Friday and Saturday I ran with Team Velociraptors in the 2010 Ragnar Relay NWP.  “NWP” stands for “Northwest Passage”, and it’s one of a handful of Ragnar events around the country in which teams of twelve runners run continuously for around 30 hours or so, in legs of 3 to 9 miles.

This event started at Blaine, right next to the Peace Arch at the Canadian border, and ended in Langley, on the southern tip of Whidbey Island.  In between we ran through Bellingham, the lovely Skagit Valley, Anacortes, La Conner, across Deception Pass, and up and down the hills of Whidbey Island.

I got hooked up with the team thanks to fellow runner and friend Chris Pothering, who I met on Daily Mile 6-odd months ago.  I signed up for the relay probably 5 months ago.  So of course I did most of my logistical race prep on Thursday.  Hey, there’s nothing like the last minute to get your adrenaline flowing!

Half of our team rode up Thursday night with Paul and Jenny Ingram in their Odyssey and overnighted in Bellingham.  The other half of the team came up early Friday morning.  I was in Van #2, the one that rode up Thursday night, along with Paul, Jenny, Chris, Joel, Leslie, Terry.  I’d previously only met Chris, Joel, and Leslie, but instantly became good friends with Paul and Jenny.  Paul was our driver, navigator, support staff, cheerleader-in-chief, and humorist all rolled into one.  He made the race so much better and saved the runners from having to double duty as drivers in between their legs.

On the way up to Bellingham we stopped for dinner at Claim Jumper and I had a 12-lb chicken fried steak.  More on that later. (ed: foreshadowing? Isn’t that kind of unnecessary in a blog post? Me: no way!)

Friday morning we made our way to the starting line and I was immediately taken with all the wild, creative decorating that some of the teams did to their vans.  Jenny went to work decorating our van and drew a scary dinosaur on our van with some window paint, along with our team name and other fun stuff.  Secondarily, I was blown away by some of the costumes.  One of the teams was “The Petting Zoo”, and they ran in animal costumes.  One guy, the cow, had udders coming out of his stomach area.  There were cavemen, cheerleaders, princesses, wild-haired rockers, whores, and several other themes I can’t remember.  I should have taken more photos.

Brad, from Van #1, started us off in Blaine and then we in Van #2 did the smart thing and went right to a Starbucks for some coffee.  Oh wait, we went to Target first and got a van-top carryall since we packed way too much stuff.  But then to Starbucks.  As we were drinking our coffee we got into a game where we tried to throw a scrunched-up pastry bag into the trash can and I’m proud to say I had the shot of the century – an up-in-the-air, off-the-chair toilet-bowl-flush shot.  Jenny captured it on video.

Then to Exchange 6, where we cheered on Katie and sent off Joel on Leg 7.  We picked up Chris, who had ridden in Van #1 to run Leg #4 since we only had 11 runners.  One of our team had to back out at the last minute so three of our runners – Chris, Leslie, and Katie – each picked up a fourth leg.  Superhuman.

My first leg, #10, was a shortish but hot leg at about 4:00 PM and I of course started out too fast, but realized it early enough to not kill the rest of my relay.  I had predicted 11-minute miles on average across all three legs, but I think I came in under that overall and felt pretty fit.  My main complaint on all three legs was tightness/creakiness in my knees and hamstrings.  And getting out there and running, just running, was freeing and fun and wonderful.  I was nervous going into each leg – what if I’m too slow?  What if I get lost?  What if I trip and injure myself?  – but once I started, all worries went away and I was just, you know, out there, one with nature and the team and the race.

At about 10:00 PM Friday night we got 45 minutes of sleep at Exchange 18, then were off again.  I ran Leg 22 at about 2:30 AM, in beautifully cool weather, under a nearly-full moon, just outside Anacortes.  That was my favorite leg.

We got about 3 more hours of sleep at Exchange 30 in Coupeville, in a gym at the Coupeville Middle School.  For some odd reason the fire alarm went off a couple times, but I slept like a rock, even on the hard gym floor.

By the time I got started on Leg 34, near Langley, I was feeling damned good (mentally) and not nearly as bad as I had feared (physically).  My legs were tired, but I knew I could finish.  Even a brutal hill in the middle of the leg didn’t diminish my confidence, and I notched up a few “kills” (where you pass another runner) on that hill.  Speaking of kills, I was negative for the race, due to some speedy jackrabbits in later-starting teams, but I passed enough people that I was only mildly negative.

Funniest moment?  For me, there were a few.  One was when we watched this video of the “full on double rainbow” guy.  Another was before Leg 33.  We had dropped off Terry and went to a little store for coffee.  I had filled up four large coffee cups with drip and cream before Paul realized there was espresso further back in the store.  I went ahead and bought the coffee anyway, since I’d sort of committed myself.  Then at the Leg 33 parking area, the van in front of us looked at my coffee cup and said “Oh my god, that looks so good” and I took the opportunity to give away the extra hot coffee.  Good karma and all that.  Then I went to the port-a-potty and spent a few choice minutes getting reacquainted with my chicken fried steak, so to say.  Feeling a few pounds lighter, I made my way to the handoff area and this exchange took place:

Jenny: So, you got rid of it.

Me: Yeah!

Jenny: The coffee.

Me: (confused) No, the chicken fried steak.

Jenny: (confused)

Me: (confused)

Then I doubled up with laughter.  She was referring to me giving away the extra coffee, but I was referring to, well, something else. Too funny.

A few other things that were memorable: holding flowers out for the runners as they came up for water.  Learning how to best support runners by leapfrogging in the van and being ready with water or Gatorade.  Tapping the one-mile-out markers as I ran by them, for good luck.  Not stopping to walk, even on hills.  Getting caught with my pants down as I was changing out of my sweaty running clothes at the start of Leg 24, when the van parked behind us turned on the lights.  Oops!

Most of all, I just loved the team, the camaraderie, the together-ness of it all, and the pure joyous act of running.  Many or most of us are at least interested in doing it again next year, and I know for sure I’m going to be in Blaine next July.

So I went into The Big Climb this morning with VERY limited expectations.

To wit: I’d spent most of the last week or two with a sore hamstring and knee.  Further: my head is a fucking mess; a tangle of bullshit, cobwebs, and hyped-up adrenaline.  Yet further: some sort of super-allergy hit me on Wednesday, causing full-body hives and a hacking cough and god knows what else amongst my internal organs.

But I got to the Columbia Center and entered a sort of super-madhouse of energized, directed fun.  These people were here to climb.  The feeling of dedication to the cause, to those who have been affected by leukemia, lymphoma, or other blood cancers, was palpable.  I immediately thought of my friend Tom, persistent and unfailingly positive with his own battle with lymphoma, and my resolve strengthened.  I thought of my friend Trevor, whose generous donation allowed by to race, and of the team from work, all of whom probably struggle with their own daily battles.  My resolve strengthened further.

So – chin up, chest out; register, check my jacket, stretch, jump up and down a bit, and remind myself not to blow my wad on the first twenty; save yourself for the last twenty and you’ll feel much better.  Prepare yourself mentally to feel like vomiting and you’ll be less likely to actually vomit.  Act like you’re twenty-five, even though I haven’t seen the sunny side of thirty in many a year.

And you know what?  I had fun.  I did well.  I don’t know how well, because the results aren’t in yet, but I passed a couple of the fit young bucks from the work team on the way up, and I’m guessing that I’ll see the top half of my age group.  I trod steadily, consistently, and purposefully; passing enough to feel energized, yet passed in turn by enough to feel like I was keeping the right pace.

All the while remembering that I’m fairly fucking lucky to have my health and be in a situation where I can actually climb 69 flights of stairs with thousands of others.  Which I, naturally, forget sometimes with all the goddamned navel-gazing.

I want to end this post with a huge THANK YOU to all the sponsors and volunteers who came out in support of the event; you, ladies and gentlemen, are true heroes and worthy of the highest praise.

UPDATE: Individual results are in, and I placed in the top quarter of all finishers, which probably means I’m in the top quarter for my age group as well.  Yay! Age group results will be posted in the next day or two.

So I agreed today to my first competitive multistage race, the RAGNAR – NWP, aka the Ragnar Relays at the Northwest Passage.  It’s a 187-mile race wherein 12 runners on each team race relay-style for the finish line.  From the Ragnar Relay website:

You and 11 of your closest friends running day and night, relay-style, through some of the most scenic terrain North America could muster. Add in live bands, inside jokes and a mild case of sleep deprivation. The result? Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it a Ragnar Relay.

Sounds kind of fun, right?  I got word from an acquaintance on dailymile that they were looking for a couple more people to fill out their team, and hey, I’m game for anything.  Plus I love the challenge of a clear, motivating goal.

So, July 23rd and 24th, I’ll be running, resting, cheering, encouraging, and probably occasionally gasping for breath   Looking at last year’s results, the winning over 30 pace was 7-something per mile, which is way faster than I can run ONE leg, let alone three legs.  Wish me luck during my training the next six months – I need it!

No, seriously, though, what’s a Ragnar?  Turns out he was a 9th-century Norse king.  Their about page has a special section for people like me who get a kick out of the name and want to learn more.

I’m very excited.

So I’ve been battling severe stomach cramps all morning.  I’m pretty sure I picked up something from the kids, but am not sure if it’s the stomach flu, or some lesser-known virus, or just some passing bug of unknown provenance.

The good news is that my legs are not sore/tired from yesterday’s 56-miler.  I was sort of worried when I was cramping up that I was overdoing it, but aside from my stomach, I feel like I could go out and go biking again, or go for a long run.  Well, let me take that back – my ass is really sore from four hours in the saddle, so I probably wouldn’t bike again today   Not to mention the fact that my stomach is REALLY killing me.  Every 30 minutes or so it cramps up to the point where I double over.

The bad news about getting sick right after (during?) my ride is that I didn’t have a chance to reflect on and digest all the things I was thinking about as I was pedaling.  Nothing like four uninterrupted hours to get some thinking done.  I mentioned a little while ago how a couple recent comments have sort of stuck with me, in a not-so-great way, but I think I made some headway about putting the comments into perspective in terms of where I want or need to go based on that information.  It’s not the most fun thing in the world, to feel let down in a way, even in an unintentional way, but it happens.  Life goes on.   Get over yourself (myself!).  So my ride was a chance for me to exorcise some minor demons, put the ghosts back in the attic where they belong, and see if I can try to put those comments out of my mind.

I suppose you could argue that the fact I’m blogging about them shows that I’m still dwelling on them.  Fair enough.  But it’s a process, not a light switch that you can turn on or off.

Do you ever talk to yourself when you bike?  I do, every so often – and no, I’m not weird.   I think!  But I found myself talking to myself once or twice yesterday, to put into words that I could hear the thoughts going through my head.  It helped.  Normally I think a mile a minute, but actually speaking the thoughts slows everything down and makes it clear what it is that you’re thinking.  And when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, there’s nobody around – just me.

I’ve been thinking about doing the bike-to-work commute starting soon – let’s see how this stomach flu or whatever shakes out, and maybe on good-weather days I can get in some exercise that way.  Still shooting for a major fitness milestone this week – will report more as I achieve or don’t achieve it.  But wish me luck!

Yesterday I rode 56 miles round trip – a good workout by anyone’s estimation, except maybe skinny Tour de France competitors.  I didn’t feel as good as I thought I might, considering my fitness level has been going up and up – it turns out, I found out later, that I was battling a stomach bug.  Last night both kids threw up and as I write this Monday morning my stomach is in knots and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay at work.

At least the weather cooperated.  Just a few hints of showers here and there, but mostly great biking weather – very little wind.  It could have been a bit warmer.

On the way back from my turnaround point my legs were cramping up, which is odd – I’m not normally a cramper.  That was the first sign that something was wrong.  I ended up spending all afternoon and evening on my back, in bed or on the couch.  Not a great way to spend the day.

One fun story, and proof that people are good at heart – I was about 45 miles in, on my way back home, and stopped at a red light.  A fellow on the corner, who appeared to be a little down on his luck, asked me how far I was going.  When I said “56 miles” his eyes got wide and he said “50 MILES????”  and then said something to the effect that this was awesome, he couldn’t believe it, I’m doing a great job, etc. etc.  It made me smile.

Anyone out there into orienteering?  I have a goal in 2010 to compete in at least one adventure race and orienteering seems to be a great way to pick up some essential navigation skills.

There’s a local club, the Cascade Orienteering Club (COC) (don’t ask me how to pronounce that – ed.) that holds events every week or two, and their Events Page says that “all local COC meets offer a course for beginners or newcomers unless otherwise noted.”  Their next event is February 6th in Mt. Vernon and I’m…intrigued.  Sounds like you need a whistle, a compass, trail boots or running shoes, and some rain gear.  Easy enough.

If you’re into orienteering and are a regular reader, drop me a line and let me know what I can expect to see at an event.  And if you’re also intrigued, but have never done it either, drop me a line and let me know if you’re interested in joining up on the 6th.

So I get to the gym tonight at 6:49, just in time to hear over the intercom: “Mieko’s will be closing in 10 minutes.  Thank you.”  WHAT?  I thought they stayed open until 8 PM on Saturdays.  My bad.  You’ve never seen a guy working out faster than me between 6:50 and 7:00 PM.  I did 9 total sets, very intense, but with good form,and actually felt like I got my money’s worth.

The good thing is I learned that I can work out faster and more intensely in my quote-unquote normal workouts.  This can only mean good things for my fitness.

Having said that, next time I’ll get there at 6:30

Last night I went to the gym and abused myself.  It may have been the most intense weight workout I’ve done in 15 years.  I really pummeled myself – endless intense sets with heavy weights, no rest, pushing myself to the max.

I worked out a lot of stress, anger, rage, disappointment, and frustration.  A good workout just grabs all of that out of you and throws it on the floor, for you to grind into the carpet with a 200-lb barbell across your shoulders.

Good news: I benched my bodyweight for 6 reps – a new (recent) PR for me, and worked my abs so hard that I’m really *really* sore (in a good way) this morning.  Sometimes abs are tough to target, but I was a  maniac last night.

Today?  Running after work.  I have a race in mind in a few weeks, another 5K, so I need to start the intervals.  The race is called the Valentines Day Dash and is held at Greenlake the morning of February 13th.  It’s nice to have a goal coming up to focus my training.  I want to hit 25:00 for this one.  I WILL hit 25:00 for this one.

So the full results are in for Sunday’s Jingle Bell Run, and I finished in the top third of my age group, coming in 70th out of 240 in the male 30-39 division.  I’m very pleased with that placing.  I felt worse than I actually performed; my hamstrings were sore and tight before and during the run, and in fact all day yesterday.  Today is a different story; I feel great and am not at all sore.  In fact, I was able to get to the gym this afternoon for a fairly intense weight workout.

All this focus on fitness and exercise is just a net good thing.  There’s nothing bad about it.  I’m feeling great physically, and although my diet has lapsed a bit in the days since my 100-day workout challenge, I know that it’s a temporary thing and that I can take the next step in my personal fitness goals whenever I decide to set my mind on it.

I’ll leave you with two words: adventure racing.

12,000 of my closest friends and I got out in the freezing Seattle weather this morning to participate in the 25th annual Jingle Bell Run in Seattle.  This is a kind of anti-race: the joy is in the participation, in the costumes, in the shared community spirit, not necessarily how high you finish.

Having said that, I did really well, ha ha ha!  I beat my previous 5K PR by over a minute, coming in at 26:01, or an 8:31/mile pace.  Pretty good considering I woke up with really sore hamstrings and ran the whole way with reindeer antlers.   I think that I can definitely get down to a 7:00/mile pace by mid-to-late spring, if I keep exercising and eating right.   Good things happen to good people, right?  And I’m DEFINITELY due for some good things to happen.

To the lady in the port-a-potty who forgot to slide the latch shut so that the label still read “OPEN – I’m really sorry.  It’s just that I was one of hundreds of people standing around, looking excitedly for the green “OPEN” labels, and I really didn’t mean to *cough* expose you to the world.  I hope the fright made you run a bit faster.  Next time I’ll knock first.

Best costume?  Hm.  There were quite a few Cindy Lou Who lookalikes, but my favorites may have been the two Santa’s elves who were taking pictures on the top floor of Westlake Center.  You two looked like you were having the time of your life, and your costumes were fantastic!

Full Jingle Bell Run race results here, for those of you interested.