Wasatch Back roll call

[smokymountainrain]

I'll ignore the comparison of our team to a sinking ship (although it's probably not far off), given that Solon totally atoned for his sins by showing up in Oakley at midnight with bagels, cream cheese, M&Ms, and a magic juice that Lance would envy.

Fun race again, although I'll be much less wordy this year. Guardsman pass kicked my trash again, although not quite so handily this year. My night run went 10 miles around Echo Reservoir on the "rail trail", which in its rocky and unpaved state in the middle of the night should really be called an "ankle breaker trail"; I couldn't enjoy much of the view because I didn't dare look up with my headlamp. My first run was an uneventful but pretty 3.5 mile jaunt through Eden.

It really is amazing how well they pull off the logistics of getting 14000 runners through tiny mountain towns in Utah, but this race is getting close to its size limit. The finish line and activities was their best yet. We held off the BYU cross country team (who started a mere 12 hours later) until the last leg, so everybody except our last runner got to watch them run the BYU flag through the finish line--a surprisingly cool moment. And dang--they're wicked fast.

If you haven't done this race yet, you need to. There's no better way to get to know someone, to get the shiest person to come out of their shell, then to spend 30 hours running and riding in a van with them. Even if you're not a runner, I can't think of a better introduction to the sport. But sign on fast--this thing sells out in weeks.

Hostile--did you run this year?

This really does sound like a lot of fun. Honestly, despite being a good cross country runner in Jr High and HS, I've always hated running, but this is one race that could be a really good time. The problem for me: you say you ran a 10 mile and a 3.5 mile run... Is there a 188 ft leg, by any chance? I tend to get winded after about 2 trips up and down the basketball court these days.

Thanks for the updates, btw ER.

[scottie]

I'll ignore the comparison of our team to a sinking ship (although it's probably not far off), given that Solon totally atoned for his sins by showing up in Oakley at midnight with bagels, cream cheese, M&Ms, and a magic juice that Lance would envy.

Fun race again, although I'll be much less wordy this year. Guardsman pass kicked my trash again, although not quite so handily this year. My night run went 10 miles around Echo Reservoir on the "rail trail", which in its rocky and unpaved state in the middle of the night should really be called an "ankle breaker trail"; I couldn't enjoy much of the view because I didn't dare look up with my headlamp. My first run was an uneventful but pretty 3.5 mile jaunt through Eden.

It really is amazing how well they pull off the logistics of getting 14000 runners through tiny mountain towns in Utah, but this race is getting close to its size limit. The finish line and activities was their best yet. We held off the BYU cross country team (who started a mere 12 hours later) until the last leg, so everybody except our last runner got to watch them run the BYU flag through the finish line--a surprisingly cool moment. And dang--they're wicked fast.

If you haven't done this race yet, you need to. There's no better way to get to know someone, to get the shiest person to come out of their shell, then to spend 30 hours running and riding in a van with them. Even if you're not a runner, I can't think of a better introduction to the sport. But sign on fast--this thing sells out in weeks.

Hostile--did you run this year?

My wife and I ran it again (third time for us) with the same group of friends. It's a blast but I disagree with the part I bolded -- I think it's already beyond its size limit. 2009 had 650 teams, 2010 had 1050 (that meant 800 additional vans on those rural roads), and this year had 1127 (1127 with a "cap" of 1050, not a hard cap, obviously). 2009 was incredible; not only was it our first experience (the first-time Ragnar euphoria is pretty cool), but with such a relatively few number of teams there was very little stress of being late for an exchange due solely to traffic congestion/volunteer traffic cop ineptitude. I will say that they did a better job of traffic control this year than last.

I don't know if you were on the Ragnar e-mail distro last year but after collecting their survey results (re: the 2010 event) they reported that the top two complaints were too many teams and the traffic disaster at the finish line. They were pleased to report that they had "listened" to our feedback by ... capping entries for 2011 at 1050--huh??--and that the finish line issues would be addressed. I get that the demand is absolutely there and they're running a business so I have no real hope for fewer teams, but I'll still miss the 650 team days.

I did that Echo Reservoir run in the middle of the night last year.

[beefytee]

Of interest to Scottie and fm...

A coworkers of mine who did the pioneer trek this last week and had to skip out on scottie's team claimed that the trek was tougher than ragnar.

[scottie]

Of interest to Scottie and fm...

A coworkers of mine who did the pioneer trek this last week and had to skip out on scottie's team claimed that the trek was tougher than ragnar.

fm knows him too, eh?

[beefytee]

fm knows him too, eh?

Not that I know of. I just assumed they were in the same group of trekkers (at least FM's kids) since the timeline matched up.

[TripletDaddy]

I'll ignore the comparison of our team to a sinking ship (although it's probably not far off), given that Solon totally atoned for his sins by showing up in Oakley at midnight with bagels, cream cheese, M&Ms, and a magic juice that Lance would envy.

Fun race again, although I'll be much less wordy this year. Guardsman pass kicked my trash again, although not quite so handily this year. My night run went 10 miles around Echo Reservoir on the "rail trail", which in its rocky and unpaved state in the middle of the night should really be called an "ankle breaker trail"; I couldn't enjoy much of the view because I didn't dare look up with my headlamp. My first run was an uneventful but pretty 3.5 mile jaunt through Eden.

It really is amazing how well they pull off the logistics of getting 14000 runners through tiny mountain towns in Utah, but this race is getting close to its size limit. The finish line and activities was their best yet. We held off the BYU cross country team (who started a mere 12 hours later) until the last leg, so everybody except our last runner got to watch them run the BYU flag through the finish line--a surprisingly cool moment. And dang--they're wicked fast.

If you haven't done this race yet, you need to. There's no better way to get to know someone, to get the shiest person to come out of their shell, then to spend 30 hours running and riding in a van with them. Even if you're not a runner, I can't think of a better introduction to the sport. But sign on fast--this thing sells out in weeks.

Hostile--did you run this year?

Some people here at work had a team and they are showing off pictures today of the experience. I'm not a runner but it sure looks like a really cool event through some amazing terrain.

How "good" do you need to be to enjoy the experience? Is it common to see teams of folks that aren't seasoned runners but just want to attempt the course as a group? The entire event sounds like an adventure.

[ERCougar]

Some people here at work had a team and they are showing off pictures today of the experience. I'm not a runner but it sure looks like a really cool event through some amazing terrain.

How "good" do you need to be to enjoy the experience? Is it common to see teams of folks that aren't seasoned runners but just want to attempt the course as a group? The entire event sounds like an adventure.

I think to enjoy it, you need to be able to "run" a 10K, without killing yourself. If you can do that, there are definitely legs that you could run and enjoy the experience, provided that you can find some strong runners to run the hard legs. That's part of the fun of this event though--beginning runners get to ride the coattails of stronger runners. It's also really inspiring to see the really fast teams pass you (they start later), the kinds of runners you never get to see in other races because they start at the front and leave you behind. Where else do you run alongside a college crosscountry athlete?

So I guess it's not a complete entry level event, but close. There are plenty of people who run-walk their legs, although like I said above, I think to really enjoy it, you should be able to finish a 10k comfortably. I think that the organizers suggest everyone be capable of a 12 minute mile pace?

[ERCougar]

I don't know if you were on the Ragnar e-mail distro last year but after collecting their survey results (re: the 2010 event) they reported that the top two complaints were too many teams and the traffic disaster at the finish line. They were pleased to report that they had "listened" to our feedback by ... capping entries for 2011 at 1050--huh??--and that the finish line issues would be addressed. I get that the demand is absolutely there and they're running a business so I have no real hope for fewer teams, but I'll still miss the 650 team days.

I agree, although I do think that the sheer scope of the event adds something to the atmosphere. I am really tempted to try some of the other events, both for the change of scenery and the smaller size.

[ERCougar]

This really does sound like a lot of fun. Honestly, despite being a good cross country runner in Jr High and HS, I've always hated running, but this is one race that could be a really good time. The problem for me: you say you ran a 10 mile and a 3.5 mile run... Is there a 188 ft leg, by any chance? I tend to get winded after about 2 trips up and down the basketball court these days.

I'm guessing that I'd kill for any of your high school 5K times.

[smokymountainrain]

I'm guessing that I'd kill for any of your high school 5K times.

Perhaps, but you're doing it now. To be serious, I'm considering taking up running again just for the chance to run this race. Everybody I've ever talked to has a blast with it.