We had an awesome time this year running our second Ragnar Relay Race. From the moment the Napa Valley race was announced last year I wanted to run it so thanks to my husband and my old friend and roommate, Kristen, we made it happen! Jared and I were in a van with my brother, Mike and 3 friends of Kristen who we had never met. Annji, Aubrey and Shawn were AWESOME and we had so much fun!
Our team decided to have a theme to make a fun race even more fun! We choose a 'Hillbilly' theme. Jared let loose with his inner hillbilly!
He was having WAY too much fun. :) We got together the night before for dinner and get to know everyone on the team. They were AWESOME and we got even more excited once we got to know them.
The race started in San Francisco and crossed the Golden Gate!
The starting line ... let the crazy 189 mile race begin!
Mike was runner #1 and got to run across the bridge! Go Mike!!!
Mike after Leg #1. Looking good and feeling good!
Yee-haw! Jared leg #1
Our awesome van-mate, Annji.
My leg #1 was my least favorite of my 3 legs ... 11 stop lights! My pace didn't stand a chance. So frustrating.
Mike the AWESOME navigator!
Funny story. So we were waiting along the side of the road (above) for one of our runners to offer him support. We were in Sausalito. After a few minutes of sitting on the curb a refined older woman walked out of the condo complex office and looked at Jared dressed in his sweaty hillbilly clothes and asked rudely, "Would you mind leaving? This is our leasing office!" Wow. Discrimination against hillbillies! We apologized and left. Wez shudu sewed 'er.
Annji and Aubrey.
Us.
Mike and I
Jared and Mike
When you're running a relay, sleep when and where ever you can. :)
Exchange. Jared handing off to Annji.
I LOVED my night run. It was through the heart of Napa Valley. I loved running in the dark but I know I was missing out of some beautiful scenery.
Mike - looking tired after his night run. He ran hard and fast!
I think Mike surprised himself with how fast he ran and how much fun he had.
Jared taking off for leg #2. 9.2 miles!
I barely made the exchange so this was the only pic of my last leg. It was a beautiful early am run through vineyards. My favorite and fastest leg of the race!
If you couldn't tell by the look on my face ... I was FINISHED!!!! :) That is an amazing feeling!
My old friend and roommate, Kristen. We were roommates at Ricks College in '91.
Waiting for the other van to finish we got a little silly...
Shawn ... such a riot! :)
Remember what I said about Jared's inner hillbilly coming out. It came way too naturally.
Breakfast never tasted so good! :)
The FINISH line! Woot-woot!
The craziest news of all is that WE WON! Not the race but of the 4 "Spirit" categories voted on our team won "BEST TEAM NAME" and our volunteers www.villagerun.org won "BEST EXCHANGE". It's HIP to be HICK!!!
We loved every moment of it and wish we could do it again next year!
Thanks for a great race!
