Ragnar is Upon Me

And it’s not the Vikings mascot (our team mascot’s name is Ragnar so I find it fitting I’m doing a relay in this series!). That’s right folks, this will probably be my last post before my trip as I leave work around 2 pm tomorrow and will be heading to the airport via Supershuttle to fly to Portland where I will meet up with my team to head up to meet Van 1 at the first exchange zone somewhere south of Blaine, WA on our approximate 187 mile jaunt from Blaine to Langley, WA, located on Whidby Island in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. I can’t wait.

I’ll hopefully arrive in Portland at 10:40 as my flight states and meet up with Annette where I will be staying Wednesday and Thursday night. Thursday will be a bit of sightseeing and shopping to get snacks for the trip and early Friday morning we will be loaded up and ready for the drive to Washington to meet up with our other 6 runners who will be completing their first legs as we arrive. My first leg will start sometime around 7 pm on Friday, where I will be running 6.3 or so miles to the second exchange zone where Van 1 will take over again and my group will rest and head up to meet up in the next exchange. My second leg, a 3.5 mile run, will start around 4 am Saturday morning and topping it off with a final 4.2 mile run that will have us finish around 2 pm or so, in Langley, WA, on Whidby Island. Temps are looking to be upper 60s/low 70s during the day and nothing down further than low 50s at night, with sun and partly cloudy. Perfect weather in my mind. After the race we'll drink a beer or two at the after party and then head somewhere south to stay at someone's friends place and apparently there is a bar with live music nearby. So should be a fun time with a bunch of runners. The really fun part is I know only one of the people, and her from email and blog reading, the rest are all people that I don't know except from emails going on about the relay...but I'm super excited. After all, they are all runners and so far in my experiences in meeting up with runners from online groups they have all been even more fun in person. Can't wait.

My flight back is a red eye through Vegas and I may or may not be up for a full day of work after. We’ll see what happens. I told my boss I’d most likely be in in the morning, but we’ll see how I feel when I get off the plane at 5 am. I might work the morning, the afternoon or all day, it all just depends. Will hopefully get a report written up and posted with some pictures by Tuesday evening at the latest.

We're Gonna Win Twins...

And talk about a blowout. 14-2, Go Twins!! We actually saw a good game. About everyone got a hit!!

What a long day though. I was up at 5:30 on Saturday, out the door to meet the group for our 16 miler (averaging 8:42 thank you very much!). Lakes were packed because Twin Cities Marathon sponsored a water stop. We ran an area that I had only run one other time and then did some repeat of areas I run often. After the run it was a quick stop at Caribou for coffee then to a friends to quick change and head to the first bridal shop. Dressed her in numerous dresses, ruled out till we were down to 2 that we thought were good options. Then we went to lunch in St. Paul (and might I say that place is DEAD on weekends...took us a bit of walking to find a place for lunch but had a great brunch at a little French place, mimosas and bellinis included!) and then to the second shop. At lunch my friend officially asked me and her sister to be her matron and maid of honor (no bridesmaids or groomsmen, we are ALL the top spot!!) and her sister in law will be her third. I was there for part of the second shop, but had to head to the Twins. My friend finished and met us there and we had a fun evening of baseball and beer. She had one more dress she really liked at the second shop so now it's basically down to two. We also had seen a bridesmaid dress that she really liked at the first shop that probably would be fine with either and both I and her sister liked that one and price was reasonable...so hopefully that will be it!!

Today was day off from running. I actually managed to get some packing done too. I think I've about got everything I really need in my bag. Anything else I figure I can buy out there (probably including a cheap pillow to sleep on). As long as I have my three changes of running clothes (3 relay legs and no way I want to sit in wet clothes up to my next run) and something to wear after...I should be good. Debating on the shoes I'll wear though. I'd like the good ones, but they aren't easy to slip on, so maybe I will bring a pair of flip flops...they are small enough to squeeze in my suitcase...

Could be a busy week. Was trying to squeeze in a trip to see Batman, but think that will wait till I get back. My friend is going to maybe take me to see the other dress tomorrow, then Tuesday running group and Wednesday off to Portland...so looking forward to the relay and meeting Annette in person. Another running blog friend encounter!! With her and 11 others...nothing like a relay to get to know people too!!

Running and Other Stuff

OK, I've been pokey in getting updates in. I used to do some typing up of blog posts still at work and then post them when I had access, but it's just been hectic and I haven't been able to. This week has been another busy one. Monday I laid low, Tuesday met a friend for a walk and then had to be for my first meeting with my training group on Tuesday at 7. That was cool and should be fun. They have Tuesday night runs at 6 pm and Saturday long runs at 7 am...I'm mostly not going to be doing them, 7 am is early for me, but this week I do plan to hit the long run, even though it's shorter a run than I was planning. We are meeting at my favorite running store, they are talking about gear before the run and AFTER we get a shopping day!! 20-30% off everything!! I'm planning to buy my marathon shoes and maybe some new shorts...I love the Nike Tempo Track shorts and even though I have 8 pair, I still want more!!

So my running this week. I did 5 on Monday, 7 of hills on Tuesday, up a big one, back down the other side, back up again and over the top...decent pacing so not bad. Wednesday I took off and met a friend for a bite and drink after work. I managed a run at lunch yesterday, tempo in the gym for lack of better options and no Garmin with me...8 minute miles average for 6 so not bad. Today I meant to run, but haven't been feeling well, stayed home from work even.

Less than a month to the relay now!! I'm looking forward to the trip. Looks like I'll have a day to spend in Portland, hanging out with part of the team and then the drive up and whole relay will be a fun adventure. I think I'm going to get a new memory card for my camera!!

It's Official

OK, so I just officially signed up for my first race this season (even though there are at least 2 I'll probably do before this one:

http://www.ragnarrelay.com/northwestpassage/index.php

Yep, that's right, I'm going to be doing a relay out in Washington in July with blogging friend Annette and a team of people she knows. Look, I can be adventurous, and what better way to try a relay for the first time than with a bunch of people you don't know across country?? I'm so looking forward to it...I figure by the end of this adventure I'll have 11 new running friends and exciting stories to share. And the views look gorgeous!