Great River Ragnar Relay: The Return of Ricky's Dirty Dozen 8/19-20/2011

I started the long, painful, solo drive from Omaha to Minneapolis at 11:30 AM on Thursday, and arrived in time for the carpool at 6:30 PM. As a team, we drove "Uncle Scott's" borrowed van from Minneapolis to Winona arriving a little after 9:00 PM. It was a long day of butt pain, but I was committed to my team and my captain.


My very good friend and our team captain, Thelma, was instrumental in my development as a runner and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her or with her, so when she calls for me, I am there. Usually our antics involve four components: 1) dressing up, 2) doing something athletic, 3) alcohol celebration, and 4) fun. This year and event, was no exception.


There were four returning members and we were short a runner, so we were technically only Ricky's Dirty Dozen Minus One. Our all-woman team was quick to pick up extra legs and it was nice having the extra space in our van. We got our obnoxious bright orange costumes/uniform from the Iowa Prison Industries, official convict jumpsuits. Temperatures hit highs in the 80's so I was not one of the girls who decided to run in uniform. I considered mine a Radioactive Hazard Suit after all my sweating and baking in the sun.

This year's course started in Winona MN, crossed over into Wisconsin, followed the Mississippi River for miles and miles, and after 196 miles ended at the University of Minnesota campus boathouse. Last year I had a few more responsibilities: I drove, navigated, took times, splits, gave massages, and actually had to use my brain. This year, I was treated like the running muscle and I wasn't expected to think. It was like my mission was just to turn my brain off and run. 
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I was runner #1 so I got to start the party at 9:00 AM Friday morning. 

Friday 9:00 AM: Leg 1 - 7.67 miles - Time 1:04:00, Pace 8:21

It is crazy not to get caught up in the start. We are given a start time based on the overall estimated finishing time of the team, so those people running the same legs are you can be any speed. I take off way too fast and cannot control myself - an internal struggle takes place between between mind and body throughout an entire hour. I eventually get the slap bracelet to Deb and consider running the 6+ miles with her, just so I don't have to sit down for an hour. I decide to stop because my right baby toe is a giant blister turned open wound in Green Silences. GROSS!

Friday 10:30 AM: Leg 3 - 5.34 miles - Time 46:29, Pace 8:42 

Deb hands back off to me and I take off in my Adrenalines. This leg is straighter and flatter, through cornfields and end up in a small town park. I stop to help a 14-year old girl who is struggling. We talk for a bit and her family decides to drive behind her and leap-frog her more closely. They tell me to go ahead, so I go. It is boring and getting hot. I see much more walkers than expected, people are already throwing up in the bushes. I am thankful that my legs are done until the evening. It's going to be a hot one!

During the break where Van 2, and our other 6 members pick up the course, our van goes to Major Exchange 13 to eat and rest. It was during this time where I hit a low point and want to go home. Not sure why this happening, but I shed a few tears, feel pretty isolated, and just don't care to be there (where?) anymore. My phone goes in and out of service and I send a few sad, sorry text messages to a few people to saying, "I need a break from running". At the current time, I mean it.

Friday 7:30 PM: Leg 13 - 6.37 miles - Time 56:00, Pace 8:47 

The first of the night legs, I put on my reflective vest, head lamp, and flashing-red butt light. The last runner from Van 2 hits me with the bracelet, and I take off like a bat out of hell. A girl in a prom dress (yes, really) was right on my tail and for about 40 yards, it is as if we are racing. All of a sudden, I find myself in small town traffic; the locals are heading to dinner in the town's only restaurant. I stop and let the girl catch up. She says she's planning a 9:00 pace, I tell her I want a 8:30. We make some kind of deal to run 8:45's and run the leg together. It proves to be a great decision and talking to someone while running, brings me back, lifts me up, and recharges my spirit for the remainder of the race.  

Friday 9:45 PM: Leg 15 - 3 miles - Time 25:41, Pace 8:34 

Holy Shitoly, it was dark out there. I love running with Thelma. I will always love running with Thelma. Reminds me of our Purdue days, except for the fact that we never ran around in absolute darkness in the middle of nowhere. 

Saturday 5:20 AM: Leg 25 - 3.9 miles - Time 30:00, Pace 7:42

Slept on a hard gymnasium floor at a junior high school at the Major Exchange for about 45 minutes, and was amazed that the other four girls could sleep so well and three times as long (just me being jealous). I wake up Trisha and we head to the exchange zone because we hear that Van 2 is ahead of schedule. The other of the girls, from either van are no where to be found. I am about the 6th person in line waiting for a porta-potty when I hear a volunteer yell, "Team 171!" I respond, "I'm here!!" and run out of the line for the can, directly into the exchange corral, and get the bracelet. I motor up the hill and hope that my van gets everything together and meets me at the next exchange. I run by the Correctional Facility in Stillwater MN and am quite happy that I'm not in my orange jumpsuit. The sun comes up and it's a great day to be alive. I can't believe I'm running so well. By the time I finish this leg, my grand total is 26.28 miles. 

After 21 hours, my job is done. We crew and cheer each other on, and when our van completes all our legs, we just loiter at the finish line waiting for our team to show up. At 2:42 PM, we meet up with the girls from other van, and in uniform, jump in to finish the race with our last runner. By this time, I am over-sunned, fatigued in every way, sore all over, slap happy, and malnourished. 


Ricky's Dirty Dozen is 149th of 280 relay teams, and 6th out of 19 all-women teams. 

That night I drive back to Omaha. It is similar to Ragnar but instead of driving and running, I am driving and sleeping along the route home. I make it home Sunday morning at 8:00 AM, incredibly sore but at least I'm not tired.

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What I learned this year:

1) Driving or sitting in a vehicle hurts more than running.

2) Running 26.2 miles in 5 separate legs is much harder than running a marathon to completion.

3) I am still and probably always will be an "Incredible Sweater".

4) Best treat : Fresh hot gas station coffee and a bag of salt and vinegar kettle chips (Friday 9:30 PM, 12.5 hours after the start).

5) Relays really are a lot of fun (after the race).

Having some fun with the local police