CAMP REPORT: THE END OF THE STORY
Friday – Ragnar Day – This year, we once again fielded two Ragnar Trail relay teams. Jeremy, Danielle, Teri, and Patrick made up the Ultra; each would run six legs, 2 each of 6.7 mi/1000′, 3.6/650′, and 4/350′. All the legs are loops, and all start and end in the Ragnar Village, which sits on the soccer field and parking lot next to the Rec Center 1.5 miles downhill from my house. almost all the running is on MTB or horse trails, with very few roots or rocks, but very many switchbacks and a lot of dust. They would start at 3:30 PM.
The other team – Matt, Rob, Tim, Scott, Al/Dave/Tim, Kori, Trish, and Carrie Larsen (former ENer who always volunteers to come over and run with us) – did just one time through each of the three loops. In order to finish at a reasonable time and avoid running in the heat of the day after pulling an all-nighter, we sand-bagged our qualifying times, and snagged a primo start slot at 10 AM Friday morning. While our first runners hit the course, the ultra team and a few later regular runners hit the tarmac one last time, on a 35 mile cruise around the upper valley, rumbling up McClain Flats Road. Which is totally mis-named. The first mile or so rises in stair steps of 15-18%, easing off to 9% near its top, then cooling down to a 3 mile section of 3% or so. (But the views are great).
The day before, Trish and I did our usual “grab the best camping spot before anyone else” routine. Our previous site had been overrun by the Glamping Option. For a mere $1800, Ragnar will set up a tent for you, with a central room and three wings, cots, sleeping bags, heaters, 3 meals a day, and probably showers and massage for all I know. We picked a spot providing afternoon shade, right on the run-out for two of the three loops, prime locale to display EN colors.
It sounds torturous, but, really, the hardest part of this brick is getting each person down on time to run their legs, and then back up again to refuel, rest, and maybe sleep. It works just fine … until it doesn’t. (Imagine 2 or 3 “what happens @ Al Camp stays @ Al Camp” stories here.) The Ultras, on the other hand, spent their entire 21 hours either running, or in their tent, trying to sleep, stay warm, and contemplate why Jeremy would have twisted their arms to do this crazy thing. They vented their frustrations by filling a pastry box with a large cache of muffin stumps.
Another thing about the Ragnar is, the running never stops. Meaning, we go all night. This is fun up until about 11 PM, then either the cold willies take the upper hand, or you get awestruck by the thin chilly air which reveals, on this moonless night, the Milky Way in all its glory, set in a background of more stars than seems possible.
By 5 AM, its getting light again. While the regular team rallied with its big guns – Rob, Tim, and Matt – running the final legs, the Ultras suffered their inevitable setback. Danielle zigged when she should have zagged, and ends up in the med tent with a laceration on her hand. Unable to complete her last two legs, Tim and Rob nobly stepped up and filled in. By the time Teri ran the last time around the Red Loop, they were firmly in the lead in their category (Mixed Masters), second overall in the Ultra group. We regulars were pleased just to have finished, 15/35 in our category (thanks for that, Rob), and 49/225 overall.
Collectively, that week we cycled over 5,000 miles, climbed over 350,000 vertical feet…and then ran 228.8 miles in an overnight double Ragnar Trail relay. Truly Bad Ass.
On a personal note, I’d like to thank my friends and #EnduranceNation teammates Scott Dinhofer, Jeremy Behler, Danielle Bouchard Santucci, Trish Marshall, Teri Shimodoi Cashmore, Matt Limbert, John Withrow, Rob Peters, Dave Campbell, Kori Martini Retzbach, Tim Sullivan, and Coach Patrick McCrann for helping keep me young and motivated. You guys are the greatest.