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2013 Ragnar Trail McDowell Mountain

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Location:

Mesa,AZ,USA

Member Since:

May 12, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I started running again in 2007 after 14 years of not running.

Mile - 4:59 (high school 1992), 5:57 (9/21/2010 ARR Open Mile)

2 mile - 11:10 (high school 1992)

5k - 21:54 (11/18/2010 Tempe Road Runners 5k)

10k - 48:29 (5/9/2009 Race for Hospice)

Unofficial 10k - 47:11 (1/27/2011 Red Mountain Park)

1/2 marathon - 1:49:00 (4/4/2009 Havasu Half)

Marathon - 4:33:09 (11/21/2009 Mesquite Marathon)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Run a half marathon in under two hours.

Run a marathon in close to 4 hours.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Stay healthy long enough to live through the millenium.

Personal:

I am married and have six kids. 

Blog title explanation

Bloggers I've met in real life: 1MileToGo, Aaron Kennard, Andrea North, Arizona Desert Monsoon, auntieem, Bec, Ben, Benjamin, Bonnie, Camille, Cari, Collin Anderson, David Holt, DooneEight Kid Mom, Erico, Flatlander, Gary, Jake Krong, JamesW, Jose, Josse, Julieesplin, JunKelli, Kerri, KP, Kyle Dion, Lightitup, Little Bad Legs, Lybi, Marthon Dreamer, M, Mary Ann Schauerhamer, Misty, Nan, Peds Endo Doc, Rachelle, RADRhett, Riley Cook, Rossy, runningafterbabies, Sasha, Scott Hughes, Scott (Kelli's husband), Scott Wesemann, Slow Joe, Spencer Simpson, Stephen, Steve Piccolo, Susie, The Rookie, Toby, Tracy, Twinkies, TylerS, Walter

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Lifetime Miles: 803.99
Asics Gel 3030 Lifetime Miles: 204.85
Saucony Hurricane 13 Lifetime Miles: 149.22
Asics Gel DS Trainer 17 Lifetime Miles: 87.49
Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 Lifetime Miles: 800.59
Brooks Ravenna 4 Lifetime Miles: 88.83
Mizuno X10 Trail Lifetime Miles: 180.06
Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 Lifetime Miles: 802.77
Asics Gel Kayano 21 Lifetime Miles: 56.47
Mizuno Wave Inspire 11 (blue) Lifetime Miles: 800.75
New Balance 1260v5 Lifetime Miles: 9.19
Reebok Floatride Lifetime Miles: 8.23
Total Distance
23.01
Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 Miles: 3.26Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Miles: 3.25Brooks Ravenna 4 Miles: 16.50
Weight: 0.00
Total Distance
3.26

This morning was the first time I listened to Pandora while I was running.  I don't have headphones.  I just cranked it up in my pocket.  The selection she picked out for me was: Def Leppard, Miss You in a Heartbeat - Rush, Half the World - Phil Collins, Easy Lover - Cinderella, Somebody Save Me - Metallica, Killing Time - Bon Jovi, I'll Be There For You.  That last song is where I lost my man card.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 Miles: 3.26
Weight: 0.00
Comments(8)
Total Distance
3.25

I saw a hobo sleeping on the bench by the MWF.  He had a white sheet propped over him like a tent.  Today's playlist: Bryan Adams; Summer of 69, Nameless Band; Bed of Roses, Guns N' Roses; Knockin' on Heaven's Door, 3 Doors Down; Here With You, Joan Jett; I Love Rock N' Roll, Nameless Band; Have a Nice Day, Aerosmith; Angel.  Looks like I'm down another two man cards.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Miles: 3.25
Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Race: 2013 Ragnar Trail McDowell Mountain (16.5 Miles) 03:18:00
Total Distance
16.50

This was my first Ragnar Trail race.  The way it works is all the teams set up their tents at a base camp.  There are 8 people on a regular team.  Start times are staggered throughout the day.  We started at 2pm.  I was runner #1.  I ran the green loop.  When I finish I hand off the race bib which is attached to a belt, to runner #2, and runner #2 runs the yellow loop.  Then runner #3 runs the red loop.  Then runner #4 runs the green loop.  You continue in that order until everyone on the team has run all three loops.

My first loop was pretty tough because of how hot it was.  And that set the tone for my remaining loops.  The green loop was 4.6 miles with lots of up and down hills.  I knew it was hot so I decided to take it very easy because I didn't want to carry any water with me.  I had just drunk a full Gatorade so I figured I wouldn't dehydrate.  I was right, but I probably should have brought some water just to dump on my head.  The hills were really working me because I hadn't really trained for them and I was using muscles that I don't really need to running on the road.  After a while I could feel the cotton mouth coming on.  I knew I was going to be quite a bit slower than what I'd hoped for.  Oh well.  All the time I kept thinking about when I ran Ragnar So Cal in 107° heat and wondering how I would be able to complete my next two legs, but then it was much cooler and they were no problem.  So I figured I'd be ok.

My next loop was the red loop.  It was 7.6 miles and had the most elevation change.  But the nice thing was that it wasn't as much up and down all the time.  It was just a gradual climb up and then back down.  By this time it was 11pm.  It had cooled off considerably.  I was still recovering from my first loop, but I had no problem running the whole way.  This time I carried water with me and my phone so I could use Endomondo to know how far I'd gone.  After about 1/2 mile I took my headlamp off and put it in my pocket and ran by the light of the moon.  It was a risky maneuver, but I enjoyed it.  I didn't fall at all like 90% of the runners out there.  Probably because I was going slow.  I did have a couple times where I would step in a depression and jar my back, but it was a pretty good run.  They had the course well marked with colored lights on the markers.  After I finished I pretty much slept until my final leg.

The last loop, the yellow loop, was the shortest distance, 4.3 miles, but everyone said it was the hardest.  They were right.  It had the toughest hill and the most rollers.  I was pooped.  But I kept a pretty steady pace.  Steady and slow, don't you know.  I forgot to put Body Glide on this time and started feeling my sensitive areas getting uncomfortable, so I took my shirt off.  At one point a girl passed me and I apologized for what she had to see.  She laughed.  Hard.  Despite how hard it was I managed to finish strong.  The nice thing was that the sun had just come up and it wasn't too hot.  Unfortunately for the rest of my team they had to run in the heat again.  We ended up being 5.5 hours behind our projection time.  Little Old Lady!

Most of the people I talked to said they preferred the trail relay to the road relays.  You don't have to worry about driving all over the place.  You get more sleep.  You get to hang out with the whole team all the time.  I still think I prefer the road races just because I much prefer running on the road.  Trails are tough. 

Brooks Ravenna 4 Miles: 16.50
Weight: 0.00
Comments(17)
Total Distance
23.01
Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 Miles: 3.26Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Miles: 3.25Brooks Ravenna 4 Miles: 16.50
Weight: 0.00
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