Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Ragnar Trail Hill Country: Full Recap


Here it is!! Finally, Im able to sit down and tell everyone every detail about how awesome, beautiful, challenging and memorable this trail relay race was!

I start to pull my camping gear out about a week before the race and had it in my garage:
-Sleeping bag     
-cots
-pillow
-tent
-lantern
-fold able chair
-small table
-ice chest
-warm blanket
-other little accessories: plates, napkins, forks, batteries, sun screen, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, trash bags, plastic bags, baby wipes...
** Noted for next year: bring a little stove and something to make coffee in. Coffee was provided, but the lines got so long, and they ran out quickly. **
Jason enjoys camping, so I didn't need to buy anything for camping this weekend!
For food, I packed bacon, fruite, nuun,water. There was going to be food trucks there, so I tried to pack less.
Normally, I cant pack my bag in advance. I end up not packing enough or think I packed something when I didn't. 

I had all my clothes organized in piles. I put my main three race outfits in large zip lock bags. 
Our weather was predicted to be up and down this weekend. So I ended up packing double.
Thank goodness I did!!! At night it dropped to under 40 degrees and during the day it stayed around the 80's , but the sun was just pounding down on you. My body wasn't exactly happy about all that up and down.
Made our sign so we can check off legs as we go!

Prepped about a pound of bacon!
And I was off!!!





Driving down, I hit crazy traffic. I ended up not getting to my camp site till after 7 and the sun had already set. 
Im sure everyone watching me try and set up my tent got a great laugh. 
I went to the next camp site over to ask for help... and it ended up being Sarah!! Our main ambassador warrior for Texas Luckenbach ambassadors! ( How lucky was I!)
About an hour after getting set up, the other ambassador Gina arrived. I basically hung with her and helped her and her husband set up camp until I went to bed.

Friday morning is when the fun started. I got the rest of my camp area set up and blocked off to hold its place until my team arrived and I hungout with ambassdors!








My team started arriving, we checked in and before I knew it.... it was time to hit the trails! I was the first runner for our team.
My first Loop was the Green Loop: 3 miles
It was definitely a narrow course with no shade. So for me, it got hot quick. I started running at 1PM.





 My 2nd loop was the Red Loop: 7.4 miles
I ran this in the dark, It definitely had its technical moments, but because it was so dark, I could never see the elevations gain haha. Because of how narrow and dark it was, I didn't stop to take any pictures. It also got super cold. It took me about 35 minutes to really warm up... so stopping movement was something I really didn't want to do.



My 3rd Loop was the Yellow Loop: 5 miles
This was the most rocky and technical loop in my opinion... but my favorite! Lots of roots, twist, very steep up hill climbs. At one point I stopped and could see how narrow the paths were. I really had to watch my footing so I wouldn't fall. Some areas, you ran along a cliff. The first two miles were done in complete darkness, So I kept a slow, steady pace to make sure I stayed safe. Although I couldn't see all the elevation gain the beginning.... oh boy, could my legs feel it. 
At the top ( about 3 miles up) it was BEAUTIFUL. I looked down and could see tons of other runners.I was lucky enough to see the sun rise at the top of the mountain. Its a view Ill never forget. 
I flew the rest of my run!

The little specks of white along the mountain are actually other runners headlamps.
At the VERY top. 


I absolutely loved running every loop.




Our Double Medal for running Ragnar Austin and Ragnar Hill Country
(Road Relay and Trail Relay in the same state)








Can't wait till Luckenbach!!!!!

(Phote credit: Basically my whole team)

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