The Team known as the Ruckus was divided into Van 1 and Van 2. I being a part of Van 2 (Van being a relative term as we were in a Landcruiser) - we quickly changed our van name to Twinky Cream. Due to the fact that Jaren brought up the usefullness of the film that covers one's teeth after having consumed such a disgusting treat. How that relates to our van you might ask? Well - Jaren was also in our Van. Van 2 was trailed by the the Shaggin' Wagon due to the fact that another team member in Van 2 was also breast feeding her suckling child. What on earth? I know! I can't even imagine having to run this thing with two breasts about to pop from having to carry my newly born child's food storage! How on earth she found the motivation to train after having her second child... I know not. Oh, and did I mention that Emily (that's the breast feeding mom) also had to train while her husband was recovering from a nasty forklift accident... the kind where his leg was rendered useless and pulpy?
Ok, well both teams started at the starting line (as seen above). And we were happy to be starting. You can tell that we were happy - because as you see in this picture - we are still smiling, and look somewhat like the living.
This is Lena, and if it weren't for her none of us would have started this race to begin with.
There was this crazy night, when she came to me and told me about the Wasatch Back. All she had to say was 200 miles, running, and relay - and I was in. Cuz I'm crazy like that. So the hunt was on to find 10 other team members....
Well our start line began in Logan... and from there we traveled through the wasatch mountains (no way you say - it's called the freaking wasatch back!) all the way to Park City. My first run was at 4:00 pm. It was hotter than an egg on a frying pan (thanks for the saying dad). I literally thought heat stroke sounded like a good idea. I came into my first finish line, and passed up Lena's mom. Now that's its over, I somewhat remember seeing her. I was in such a daze that I completely ran past her, not thanking her for being such an amazing person and for volunteering to be out in that hot sun for us! You see, the only person from our team that she got to see in action - was me. And there I was just focused on finding some cold water, and not puking! So Lena's mom - if you read this: Thank you! You are amazing. I appreciate your support and sacrifice tremendously - sorry I'm a jerk and ran past you!
So from that point I was in and out of the car carrying water, ice, and supplements to each of our team members - this is active recovery people! I did that until our van was done. Then we ate Fazoli's (sorta - I was having a hard time eating), and tried to sleep. Nope that didn't happen for me. Instead I tried hard to sleep, which is more frustrating that not sleeping at all. There was this 76 year old woman talking about how she was running the race. All I could think was, "she's probably beating us too!"
Anyhow, the next run of mine was at 2 am. This might sound like a bad time to run, if your thinking with a normal brain. However, if your running the Wasatch Back - this is the best run your going to have. It's not 1000 degrees outside (yeah I typed a thousand on purpose) - and that's still cooler than the temperature of the sun....
It was in the cool of the night that I had my best run. My longest, and best! I kept a faster pace than my shorter (and flat) run from earlier that day. This one was 6.6 miles and uphill... but I felt so good it was faster. I have never had such a fun run in all of my life. I felt fast, was happy, and the stars were out. I knew when I saw the shooting star at about mile four that I would never forget this run either!
Too bad my next run wasn't like that. My last leg, I can't wait to forget! Well sorta.... part of me is proud of the accomplishment, and part of me is sick with disgust. I'm naturally hard on myself, and my last leg was straight up. It was the leg before the Ragnar (a leg so hard it has its own name). Problem was... mine didn't have a name, and so I think it was a tad bit underestimated. The picture to the left shows you the most mild portion of the hill. I gained approximately 1500 ft of elevation in 3 miles. My pace was that of walking in jello... or cement. Yeah, cement, that's better! I felt like grandma with her walker could walk faster than I was running. At 1.5 miles, I looked down at Eric's GPS (which he lent me for the run) and I realized - wait... I actually can walk faster than this. So for the first time in Brooks / Flynn race history - I walked. I almost cried. I was so sad that after all of my training I was degraded to walking. But then it happened.... everyone walked. I'm not kidding... men of steal were right there with me... WALKING! The other side note, was that I only saw one other girl on this leg. What???? What am I doing here? Oh wait... that's how I roll... wish I was rolling down the hill. Then humility really hits - remember Emily's husband that has recently demolished his leg? (Ok, well he broke it 6 months ago) Anyhow, he gets out of the Shaggin Wagon to pace me! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? PRIDE. It sucks.
Anyhow... Britt rocked the Ragnar with an astonishingly fast pace. I was proud to be able to try and pace my fellow runners up their crazy hills. Why is it that I can run when it's not my leg anymore? Oh dear!A few more hours and we are in Park City at the finish line. All that I could think was - get me out of these clothes, get me some food, and let me sleep.
The race... Hard you ask? Yes, but worth it. Again you ask? Definitely! Why? Cuz that's just how we roll!
Van 1- Thanks for keeping our pace on track!
Van 2- I love you guys, and I'm glad I can't smell you anymore. That's baby making music right there!
Josh - aka, best driver ever. Thanks for coming with us, and for pushing me at the end!
Eric - Remember the wedgy! 
Jaren- Thank you for running this with me, even though you hate running. I had so much fun with you, and I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful husband!
Lena - Thank you for such an amazing experience! I am so thankful for all of the effort you put into making this race work. I am thankful for my training partner, my friend, and my memories. Next time, we have to be in the same van!
Jaren- Thank you for running this with me, even though you hate running. I had so much fun with you, and I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful husband!
Lena - Thank you for such an amazing experience! I am so thankful for all of the effort you put into making this race work. I am thankful for my training partner, my friend, and my memories. Next time, we have to be in the same van!
