Ragnar 2012

This past weekend, Brady participated in the Ragnar Del Sol relay race that goes from Wickenburg to Tempe, Arizona.  Ragnar is a 200 mile running relay split between 12 runners, each runner has three separate legs between 3 and 9 miles and there is always a member of the team running until you finish about 30 hours later.  I should start by saying that Brady has never been a runner and comes from a family of proclaimed non-runners.  When he told me last fall that he had been invited to participate in an Eller MBA Ragnar team and that he had accepted, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Honestly, I was thrilled.  I can't tell you how many times I have suggested to Brady that we should run together and how each of those countless times I have kindly been turned down.  Until now, Brady had no interest in running.

patiently waiting in the heat for daddy to cross the finish line

Harper and I accompanied him on some of his training runs, but he did most of them solo.  As Ragnar got closer his runs got longer and his desire for a sweatband, fanny-pack and short shorts got stronger.  Just days before the race, out on a run, he found all three at a nearby thrift store.  Don't be jealous of me as you look at race-day pics.  Brady had been planning on running 11.6 miles come race day, but the day before he was asked to switch with someone increasing his total by two miles.  Brady, run two more miles?  No problem!

Some teams only had 6 members, Ultra Teams. Average 33 miles per runner!

Goofy costumes were the norm. Note the topless ballerinas

When the runners only had a couple hours to sleep between transitions, they took up residence wherever possible.

Taken at 1:30AM, just ran 5.5 miles on no sleep and a tuna fish and cracker dinner

Team Eller crosses the finish line

 

 

Who owns that incredible mustache?!?

post race celebration

Harper and I spent last week with my sister, Susanna in California and flew into Phoenix a few hours before Brady was due to finish.  It was a long day for Harper after a rough night and I was worried how everything would play out, but she was in good spirits and so happy to see her daddy!  And give him a congratulatory hug--well done Dad!
 

Brady and his biggest fans

We're both really excited to get into more races in the future. We are looking into half marathons, bike races and triathlons. Are we becoming those people?!? Maybe.