The best shower I have ever taken

The past 2 days have been soooo crazy!  Last week I did my first ever marathon, and then this weekend I decided to do my first ever Ragnar, crazy!  I was nervous, but I was excited for this.  I have heard so many good things about Ragnar that I just couldn't wait to start.  Our starting time was at 5 a.m., but luckily it got switched to 11.  I was runner number 4 so I only had to run 13.1 miles, which was great ha.  Getting there was amazing.  Seeing all the cars and the people and the energy between everything.  With all this happening, I just couldn't wait to start.  I knew no one on my team, except my sister, but after this whole experience, I loved getting to meet everyone!

The start

So I finally got to begin my first leg, which was 5.1 miles.  It was my hardest one of the day, with many small hills.  The thing that made it horrible was the heat, I had to run it at 3 p.m. right when it was the hottest.  I stayed strong and ran, but half way through I definitely needed some refueling so I took some sports beans, not the best idea.  They didn't sit well and I ended up throwing up twice.  Even though I threw up, I felt great finishing, I was 1/3 of the way done.

My second leg was at about 2 in the morning.  At first I didn't like the fact that I had to run in the dark, but this was my best leg.  It was 4.2 miles of flat road, awesome.  One of our runners got sick, so I ended up running with my sis.  I'm the type of runner who is like really OCD about running.  I have to listen to music and I have to especially run by myself.  My sister caught up to me with about .6 mile left.  She thought I would want to run by myself, but her there by my side ending my second leg was awesome!  It definitely gave me the boost I needed.

My last and final leg was a short 3.8 miles.  The thing was it was all downhill.  I love downhill, but I have been having major knee problems.  I was nervous, but sooo ready to finish.  I felt really great running the first 3 miles, but as I neared the end of the hill, something just didn't feel right.  My knee was in so much pain to where I could not run.  I ran farther, but had to walk.  After awhile I ran again, but there was no way I could do it.  I felt horrible, I felt like I was letting my team down by limping to the finish (i'm really paranoid about things like that too).  I wanted to quit so bad, but I pushed myself.  There was no way after all this hard work and it being the last leg, the last 1 mile, I was going to quit.  So even though I was slow jogging/limping/walking, I continued on.  I was determined.  I was soon going up this big hill, sweat and sunscreen in my eyes, when I look up and there's my sis.  I just starting crying.  I was in so much pain, I could barely run.  She stayed with me and got me through that last leg, I really don't know what I would have done without her.  She asked me if she just wanted the van to come pick me up, but I couldn't, I had to finish.  With a deep breath and the finish in sight, I slowly limped/ran to the finish line.  People I didn't even know were cheering me on.  It was the greatest feeling.  I cried for finishing, for staying strong, for all that had happened in the past 28 or so hours, for the pain, and for the amazing support I had on that leg and throughout the whole race.

My sis and I finishing out my last leg

Even though I wanted to do better during this Ragnar, I still loved it, and am so proud of myself.  I couldn't have done it without the support of my sister and of my amazing team. Crossing the finish line was great.  Even though I was hobbling and had to limp there with everyone else, it was a great feeling.  People clapped us on that didn't even know us, and that was an amazing feeling.  Meeting these people and doing this amazing race, was such a great experience.  I would do it all over again, even though there were a lot of ups and downs.  I want to continue to push and challenge myself in running and only get better.  I know I have it in me, but I just have to keep trying and keep training and stay healthy.  There are a lot of bumps along the road, like getting injured, but you can rest and get healthy and continue on.  Learn from the experiences you have.  My sister mentioned that this WAS my first Ragnar so to not get down on myself, because I will learn from this.  I definitely want to try and do another Ragnar, and from this first one, I have learned a lot, and know I can only go up from here.

 My amazing team which I could not have done anything without their incredible support

My sis and I after crossing the finish!