Have you ever run Ragnar?

[Anonymous]

If so, what relay did you do? Would you recommend it?

I've run a couple half marathons and less (15k, 10milers). My pace is slow, roughly 9:45/mile. Is this something a casual runner like me could do?

What are the best resources for learning about the races, and finding a group (I don't know a lot of runners).

I'm also kind of an introvert. I can fake extroversion, but at heart I'm an introvert. I genuinely like people and learning about others, but I also like retreating to my own space. Would that be a challenge?

[Anonymous]

I did it years ago. Personally I wouldn't do it unless I had a group to do it with. It was an experience- one I am glad I had- but not one I feel I need to repeat. My biggest memory was running a 9 mile stretch all alone at 3 in the morning on an unlit path. My teammates realized it was dangerous and one decided to join me so ran down the path toward me. I was so scared when a crazed runner was running right toward me as all I could see was their headlamp and the runner was going the wrong direction. Obviously I was thrilled to see a friend but the moments leading up to learning it was a friendly face were done of the scariest I have had. As I said- an experience!

[Anonymous]

I did it last year--the Washington DC one where we practically ran through a hurricane!

I'm glad I did it once, but I'm not sure I'd do it again unless I could be guaranteed good weather. For me, it wasn't running in the rain that was so hard--it was the waiting in the van. Not really feeling able to get out and stretch because you'd get soaked, always feeling kind of wet and dirty, etc. For me it was just emotionally difficult.

I found my group when another runner posted on a Facebook running group I was involved with that she was looking to put together a Ragnar team. As it turned out, most/all of the other runners already knew each other and were friends, except me---I met all of them for the first time at a "team meeting" about a month before the race. But it was great--they were all very nice and welcoming to me.
If you are looking for a team to join, I would look at the facebook page for the specific race you want to do. Teams that are short a runner will often post there looking for someone.

One thing I did to help prepare was to do a google search to find blogs of other runners who had done my race, and my legs, in previous years. I was runner 8 and I found an AWESOME blog that was very detailed.

Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Anyone else run Ragnar?

[Anonymous]

i ran it last year and LOVED It. bw... totally take issue with 9:45 being slow - in my book that is SUPER speedy. They do a staggered start and estimate your finish so teams that might be on the slower end tend to start earlier although its a long window of time you have to finish in. If you need your space though - it's not a great idea - you'll be living in a van with 5 other people for a day and a half.

[Anonymous]

I've done two local ragnars, in 2012 and 2013. My team found me - someone in the group knew I was a longtime distance runner and approached me to join. It was a pretty neat experience. I never would have considered running at night by myself, but in that environment, I was able to pull it off.

You can go on the race website and look for teams that are looking for runners - often teams will have someone drop out before race day due to injury or a work conflict.

You need to be able to do 14-22 miles between 3 runs over about a day and a half. it's also helpful to be able to function on little sleep for short periods of time, and to be ok not showering right away after a run. One good way to get a taste for the running involved, which I did before each one: run 5 miles tonight just before it gets dark. Get up early tomorrow and run another 5 miles. Run another 5 miles as soon as you get out of work tomorrow. See how you feel.

It's also helpful to be flexible and adaptive because your assigned legs of the race might change last minute and you'll go from doing 3 5-mile stretches at normal elevation to doing one 8-miler up a mountain, a 4-miler in the middle of the night and 5 miles downhill. that kind of freaked me out the first time.

It was overall a great experience for me, and cemented one previous friendship while making a whole set of new friends with whom I'm still in touch.

[Anonymous]

12:54 again - no, 9:45 isn't especially slow - each team will have their range of paces, and it's not really about winning, at least not for most teams.

The introversion thing could be hard, though, because you are forced into a van with 5 other people for the better part of 36 hours with nowhere to go. If you're someone who gets grouchy when people talk to you when you're tired, this may not be the best environment for you.

[Anonymous]

Have done 2 Ragnar type relays. It is the most fun I have ever had. I loved running my night leg- what a view of the stars in the middle of nowhere!
My husband and I do it with a group of folks much younger and faster than us, and that's ok. We would be thrilled to have a sub 10 min/mile runner join our team.
Looking forward to doing another!

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of people who do Ragnar who are way slower than 9:45, and many of them run intervals only (walk/run). I have never done a Ragnar (no desire to spend days in a van with other people and without running water). I don't really get the appeal, but it seems like part of the whole "we're so crazy and tough and having so much fun with our besties" thing, like mud runs. That has never appealed to me.

[Anonymous]

it is a cult