Ragnar Relay 2011

After my crazy Ragnar adventure last year, Anna and Johanna talked me into doing it again this year.  I was hesitant mostly because I knew I'd probably be pregnant.  (And I was-- 20 weeks along.)  But Michael didn't even flinch when I brought it up, so I went for it.

Ragnar 2010 Team $#!T-- I met all these people the day before, and they were great!

The first thing I was excited about was our team name: Saints and Sinners.  I thought this was hilarious because Johanna and Anna and all their "non-Mormon sinner friends" filled one van, and I picked out "saintly" friends for the other.

Saints: James, Bubba, Me, Amanda, Brett, Sam

Sinners: Becca, Michelle, Johanna, Anna, Stephanie, and Liz

All kinds of ideas started rolling and it turned out to be a blast.  Mikey um rendered? our team shirts (Anna and I came up with the basic idea and he put it together beautifully), and I was super proud of them.  We also decorated our cars cooler this year.

Another thing I was really excited for was running with some of the people I picked: my brother Bubba, bro-in-law, James, and my friend Amanda-- who was kicked off the Jr. High track team with me.  It was also cool getting to know James' brother, Sam, and Amanda's husband, Brett.

Amanda and me after the race.  So good to catch up after ten years!
(Also, check out our awesome shirts!-- there are wings on the back.)

The race itself was tougher than I'd hoped.  I'm ashamed to say this, but when I'm honest with myself I know it's true-- sometimes I like to think I'm better than other people, that things aren't going to be as challenging for me.  So I really hoped I could run Ragnar pregnant and make it look super easy.  But I didn't train as well as I could have, and I was pregnant, so it was a little tough, particularly for the last couple legs.  My second leg was such a beautiful run near a lake in the middle of the night, but I lost my flasher I had to wear on my back and had to run back probably half a mile for it, and things got a little ugly from there.  I wish I could have enjoyed that run a little more.  My last leg was all uphill and I pretty much just hiked it.

Receiving support: it was pretty hot, but I was kind of lazy about this "run."

After the race about half our team had to get home pretty quick so I was a little bummed we couldn't hang out more, and I decided I'm kind of Ragnar-ed out for a while, but I'm really glad I did it this year.  Definitely a good time.

Afterward: my "non-runner" friend Amanda decided to start her own team for next year!  Bubba decided he's tough enough to run the Pocatello Marathon this fall-- and he's going to kick butt!  I feel some pride that I may have contributed to these things.