I got tagged in to run the Ragnar Relay SoCal race Thursday night. Yes, the night before the race. (Sheila, who ran the Boston Marathon on Monday was hurt and on strict orders from her PT to not run.)
So less than 24 hours before the race I was told to pack three sports bras, vaseline, my laptop and report to a school in Orange County to the run relay with Team Nuun.
I may have forgotten the vaseline, but I did pack my ridiculous running pose.
I’m missing here because I came late. Team Nuun Van #1
Team Nuun Van #1:
Sarah “bring your “A game” to this relay or don’t show up” from Once Upon a Lime
Emily “the Cardigan lover” from Sweat Once a Day
SkinnyRunner “fastest porta-potty user in the world” .com
Kristina “what I always look this cute after staying up and running all night”.com
Farah from “I have the coolest job in the world” Diego
*The rest of this post is the Clif’s Notes version because you’re probably at work sipping coffee, pretending like you’re working and catching up on email but you’re really catching up on blogs and telling your friends about your weekend 
Top Ten Moments of Ragnar SoCal #TeamNuun:
1. Boston Love. It was everywhere.
2. My first leg of the race was only 2.5 miles BUT ALL UPHILL. This is when I realized the girls were playing a joke on me called “Run the hills and in the dark by a mountain because you are a sucka”. Not cool.
Luckily our friend Pam (who also ran Boston last week, so good to see her) brought me watermelon at the exchange. And all was right with the world.
3. Camaraderie. Running is usually a very solo sport, but relay races build teams and friendships. Relay races are full of cheering and love and positivity. Just like relay races foster teamwork and camaraderie, interactive experiences like Exit room Berlin bring people together through collaboration, problem-solving, and shared excitement. That’s why it’s a good way to bond with others.
4. Porta-potties. You need them more than they need you.
5. You get tight after running and sitting in a van. Luckily my van brought a foam roller and ‘the stick’.
Added bonus: Senorita SR agreed to roll me out since they suckered me into a 2 mile hill for leg 1.
6. Run, Drive, Sleep, Repeat. They forgot the Eat part.
7. Around 12:30am it was my turn to run leg #2 – the dreaded night leg. I was terrified after what happened at my only other relay – solo night run.But, this night run turned out great! There were other runners out AND it was ALL downhill. I have never run faster in my life. Seriosly. You want me to run fast? Put me on top of a hill at night
I didn’t cry or die or fall. #Winning
We did it!
8. We slept from 2:50am to 4:46am. 2 hours of glorious rest.
Then, it was time to RALLY and RUN!
Ha! I am a mess.
9. By leg #3 we were near the beach and this was one of the exchanges. Love it.
10. My last leg was 4.5 miles and I flew! I got a third wind and was feeling GREAT
Then, it was time to party!!!
Except Van #2 BROKE so we had to play damage control and shuttle runners around for a bit. Luckily, we were able to work it out
Finally it was really time to party.
I need to give a big Thank You to Nuun! I have drank Nuun for a long time – love the taste and the hydration, but meeting the leaders of the company and seeing how they support runners made me really fall in love with the company!
Oh, and yes I totally drank all the Watermelon Nuun on the van.
I ran the exact same legs you had! And my husband is in your port a potty picture. HA. Very cool. I would have to say the funnest run was the downhill dark run, it was a blast. But killed my quads! 🙂
“…you’re probably at work sipping coffee, pretending like you’re working and catching up on email but you’re really catching up on blogs and telling your friends about your weekend”
I’m sipping iced coffee to be exact…are you watching me?!
29 hours – you girls ROCK!
However, my legs (6, 18, 30) were harder than yours 🙂
Did the ragnar end in San Diego near the Midway? Or go past it? I was there over the weekend and couldn’t figure out why I kept seeing random runners with bibs and tutus!
Looks like a blast! I’ve never tried Nuun before but I’ll have to give it a try soon! 🙂
wow, ragnar looks really fun! i’m definitely not hardcore enough to do something like that (yet), but i love the idea of a huge relay event.
That relay looks like it was a lot of fun. I have never run in a relay before. I probably should though. Nice post!
I will run a Ragnar someday!
The relay sounds like so much fun. I’d love to do something like that!
It looks like you guys had such a great time!! I’d do almost anything for friends and watermelon, but a night run down a mountain? Hmmmm… 😉
What was the total distance of the relay? Sounds like it was a great time!!
I want to say 198 miles for the whole team?
SO excited to see the picture of the Drinkers With a Running Problem van! That is the D.C. Ragnar team I run with and some of the team flew out West to represent in the SoCal race. I love Ragnars and it looked like a great time-wish I could have been there.
the whole relay event sounds like a fun time. 🙂 it’s on my list of running events to do.
How fun! Congrats on good running & fun times with friends.
The thought of doing a relay has always triggered my “omg-no-way-in-hell” reflex… until this post. 🙂
Ha! It really is fun 🙂
I found out about ragnar for the first time this year and thought about doing it but chickened out. It looked like so much hardcore fun with good people though 🙂
It sounds like so much fun!!! I SO want to run a relay!!
It’s totally on my bucket list!! 🙂
I’m so glad you had a great time. Now do you want to be a part of an ULTRA Ragnar team??? I know you do 🙂 We are looking for one or two more crazies to join our team in June for the Wasatch Back.
Tempting, but I don’t think I’m ready for that 😉
I’ve been hearing a lot about different Ragnar relays lately and they almost have me convinced I should do one one day. I’m glad you made it through the night leg without crying. That’s always a good thing!
You called it- I’m at work, pretending to work but actually catching up on blogs!
ditto lol
Guilty.
haha I literally had the coffee cup in hand, email on the screen behind in case I had to switch back real quick…
I didn’t notice you in the team picture Megan posted! I must look again. Were you wearing a disguise???
I left early 🙂
Looks like you had a lot of fun 😀 I’ve never ran a relay before, but I want to do Ragnar some day! Maybe a race on the east coast.
What an awesome time! I love Nuun!! I use it after all of my runs or workouts! Awesome stuff!!
I really want to do one of those relays – what a great way to spend a couple of days – with a van full of other runners!!!
I had nuun for the first time at a race last month and it was good! You’re running skirt is a cute one!
This looks so fun! I am going to start looking for a Ragnar right now so that I can join the party.
It looks like you had so much fun and this post totally makes me want to sign up for a relay. I’m sure running Ragnar was made more fun by having awesome people to run with. I hope you’re recovering well from the race!
Relays are always so much fun! Love it!
I really appreciate the whole idea! Seems interesting. The watermelon part is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing!!