*Originally written on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 8:16pm*
Well friends, I did it. Sorry this is a week late, but I still want to let everyone know about my first team race: The Ragnar Relay Florida 2009. 11 of my crazies friends, well 23 if you count the other team from USF, and I finished running across the state in 34 ½ hours. We left Tarpon Springs at 8am on Friday, Nov. 21, and ran day and night and day (and a little more night) until we reached Daytona Beach at 6:30pm Saturday, Nov. 22.
To say it was amazing is an understatement. Never would I have believed I could run 21 miles in 24 hours. I was the team Captain, so everyone on the Running Reckers blamed me for the craziness the ensued, but it was my boss, Eric, who came to me with the idea of joining the race. The 12 of us were in 2 vans, each running three legs of the race, and leap frogging across Florida. I was runner #12 –The Final Runner. Why did I do that to myself? I had to wait for everyone else to run (10 hours!) before I could even start. It was a blessing and a curse that each of my legs was at night. Here is my break down: 1st 9 miles at 6pm, 2nd 4 miles at 5:30am, and 3rd 8 miles at 4:30pm. I cannot believe I finished that last leg.
My first 9 miles was not half bad. Luckily it was cool, and I dress appropriately. Also, being a night runner I was able to have someone follow me on a bike. My teammate Chris accepted this duty (after he had already run). I had a system: Chris had my water and my energy chews. I would stop every 30 minutes for a quick refuel. It worked great. I kept my pace, enjoyed my music and was able not to get blown off State Road 50 by an 18 wheeler. And avoided a 3 ½ foot snake to boot! Plus, at mile 5 my van had stopped to cheer me on. I was so excited…. My adrenaline was pumping when I ran into the exchange. Since I was handing off to Lindsay, Runner 1, both vans and all 11 team members were there to cheer me into the exchange!
Now I got to wait about 10 more hours before I got to run again. Leg 2 was tough. Not only had I not really slept, I mean I had lain around, but I was way too excited to sleep, but I also had to run through the GHETTO of Orlando in the pitch black darkness. (Poor Cordell had to do 9 miles in the same conditions). So I was cold, tired and already sore from not cooling down properly after my first leg. My Dan, the navigator man, road along with me this time. I felt awful. I couldn’t get my stride and I was so out of breath. Angry dogs were barking and growling in the yards to the left, roosters were crowing ahead of me, and there was the foul stench of the sewage plant on the right as I ran through this scary neighborhood. It was only after the race that Dan even admitted to being uneasy during this run. It seemed my worst run ever. I had estimated a 41 minute time, but somehow I had come in at 39 minutes! I still don’t understand how such a bad run could be my personal record for this distance!
So now it was on to leg 3 (and I thought that little 4 miler was rough). Bring on the big dawgs, cuz I ran with’um! 8 miles into Daytona, no sweat….. Oh wait, what about that bridge? Oh yes! And don’t forget that the last 5 miles on a steady incline all the way to the boardwalk. This leg Cordell decided to ride along (since any run after 4:30 is a night run). I don’t know how he did it. Cordell had just finished running 6 miles when he jumped on the bike to follow me. But I ran…. And ran…. And ran. The bridge had slowed me down, but I dug in my hills and headed for the top. Once there I could not describe in words the beauty before me. I turn back to Cordell, breathless but smiling, and pointed to the ocean as it spread out before us. God at work. To the bottom of the bridge and then left up to Daytona Beach! I was planning to hit mile 3 in 30 minutes, but I got behind. The van was waiting at mile 3 to give me water, but I was 6 minutes late…. I was parched! But everyone who passed by were honking horns and ringing cow bells to encourage me (this is the Ragnar way I had learned earlier). I felt good. I can make it. Then it got dark and I kept getting slower. I was running on the sidewalk, but I felt like I was in the mud. My energy was gone and Cordell could tell. He rode ahead to mile 6 to get my Gatorade (thank goodness). At that point he ditched the bike and ran with me. When I saw the “Ragnar 1 Mile Left” sign it was not soon enough… but it was the longest mile of my life.
I turned the corner on to the board walk and there was my team, cheering, yelling, and running with me. Suddenly I could breathe again. My legs felt lighter. I could make it to the finish line. I looked up to the left and my friends Kimberly, Al, and Cristina were yelling “GO DAVINA!” I jump up the bandstand steps and through the finish chute. I heard over the loud speaker “We have another team coming in to finish. Team # 11 The Running Reckers!” and Ben, David, Joe were giving me high fives. And then FINISHED! WE just finish The Ragnar Relay.
My journey to this point has not been so long. I trained with my teammates for 9 months. I got fit in the process (officially down 52 pounds). Dan not only encouraged me to get out and run, but he ran to the finish line along side me and with my team. He was so important. At this point the only wisdom I have gained is if you can do it, Get Out And Run! I am so thankful to each of my teammates (Lindsay, Nakreshia, Eric, Brendan, Sami, Rod, Ashley, Greg, Chris, Lucy & Cordell) who enjoyed this insane “Woodstock for Runners.” Hey, Van 2- Anybody want a Huggie bath?
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