It's been 365 days since our two Ragnar groups left for Las Vegas. I'm so glad I participated in this life changing event. Reflection is oftentimes a really good thing for me. As I reflect on what I learned about myself and the women that surrounded me, I wanted to get my thoughts down on "paper". Retrospection is a different kind of journaling versus right-in-the-moment journaling. Neither one if good nor bad, but just different.
I love that we gathered at Jackie Carmichael's house after we all dropped our kids off at school. It was a beautiful autumn day and I was both excited and extremely nervous. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. I had no idea what to expect and so I just opened myself to experience it all as gracefully and fully as I could.
I love that most of these women I went with had participated in past Ragnars and they were so experienced and knowledgable. These women know how to have fun and be silly and spontaneous. I was a driver and so they painted awesome slogans on our cars for the ride down to Vegas.
NOTE: That paint stayed on my car for weeks and weeks before I could get someone to take it off for me. Everyone knew me and honked whenever they saw me driving around the neighborhood. Pretty funny!!
After stopping in Cedar City for lunch at Subway and then Saint George for gas, we finally arrived at our beautiful rental house later in the afternoon.
We unpacked and took pictures with our different groups by the pool. I bunked with Kim Petersen which was kind of her to offer to be with me. I wasn't really familiar with most of the people that were there and Kim was very kind and gracious. There were lots of errands to run. Some went to get the vans, some went to Trader Joes for food. We all went to the Red Rock Hotel for the registration party. I have no recollection of what we did for dinner that night (the downside of reflective journaling) but then we went back to the rental house and decorated our vans when it got dark.
I think this was my favorite part of the whole trip. Someone was very organized and made stickers and got Christmas lights.
It was a fun bonding experience and I can't over emphasize how awesome it was to be with these seasoned runners. I truly benefited from their years of experience.
Our Van was the second leg of the race, so we didn't have to get up early in the morning. I brought my own Keurig machine that my Dad bought for me to take, so I could make my bullet-proof coffee. #spoiled
We got up and then went to breakfast before our race began. I can't remember where we ate, but it was in a hotel restaurant. We were trying to get to House A GoGo, but it didn't work out.
After breakfast, we grabbed all of our stuff and headed out to the meeting point. Our van was the "Pretty Van" because of all the beautiful women in our group.
The vans as awesome and spacious to fit all six runners, the driver and pacer and all our gear. I sat in the back of the van, which was great.
One of the things people do at Ragnar is put magnets on other people's vans. These were our magnets and it was fun to sneak up on vans and place them on.
We made it to our rendezvous point with the other team to pass off the baton from Jackie Hibbard to Jackie Carmichael, but first we had to tattoo our arms and faces.
And then it was our team's turn to start our first six legs of the Ragnar.
She is why our van is called the Pretty Van. I love this woman. Go Jackie Go!!!
Amanda, the resident photographer, was second. I really really liked Amanda. She's a fun creative soul. Go Amanda Go!!
And then it was my turn!!!!!! I don' t have a photo of me running, but I do have a picture of my cute hair that Jana braided for me specifically for the race. I loved it!!!! The photo below is the screen shot of my Misfit Shine steps for the race.
My first leg was my longest and hardest leg. And it was super duper HOT!!! And it was mostly uphill. Crazy leg for sure. I do not know what I would have done without those girls being my support team. Kathy was the bomb and kept me hydrated and motivated. She was amazing. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, but it was worth it at the end of the race with everyone cheering you on. Go Kim Go!!
My recovery drink that Cory found for me. Sherry was the runner after me and she had a great run with the sun setting and all downhill. Go Sherry Go!! This was the sky waiting at one of the checkpoints. Man was the sky gorgeous. I was still high on adrenaline and endorphins at this point. Gratitude for my life and body was all I could think about. It was a very spiritual moment that I will remember forever.
Next was Kathy Mills and then Kim Petersen. I have no pictures of them as it was dark by this time. Go Kathy and Kim Go!!!
After all of our races, we went and found a restaurant to eat dinner. We were all super hungry for real food at this point. My burger was huge!!! And I ate every bite.
After dinner, we went back to the house and crashed until we had to get up in the middle of the night for our next six legs of the race.