I suppose I'll run a Ragnar.

****Last day to enter my GIVEAWAY for Scott James Jewelry! I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning.
 
NOTHING gets me excited like seeing this:

I could jump up and down screaming right now if it weren't for the fact that my baby is asleep and I prefer her to stay that way for awhile.

I think my excitement stems from the fact that running the Wasatch Back in 2010 was my very first race EVER.  The runner's high caught hold of me big time, and I've been addicted to it ever since.  I feel like Ragnar's bring out the best part of running- you work past extremes in fatigue, distance, temperature, running times, crazy hills, soreness, and best of all, you get to do it as a team. 

Next Thursday I get to meet my Vegas Ragnar team for the first time- 7 Studs and their Showgirls. I know Julia and Rachelle as blogging buddies, but I've never laid eyes on the rest of them. Dallas (my husband) calls my blog friends my "Invisible Friends" (credit for the title going to Mindy's husband Derek) and I'm stoked to turn them into real friends.  

This Ragnar feels so odd to me.  All 3 of my previous Ragnar's I trained for like crazy- never missing two and three a day runs, and running at all times of the day and such.  And the hills, the HILLS!  I ran so many hills.  Running this race has been almost an afterthought.  I can't believe I can just say, "Sure, I can run a Ragnar."  They are tough business and I'm happy to be able to run one at the drop of a hat!  It helps that I'm not running the Ragnar Leg or anything.

So as a team of 12 we will be conquering this:

Ragnar Relay Las Vegas course map.

I'm runner #11 and will be completing 3 separate legs as follows:

Leg #1- 3.7 miles and 574 foot elevation gain.  This is my toughest of the race, but as my first leg- still feeling fresh- it doesn't freak me out.

Leg #2- 3.9 miles pretty much FLAT!  Sweet!  I don't think I ever run a flat course unless I'm on a track.

Leg #3- Then I get to finish off with this beauty- 4.2 miles with nearly 470 foot loss.  Seriously folks.  This is what I'm talking about!  PR TIME!  I'm hoping to break my 5K PR time on this leg.

I'm so so so excited for this race!  Meet new friends, hang out in Vegas with some family, run a good race.

I've come a long way since I first started running in January 2010, and I'm pretty stoked to reward myself with a cool trip.  Where would I be without my invisible friends?!  Thanks you so much for inviting me, Rachelle!

If you haven't run an overnight relay- it is a MUST do!!!  There are legs for all difficulties- from the new runner to the veteran- you pick your poison.  Do one, and you'll be addicted.  Promise!

Have you ever run a relay?  If so, what is your favorite?

I've run Ragnar Wasatch Back (Utah) twice, and Del Sol (Arizona) once.  I loved both for different reasons, but Wasatch Back is by far my favorite race I've ever run.  It's so freaking hard that you can't help but feel pride in accomplishment.  I feel as proud that I ran up the Ragnar leg as I do about running a Boston Qualifying Marathon.