4.9 miles/Pearl Izumi/HOT/8:48 AM) 8:30 min/mi Okay, still no sleep. Ugh, the temps are supposed to be hotter than yesterday!! At least I have a mostly trail run and it's not too long. Ah, my blister doesn't feel quite as back in my trail shoes. I try my thicker socks to relieve some of the rubbing but not my toe box is pretty cramped. Oh well, maybe I'll develop my first black toe nail. My energy level is pretty low at this point, we haven't had any real food since subway the night before, and I'm so glad I decided on the foot long instead of the 6 inch, but still. I try to start out as fast, I'd love to average sub 8s for this relay, but it's just too hot and too tough. I slow my pace and feel like I'm running 10s through the sahara. I'm actually running closer to 8:30s and feel pretty satisfied with that. I haven't walked yet during the relay and start debating this in my head. The sun is just unrelently and there is NO shade!! No, I have to keep moving I will be fine just don't push too hard. I'm so thankful for the support from the other teams, they really pick up your spirits!! Splits were 8:23/8:23/8:35/8:38/8:31 My 7th leg (4.9 miles/Pearl Izumi/HOTTER/1:53 PM) 8:27 min/mi Last leg!! Okay, super terrified to start this one. Our van waited for one of our runners on a previous leg to hand off liquids and ice. It was getting so brutal we just pulled out our cooler and offered ice cold liquids to every runner that passed. Most of them took it. We iced down our runner near her 5th mile and she told us to wait for a guy she passed who was in bad shape. We met up with him and iced him down and gave him liquids. This guy was an ironman who picked up extra legs for an injured runner and he was completely run down and walking. We go to the exchange, find his team to let them know he is doing okay but walking. When we leave the exchange we see him coming in and are so relieved. He hits the ground at the exchange and my heart drops I hope he's okay but he's with help. Seeing that really jarred me. The people on our team said it's too hot for running, we need to do the run/walk method. I haven't walked yet, but I didn't like what I just saw. I'm shaking, about to start my final leg, haven't slept, had only a bagel and schmear for breakfast, and it's getting even hotter. I decide to run 10s and not walk. I start my leg just going comfortable. I decide to not look at my watch because it will somehow mess with my emotions. I'm in a groove and I'm just going to keep moving whatever pace. I'm under trees and feel my watch vibrate, 1 mile down 3.9 to go, just keep moving, you are comfortable, you ran Nashville in the heat, you've put in a few hot, FL runs, you Bikram. I'm doing it! My team hands me off cold water. I run with it, squeeze the ice cold water in my mouth and drop the bottle. I love you team. I have less than 2.5 miles left and 8 oz of gatorade on my belt. I will make it! I finally look down at my watch, I want to see if I'm close to having less than 2 miles left. I'm running 8:30s!! Holy cow! Motivation city!!! Then I round the corner, no shade. Shoot, bye, bye motivation!! I keep trucking, I'm okay. Oh great, I know this street and I know there's a pretty decent hill on it. Well, I'm tired, I could walk, it's hot. But, I know of the hills at the end of Steamtown I will be running in October. I guess this is a great training test of wills! I attack that hill. Collect about 3 kills from guys that look like they are in pretty decent shape and I'm on an ultra team so chances are I've put in more mileage than them. Motivation, welcome back! Okay, I'm into familiar territory. I'm finishing my final leg on my campus, which is even cooler since I have graduation next weekend. I round the corner and see the exchange. I have to put in a good final kick, I decide. Woah, where did those after burners come from, I hauled it!!! And, I'm done! NOT A LICK OF WALKING THE ENTIRE RELAY!!!! I'm so proud of myself! My splits were 8:25/8:38/8:30/8:25/8:19 It's not over. Our final runner has 8.2 miles to go and it's so hot!! Brutal!! We find him along the course hand give him water. He's looking strong and he's our strongest runner so I'm not too worried. We park at the end of the race and head to the finish. Wow, they had us park so far and my legs are stiffened up! We hobble towards the finish and spot our guy about 0.4 miles out. He looks pretty hot, we hand him water, I still have my running clothes on and have extra water so I run with him. It felt good, he's a faster runner than me and I was pulling him along carrying him extra water and his water. He's so tired and he asks where the finish is. I say, just around the sand dune. We keep moving. Finally! We see the tip of the orange Ragnar gate peeking over the dune. Almost to the finish, we know we can make it and hit the sugar sand to wrap up the race. He sprints ahead of me through the sand, and I have to fight the sand to cross the line. We finished!! This guy never walked on any of his legs either and we were so excited. We both crushed Ragnar. Our team finish with a 9:09 min/mi pace. I had the most mileage and was the 2nd fastest on the team. This guy was the fastest on the team and had 2nd to the highest mileage. I love competition! I finished 35.6 miles with an overall pace of 8:06 mins/mile. Not sub 8, but it was so terribly hot, and it is a BQ pace. Over 35 miles at a BQ pace!!! I'm not sure how that will translate to a marathon time, there's too many variables. I know it's great training mileage on tired legs, and I know I will be adding this to my motivation bank for future races. I'm finally making sub 8s a pattern, I'm taking my training to the next level, and I'm what, 18 weeks out from my goal marathon. I also broke 47 miles this week and my knees feel slightly sore, but mostly I feel injury-free. Now, what road shoes will be similar firmness as my trail shoes...
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