Ragnar 2010: One More Hill To Go

John and I were invited to Run on an all couples team for the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage Race through Washington this year. Skagit, Deception, Fidalgo, Whidbey. Unusual names, killer places to run. 187 miles of stunning Washington scenery. Starting in the seaside town of Blaine, then head south through farm country and along the coast, ultimately crossing over Deception Pass. The race (and your stamina) wraps up on the southern tip of Whidbey Island. (that was taken from the Ragnar Website) Our Team Name: One More Hill to Go. There were some funny names, some great costumes all of which were great entertainment. Everyone was cheering everyone on-it was fantastic.

There were 2 vans, 3 couples in each van-we were in the 2nd van starting around 2 pm in Bellingham. John started us off and in good form raising the bar for the rest of us...despite the hot weather.

Off & Runnin-Van #2: John, Mel, Travis, Holly, Carrie & Jim

This was a hard run for me, not prepared for the 85 degree weather we were running in. I handed off to Travis who made his Race Running Debut. What a trooper!

James to his wife Carrie-A true couple pass off

Carrie Ran through some beautiful Farm Country, As we stopped and waited you could hear the wind blowing through the wheat fields.

Passing back off to Ron of Van #1

We finished our first round around 5:30ish- we drove on to La Connor to Shower, find food and get a couple of hours sleep before beginning our 2nd legs which started around 11 pm. John had a hard run, 8 miles of big hills, but again he ran really well-impressing everyone with his time. I did a 4 mile run that I thoroughly enjoyed, despite the 2 am time.

We finished our 2nd legs around 5:30 am. Time to shower, eat and rest, again.

Van #1 showed up at 9 am and John was off again. It was a beautiful run, still hilly, but along the waterfront.

Holly is an amazing runner-she injured her IT band during her 2nd leg and still ran her 3rd leg-strong.

Another great leg for me-mostly in the shade but felt like I was running through the Mountains, and finished along the shoreline. Gorgeous!

We were required to hold these flags while crossing the street. James was waiting to give water to his wife. It was her and our teams last leg to the finish line.

Van #1

Peter & Stephanie Erickson

Ron & Macy Sorenson

The Deckers'

Van #2

Jim and Carrie

Holly & Travis Baird

Race Results:

Team: 197 One More Hill to Go

Category Place 18

Pace 10:36

Total Time: 32:00:23

Category: Mixed Sub Masters

Start Time: 7:00 AM

Runner	1st Leg	2nd Leg	3rd Leg	Total
1-Ron	6.2 miles | Hard	4.4 miles|Moderate	7.8 miles|Very Hard	18.4 miles
2-Bonnie	6.2 miles | Hard	3.5 miles | Easy	3.1 miles | Easy	12.8 miles
3-Steph	8.2 miles | Very Hard	3.5 miles | Easy	2.8 miles | Easy	14.5 miles
4-Macy	4.1 miles | Easy	4.1 miles | Easy	2.9 miles | Easy	11.1 miles
5-Decker	5.9 miles|Moderate	3.4 miles | Easy	6.5 miles | Hard	15.8 miles
6-Pete	5.9 miles|Moderate	5.6 miles | Moderate	5.5 miles | Hard	17 miles
7-John	5.8 miles|Hard (2 pm) 42 min	8.7 miles|V.Hard (11:14 pm) 63 min	6.3 miles | Hard (9:42 am) 45 min	20.8 miles
8-Holly	3.4 miles|Moderate	7.8 miles|Very Hard	6.3 miles | Hard	17.5 miles
9-Mel	6.1 miles|Hard 3 pm 54 min	4.2 miles|Mod (2:07 am) 37 min	6.8 miles|Very Hard (11:27 am) 60 min	17.1 miles
10-Travis	3.1 miles | Easy	2.7 miles | Easy	3.7miles|Moderate	9.5 miles
11-Jim	6.8 miles | Hard	6.3 miles|Very Hard	4.3 miles|Moderate	17.4miles
12-Carrie	7.0 miles | Hard	5.4 miles|Moderate	4.6 miles | Hard	17 miles

Day 2-Take 2

Wow, what a day! Tyler's bout with the flu came and went so quickly I wondered whether she had the flu at all. Despite vomiting and not eating she played around like it was any other day.

This morning McKenna woke up pretty happy-she wanted to start dancing as soon as she got out of bed. When we were finally able to talk her into going downstairs to use the potty, well it just wasn't like her to take one lick of her chocolate (yes I'm still bribing) and then throw it away. I caught her holding her stomach a few times and she didn't eat anything for breakfast but she seemed ok when I left for a morning run. When I got home she was sitting on Dad's lap and John reported she wasn't feeling well. I had saved some old Gallon Ice Cream buckets for such a day as this and boy did they come in handy. I'll spare you the details... All I can say is Drama, Drama, Drama! It was a movie day to say the least but by the time she went to bed this evening she was at least holding down her hot chocolate but she had a fever of 102 and she was asking to go to sleep. So odd, it's usually such a fight. Thank goodness John had the day off and was kind enough to cancel his evening visits to stay home to help-McKenna is a cuddler and all she wanted all evening was to sit on her Mom's lap, wrapped in a blanket watching movies. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

On a side note-my run this morning was fabulous. I think I only did a couple of miles but I've never done it talking on the phone the whole time. My cell phone is also my MP3/Radio and my Mom called to see how Tyler was doing and we started chatting and 30 minutes later I was home and still talkin. Must have really been pushing myself aye? It was quite chilly and VERY Foggy and so between the phone and the fog I only almost got hit once...by a double dump truck. Keeps things exciting around here.