Bad
- You're in a van for 24-plus hours.
- You'll run through a few seedy areas. Ragnar has security along the entire run route and it's totally safe. Just keep in mind, that this route isn't all beauty. There will be city run routes and with that comes the adult video stores, bars, token drunkard and occasional homeless person.
- It's cold at 2 a.m. You have to run when you'd rather sleep.
- Constant weather change. Sun, rain, wind and then sun again; this race has it all.
- If you don't know how to read a map or follow GPS, you may run the risk of getting lost. If you run a few miles out of your way, that's on you. The van can't pick you up.
- Port-a-potties are your best friend. Props to Ragnar—these were among the cleanest port-a-potties I've seen: hand sanitizers, toilette paper and seat liners.
- You'll get little sleep. OK, no sleep. You'll be lucky to get a 30- to 60-minute nap during the relay.
20-minute power nap before next leg.
- Stomach discomfort is possible. Stay away from junk food.
- Shower? You're lucky to bathe with wet wipes and deodorant.
- You don't see the one-mile marker.
- You might experience muscle stiffness as you go from running to sitting in a van, then back out to running. This is why stretching and rolling is key to preventing soreness.
- Stoplights. It can be a challenge to get into a good run pace.
- Hills. Hills. Hills. Your legs are achy and eyes are heavy, but someone's got to step it up and take on this obstacle.
- No room for modesty. Get to know your teammates because a clean bathroom and changing room may not exist for you. You'll need to be OK with changing in the back of the van.
- You race your legs out, reach the exchange and your team isn't there. You have to stay and wait for the teammate to show up to make the exchange or your team gets penalized.
- People don't know how to drive vans. Parking lots are a mad house, no one knows how park or drive. Vans take up two spots instead of one. Once you enter an exchange lot, just go to the back so you don't have to deal with the mess. Get used to dealing with idiot drivers—you'll probably be bad at it too.
Ugly
- Runner's trots, frequent port-a-potties stop and the occasional squat in the wilderness. Enough said.
- Puke. You'll probably see someone puking on the side of the road. Or, you may fall victim to some roadside sickness.
- You're in a van the whole time. The first hour of the race your home on wheels smells fresh and clean. Toward the end, your van will smell like body odor, gas, foot sweat and just foul garbage. Keep the windows rolled down.
- You miss one of the turn markers and run an extra 3 to 4 miles.
- Massive blood blister, broken bones, bloody noses ... you'll see blood and bones. Hope you're stomach can handle that.
Remember, the good far outweighs the bad.
The best part is the camaraderie with your teammates. When a runner is struggling to finish their leg of the race, their team will be out there cheering them on—even at midnight.
If you get injured, your team will help pick up the miles for you, or run/walk with you. One young man, who injured his foot and ended up on crutches, hobbled through his second run of 2.7 miles. His teammate was by his side the whole time.
At the finish line all Ragnarians come together to celebrate their accomplishments at the festive post-race party: beer, food, massages and music.
Photo by ASICS America
Now that you have an inside scoop, are you up for the challenge? Which Ragnar will you take on?
More: How to Train for a Relay
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