This weekend, I had the opportunity to run Ragnar Vegas with Nuun Hydration‘s Viva Los Electrolitos! As I mentioned to my teammate Evelin, I have a difficult time recapping relays events on my blog. It seems impossible to do the experience any justice within the context of one blog post. But, I’m really going to try here and will split it up into a few posts.
After a five hour flight, I made my way to the Flamingo hotel to meet up with my teammates. After texting with our Captain, Brian, I made my way to the rooftop parking lot. Only for relays would you go to the top floor of a hotel parking lot in Las Vegas to meet up with folks you met on the interwebs. I swear, this is totally normal! Anyway, I found them! They were just about wrapping up decorating the vans and it was time to snap some photos of the masterpieces.
Van 1: Kevin, George, Laura, Brian, Sean, and Evelin!
Van 2: Eleanor, Melissa, Jenny, Carrie, Me, and Lauren!
After that we were off to our team dinner. It was so nice to have a chance to sit down with everyone and finally put some faces to names. And, yes we ended up sitting divided by Van… Who does that?
After dinner, I was exhausted thanks to the time change. I did not have it in me to go out so I headed upstairs with my roommates Evelin and Laura. I passed out immediately. Unfortunately, I ended up waking up at 4:30am thanks to that lovely time change. I gave up trying to go back to bed and since the other ladies were in Van 1, I decided to head downstairs with them to grab some coffee and see off the first van to the start.
Stay tuned to see how our first set of legs went! And tell me, have you ever run a relay, met up with strangers (or faces from social media) to run a race? Why does this sound totally normal to bloggers?
Lisa
I love Ragnar! It's so hard to write about the experience so much happens in 2 days. Vegas sounds like a fun venue!
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Out of five Ragnars, this will be my second time recapping! So tough! I will probably try to go back and recap DC too since I have really good notes 😉
Hi, I'm coming from the hop. I have never run a relay race. A Ragnar Relay would be a bucket list item for me. How cool to be doing one in Vegas! I have meet a few bloggers at different races and it is great to put a real person with the blog name. One blogger I met ended up being a very dear friend. We will be running again together in January. It was very nice to meet you!
Same, I now call several bloggers good friends. To people outside the blogging world, I think it sounds a little odd. But, it really has become a fantastic way for me to meet people that enjoy running as much as I do!
I think this is SO fun! I would love an adventure like this–I bet you will be connected with these people for years to come!! Can't wait to hear how it all went!
I first ran Hood to Coast with Nuun in 2013 and I am still very close with all those women. So, there is no doubt that I will continue to be friends with these folks in years to come!
I enjoyed the run relay a ran – such a different running experience. I hope that the rest of your event goes well!
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It is a very different running experience. I love the team aspect of it!
I hope you enjoyed the Ragnar race experience. I can imagine it would be interesting running on a relay with people you just met. I've only done one Ragnar – Miami to Key West what a blast! Nice to have found your page from Grow Your Blog Blog Hop. This is certainly a fun link up!
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One day, I hope to complete ALL THE RAGNARS! LOL For just meeting everyone (I have known them virtually for a long time), there was no drama. Shocking, right? How hot was the Miami to Key West race? It looks gorgeous but I just keep thinking about frying on the pavement!
It was at the beginning of February 2014 and even my midnight leg was killer hot! It was actually one of the toughest races I'd ever done at that time. BUT, it was my first time in Key West and we stayed there for a week after. Talk about a post-race party!!
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Roasting at midnight is exactly my fear! Sounds like a great place for the post race party. What a treat to spend a whole week there!
Sounds like so much fun! Would love to do something like this one day. Can't wait to hear how the rest went!
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It was a blast! I will post the rest of the adventure as soon as I sort through all the photos I took! It was a gorgeous venue to snap lots of photos!
I always love reading about these things. I think the bonding & the atmosphere is what makes these things so unique & fun. cant wait to read more!
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I've heard about Ragner but don't know much about it. Sounds awesome though. And especially in Vegas?? Fun!
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All of the Ragnar relays are 200-ish miles from start to finish. You can compete with a 12 person team or a 6 person team. That will determine how many miles each person will run. It's a crazy sounding concept but it is so much fun! And, yes, you can't beat Vegas!
How awesome is this! I'm so interested in Ragnar! So tell me Lisa, how did you get on the team? You didn't know all your teammates am I right? I think the meeting place in LV would be totally understandable on a rooftop! 🙂
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This was my fifth Ragnar. So, for this one, I was a part of Nuun Hydration's team. I "knew" these teammates virtually but this was my very first time meeting them in person. I have captained my own team and it isn't as hard to fill 12 slots as you might think. Just start with a few runner friends, have them invite some friends and the rest is history! Warning: They are highly addicting!
Oh, and I didn't really answer the Nuun part – Team Nuun runs Ragnars a few times a year with their athletes. I ended up lucking out and filled in last minute. I have been a part of the team since 2013 when I ran Hood to Coast with them. It definitely jump started my relay obsession 😉
I really want to do a Ragnar! We have a local relay similar to them that starts and finishes in the town I live in. I've done it a few times and love it, but Ragnar is high on my bucket list.
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You should definitely do it, especially if you have done other relays. You will be the old pro for organizing purposes!
Ha! Nothing like Ragnar to bring total strangers together 😉
I ran Ragnar DC with a charity group and had never met my van mates. It was an great experience though!
Can’t wait to hear about the race.
Right?! Although, once you meet the strangers it makes setting up future Ragnars easier! I was at DC too! Terrible weather made Vegas seem like a treat even though it was pretty cold and windy at night.
This looked like such a blast! I'm happy you had a good time. After our Ragnar DC experience I definitely want to do another!! SOON 🙂
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I'm glad the stars aligned for this one. Ragnars just make me happy! Oh, and I think I will go back and recap the DC race when I get my act together. I'm glad I jotted some notes down like rain, cold, hug Mar, you know… the essentials 😉
bwahahha!!! yes, those are the highlights 😉
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Never heard of relays except in Track and Field during high school! Sp excited to stop by your blog through the blog hop and read the rest of your experience! Ive been doing a link up on Thursdays about things Ive tried and when it comes to experiences or writing about races I too find it hard to express the experience and emotions that I had while keeping the post condensed!
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Yes, just think of a track and field relay x 200 miles! I love the team element of running!
I do love ragnar races, and you guys look like a really fun group. The last one I did, I wish we had all been able to eat dinner together. Our vans were so divided so most in the first van even went home and we didn't even run through the finishline all together:) But it was still a blast and we had a lot of fun camping out. I haven't don Las Vegas, but have done Wasatch Back, great memories!
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This was a really fun group of people and my first time running on a team with guys too! It's hard to have cohesion between the vans so having dinner before and after the race was really nice. Wasatch is on my list!
Doing a Ragnar is high on my running bucket list! And that you did one in Vegas … I’m soooo jealous!! Sounds like an absolute blast! How many miles did you run in total?
It was so much fun! I ran 18 miles total for this race. The legs range anywhere from 12ish-23ish for this course. Each event is a little bit different and there are always last minute distance chances with the legs (something to be prepared for if you ever run a Ragnar!).
Two things I've wanted to do — run a Ragnar and go to Vegas — and so far I haven't done either! Can't wait to hear the rest of your story!
I enjoyed seeing a different side of Vegas on this trip since we ran back and forth along the outskirts. It really is beautiful and offers a lot more than just the strip. Although, we did spend some time there after the race!
I have always wanted to experience a Ragnar race. I'm just not quite ready for something like that yet. Congrats!! Can't wait to read more about your experience.
Thank you! You can definitely get there! Plus, the team aspect of the event will get you through.
I think it's normal, Lisa.
I haven't met up with strangers to run a race (yet) but I did go to cheer on some runners i met online. I made signs for them and everything. One of the runners told me she saw my sign when she was struggling and it perked her up. http://runwright.net/2014/01/27/she-did-it/
Running truly has to be a community – it's just better that way.
I look forward to hearing the rest of your recap.
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Yes! Thank you for confirming that 😉 It is definitely all about the community for me!
Sounds like a fun way to kickoff your Ragnar experience and to get to know your teammates better! And what a fun city to run a relay race in!
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Yes, it was a great venue for the race. Gorgeous areas to run and then a pretty sweet location for the before/after party.
I've never done a relay and I hadn't heard about the Ragnar Relays before. it looks like an interesting race and it'll be great to read the other parts of your race report.
Thanks Nicola! Ragnars are located all over the US if you ever get the itch to be stuck in a van with other runners for 200-ish miles!
Sounds like fun to me! I have yet to do a Ragnar, but want to. I look forward to reading the rest of your race recap!
Thanks Shannon! We should totally get a Skirt Ragnar going one of these days!
How awesome! I've met up with runners I knew only from social media through being a See Jane Run race ambassador and running runDisney races. They were all super nice! Never done a Ragnar butI'm looking forward to hearing more about yours 🙂
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Thanks Denise! The ambassador programs out there definitely help with meeting fellow bloggers. That is one of the nice things about being "associated" with a race. I too have met lots of bloggers at Disney!
I've read a lot of recaps lately from the Ragnar relay races. They look like a lot of fun! How neat that you got to team up with other Nuun ambassadors. I can't wait to read your full recap!
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My very first relay was with Nuun in 2013 and since then I have run 6 total! They are somewhat addicting and it's such a great way to connect with fellow ambassadors.
This whole Ragnar thing is new to me, although I've read a couple of blog posts about them. I've never done a relay – but if I was invited, I might consider it! And somehow meeting up with a bunch of strangers to run…doesn't seem all that weird to me!
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I'm glad it doesn't seem weird to you either! My mother originally thought I was nuts but now she understands that it is somewhat normal!
Running is a neat thing, brings people from all walks of life together. I might be wary about bunking down with strangers, but I imagine I'd get over it pretty quickly, too! 🙂
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Ah, you're doing it – a Ragnar recap! Love it. Hoping to share room (and van?!) with you again Lisa! <3
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Yes!! I hope to run with you again too! Definitely need to share a van next time!
I have read about Ragnar from a few people and it sounds like a lot of fun. We have something similar up here – the Cabot Trail Relay – and I'd really like to look at running that one year.
I'm with you; a big event deserves more than one post. Looking forward to the next.
Thanks! Yes, I highly recommend relay races. They are such a fun way to bring all the things I love about being a part of a team to a running event.
I ran my first Ragnar relay in August so I know how it feels to try to sum it up on a blog! There are so many amazing things that happen over 2 days and it's so hard to fit it into words. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your recap!
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I think that is why I typically avoid it and just don't post about them! Too much for a single post!
I so want to run a Ragnar race, how cool is that! That time change plus flight is a killer the first day! I am thinking maybe the Key West Ragnar 2017, it books fast! Well I will look forward to the rest of this story!
So true! I think some of the 2017 events already have a waitlist. Key West always looks beautiful but then I think about roasting on the pavement and hold back 😉
This sounds awesome, and I can't wait to read the rest. Have never run a relay myself, but the few running podcasts I listen to have done recaps before and it sounds like such an awesome experience!
Meg x
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It's so much fun so I will warn you that they become highly addicting!!
I'm anxious to hear the recap! I live in Vegas now so I would love to sign up for Ragnar Vegas next year. It's funny, I happened to be at the Red Rock Casino at the movies with my daughter and saw many runners walking around proudly with their medals.
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No way!! That is too funny! We had two locals on our team too.
I have never done Ragnar, but it sounds like so much fun!! Everyone who seems to do them has great things to say about them!
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I haven't had a bad time at a relay and I've done 6 at this point! If you ever have the chance to jump on a team, I highly recommend it!
I am so excited for you, how fun! I am gonna check back to hear how it went! Looks like you have a cool crew, It is always so fun to meet our social friends in real life! I was just overwhelm meeting all the girls at Blogfest this year! Are you going to aply to go? Meet if we both get picked we can meet!
I am going to run my very first Ragnar in Wa 2016! I am so nervous, but know it will be an amazing adventure!
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Ohhh, blogfest! I need to see when the dates are – thanks for the reminder! Yes, it's totally overwhelming to meet all your social friends in real life but awesome at the same time.
Ah so jealous you got to run Ragnar Vegas! I can't wait to hear more about it! 🙂
Thanks! It was a lot of fun!!
Super fun!!! Totally jealous!!!!
Yes, so, so fun 😉 We still need to relay again!!!
Oh my goodness – this sounds like such a blast!!! So thrilled to hear all about it!
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Ahhhhh!!! I loved Ragnar Cape Cod earlier this year! Can't wait to see how the rest of your relay was 😀 😀
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I love reading other people's recaps even though I was there with you! It was great to meet you in person!