Yep, still working on the recap:) I am sure someday I will post it.
For now here are 10 things that I learned at Ragnar
1. You will become best friends with the people on your team. These are our hardcore faces with our matching tanks. I only knew two of the guys on my team before the race but by the end we were all the best of friends and my abs hurt from laughing so hard with them.
That just kind of happens when you live in a bus with people for a little while.
2. People get REALLY into the whole Ragnar thing… like to the point that they shave their head to make the Ragnar sign on it.
3. My hair on the other hand became one huge rats nest. Do you see that huge lump in the middle of my hair shadow? I noticed the rats nest in my shadow when I was trying to stretch out my hamstrings. That snarl took forever to get out. I learned that you should try to have some hygiene over the course of Ragnar and maybe try brushing your hair out at some point.
4. It costs a lot of money to fill up a 15 passenger van with gas. This is one of my teammates staring in unbelief at the price.
5. The exchanges are really fun. Our team always tried to do something fun to pass off the bracelet to the next runner.
A little leapfrog action.
6. Bagels are your best friend. I had no idea what to eat in between each leg because I have to keep what I eat super simple before I run to avoid getting stomach cramps but the bagels worked like magic. I ate a lot of them.
7. PRO Compression arm sleeves are my absolute favorite. I wore them for my 3rd leg when it was cold outside but not cold enough for a jacket and they worked perfectly at keeping me warm and super comfortable.
8. This one goes along with the above picture. Headbands are lifesavers. I wore one the entire time. Ziplock bags are also lifesavers. They are the perfect way to organize your different outfits and then you put them right back in the bag after you run along with a dryer sheet and it helps the van smell soooo much better when everybody does that.
9. NOTHING in the world will taste better than pizza after you finish a Ragnar. Nothing.
They gave out two boxes per team, I was beyond excited.
10. Sleeping in your own bed and then cuddling with Brooke all morning after being away for a few nights is actually the best thing in the entire world.
Hope you are loving your Sunday!
72 comments
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs
Glad you had a fun time! Brooke looks so happy to see you :)
Happy Sunday!
Ashley
Looks like you had a great time! Brooke looks so happy in that picture; she is so cute! I can’t wait to do a ragnar one day!
Katie
Congrats!
Lauren @Will Run for Boston
I’ve wanted to run a Ragnar since one of my roommates told me about them two years ago! Hopefully I’ll be doing one in the next year! Looks like you had fun! Can’t wait to read your recap!
Victoria @ Smiles 'n' Snuggles
Brooke looks so happy to see you! Glad you enjoyed yourself, now enjoy the snuggles! Congratulations!
HollieisFueledByLOLZ
That does look like a lot of fun. I honestly can’t even imagine running a Ragner because I need my sleep too much and I get super grumpy if I don’t get it. I am glad you had a great time, finished strong and had delicious pizza.
Marit
It’s look like you had A lot of fun! Cute photo of Brooke :D
Brittany @ The Fit Phoenician
It looks like you had a blast!! Congrats!
Jen@milesandblessings
It sounds like a TON of fun…I bet you are pretty sore though!!! I absolutely love bagels!!! If I could only pick one food to eat bagels would be on my short list!!!
Kristina @ Blog About Running
Ragnar sounds like so much fun! Running for many hours with friends/other people who love running sounds like the kind of happiness that usually only comes with Christmas!
Bagels = the best. Nothing more needs to be said!
Therese
Bagels and a banana are always my running food!
HB
That last picture of you and Brooke is so precious!
Courtney @Trigirl Chronicles
Looks fun! Hubs and I planned to run Seneca7 relay race this year but it sold out in five days before we could finalize our team. So sad. I’m dying to run a relay!
Gina
Congrats on your Ragnar! I did Ragnar Del Sol last February and had such a blast.
Monica
Congrats on the Ragnar! Brooke’s face is too much!!
MILF Runner
I felt that way about my HTC vanmates…so weird how a full day and night in a van can do that! So glad you had a great time…and were able to get the snarl out of your hair :) LOOK AT ALL BROOKE’S TEETH!!!!
I’m totally loving Sunday :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
I am so happy you are loving your Sunday! PS we should do napa together when you are out running again:)
MILF Runner
I would even DRIVE if I couldn’t run it :) I’m an excellent driver!
Lauren
I swear every time I get a rat’s nest, I lose 50% of my hair. SO hard to get out! And Brooke’s face is priceless. Too cute!
Bethany
I knew you would love it! When is the next one?
The Hungry Runner Girl
HAHAHA that is funny you asked because I just text Bangs Friend telling her we are doing Napa Ragnar together:) Hope you have an amazing day!
Liz @ Carpe Diem and Run
I have to do a Ragnar. Seriously. :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Yes. Yes you do.
Amanda
You are amazing and such an inspiration to me. Reading your blog has encouraged me to take better care of my myself and appreciate everything I have been blessed with to include my body. My running is no longer based solely on my desire to be skinny. Today, due in large part to your inspiration, I ran my first marathon and surpassed my wildest expectations finishing in 3:16.41. Thank you so much.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Amanda. Your comment made my day. HOLY COW!!!!!! 3:16 for your first marathon?!?! You are absolutely amazing. That is so fast and most importably I am so glad that you are taking care of yourself. Keep up the hard work Amanda and please keep in touch!
tess
Holy smokes. 3:16? First…that is an awesome Bible verse. ::besides the point::
Nice job! Seriously…nice job. What do you do for an encore?
Amanda
Thank you. You are both so sweet. As for my encore, at least yesterday, it was lie on the floor in the fetal position moaning about my stomach. Everyone waited on me hand and foot, so that was kind of nice.
Linda @running4two
I’m so glad you had a great time! I only knew one person on my team and she wasn’t in my van, but I became BFFs with everybody!
My team ate the pizza before I got there and they tried to hide the evidence!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles
If I was going to run that much in a day (and a night) I’d be needing some pizza too ;-)
Molly @ There Goes Molly Rose
It sounds like you had SO much fun!! Congrats girl! And pizza is perfect for any occasion ;)
LosingLindy
looks so awesome
Katie Did What
Awww cutie little Brooke, so excited to have her mama back!! :) You are the cutest and you’ve got me intrigued by this whole Ragnar business!
xo
Lisa @ runningoutofwine
Ragnar looks like so much fun!
What kind of headband are you wearing in the picture above? I need something that’s thick like that and won’t slide off my head.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Sounds like you had so much fun! I’m finally starting to understand the whole “running for enjoyment” thing, and I’m pretty sure I have you to thank for a lot of that. Happy Sunday, Janae!
Lou @ Running Through China
Wow, congratulations! Looks so much fun. How many Ragnar events do they hold over there in America? Bet they’ll become addictive hey :) Awesome work :)
Kristi
That looks like so much fun. I can’t wait to read your recap. There is nothing better than having someone so excited to see you come home :)
Karen @karenlovestorun
Sounds like you had a great experience! I have Ragnar on my “race wish list”…one day! Bagels are my pre and post race food of choice…I just can’t get enough!
I love the ziploc bag tip…that’s a great idea for any race! Keeps it simple :)
Happy Sunday!
Karen@karenlovestorun
Miranda @ Lovely Wife Lovely Life
Oh my goodness BROOKE is too cute. So glad you had fun!! Can’t wait for the recap!
Erica
Luckily I could tell Chris you were doing Ragnar because he thought you and Brooke should have been here sat. to watch WI/BYU with us.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Let’s plan on next year?!?!
Leigha @ Minougirl
Awww Brooke was so excited to see you!
How did you find your team?
Elise @ 9toFit.com
I want to do this so bad! Just looked for one near Boston, there’s one in the Cape next May.. now I need a team!
Kelsey
You are adorable and Brooke’s face says it all! I am so jealous of your Ragnar ways and have been dying to run one!! Headbands are for sure a lifesaver! You go girl!
Marissa
There are few things in this world better than running, friends, and food, kidlets snuggles are definitely a topper!
Flower
I’m dying, I mean dying to run the Ragnar in Key West but it falls on a date I have another race this year. You have inspired me and maybe I will plan it for 2015…anybody up for it? Anybody?
Kathee
I saw the leapfrog! I was walking up to the exchange when they did it. Glad you loved it. It’s very addictive. My arm warmers are a life saver! Even in my middle of the night run I wore a t-shirt with my arm warmers.
Christina
Now that looks fun!! So good for us stay at home moms to get away so then they actually miss us and the snuggles become that much sweeter! Such a doll!
Lou @ Running Through China
Does the name Ragnar stand for something? I hadn’t heard about them until your blog Janae. Cheers, Lou :)
Lora @ Crazy Running Girl
Glad you had an amazing time… Ragnar is seriously the best!
Kara @ Kara in the Kitchen
I’m SO glad you had a good experience!! I just knew you’d love Ragnar! It just makes sense. And yes, seeing your baby’s face and sleeping in your own bed might be the #1 best thing about finishing :)
Ashley
Oh my gosh the look on her face! TOO much! That is one happy little lady.
Adriana @Laced Up With Lipstick
I want to run Ragnar Napa and HTC. It’s so hard to find a group of people to do it. Everyone has families, work and things to do so it’s hard to find enough people who can all do the race at the same date. One day, one day. I bet Brooke was so happy to see you. It almost looks like you cut your hair in that last picture.
amy
2 medium pizzas per team? Im thinking I could’ve eaten a whole pizza on my own at the end of thaT race but at least it was a start. :)
Laura
Can’t wait for your recap. Pizza at the end is awesome!
That picture of Brooke is priceless.
tess
Greatest face of joy ever. Love it. You are such a good mom. And glad you had a good time running Ragnar. I have yet to hear a bad thing about it.
Lauren @ Sugar Coated Sisters
I love these! Totally agree with you about the ziploc bags, but I think it’s okay to let a rat’s nest grow for a day or two :) The Ragnar Trail relays sound AWESOME.
Jan
Looks like an amazing time! Maybe when I’ve been running for longer I’ll see about coming over to the States to do it!
Kari @ Running Ricig
You definitely look like you had a good time!!
My Sunday was spent reading and lounging on the couch after being sick most of Saturday. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either.
Tiffany Dutson
Ragnars are awesome, my niece did the Vegas one as well! One thing I learned after this race is to be bring costco size Pepto. Half our team was downing it by the end of the race;)
Chels
Ragnar looks so fun! Love Brooke’s smile!
Leah
Congrats! What kind of headband do you wear?
Casey @ StayingOnPace
Sounds like you had an awesome time! Congrats!
Annie @ lovelaughrun.com
Looks so fun! I did Reach the Beach a few years back and I can’t wait to do another relay!
Sonia the mexigarian
Ragnar looks like a lot of fun!! I so want to do one around here! :)
Holly
Brooke, you are way too cute. I can’t even take it. We love you <3
Tabaitha Kaye
You are a rockstar! I agree with the bagels, running, friends and cuddling with your kids!
Niki
It sounds like you learned a lot of important things.
And Brooke looked sooo happy to see you. That’s adorable!
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MartinaNYC@runtomakeadifference
This whole Ragnar thing sounds so exciting! Glad you enjoyed the experience!
Kay
Congratulations!!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate)
I am so glad you used the word ‘snarl’ to describe the knot in your hair. Growing up we always said we had ‘snarls’ in our hair or our hair was ‘snarly,’ and then when I got married and used it around my husband, he looked at be with a perplexed expression as if I was using some foreign word. Ha!
Livi
Brook is SO cute- as usual! :)
Liana@RunToMunch
Looks like a ton of fun!