I’m still on a runner’s high from a very fun weekend with my MRTT friends, especially Megan, since I don’t get to see her very often. My workouts earlier in the week were totally structured around Ragnar Trail Richmond which was coming up on Friday and Saturday.
With thirty-some trail miles to cover in three runs, I decided to go on my tempo run on Monday and to do an easy run on Wednesday so my legs could rest until my first Ragnar run on Friday afternoon.
- Monday
- Strength Training – 1 hour
- Tempo Run – 1-mile warm-up at 10:22, 4 tempo miles at 8:48, 8:45, 8:30, 8:18, and 1-mile cool-down at 9:44
- Rodney Yee’s Yoga Conditioning For Athletes (affilitate link) – Yoga for Runners
- Teeter Hang Ups (affiliate link) Inversion – 15 minutes
While out on Monday’s run, I made a new friend alongside the trail. I also saw my little fox friend in his usual hangout, but he’s always much too stealthy for me to capture his picture.
- Tuesday
- Bike – 15 miles – 1:03:57
- Rodney Yee’s Complete Yoga For Beginners (affiliate link) – Yoga For Flexibility
- Exterior Painting – 3 hours
- Wednesday
- Strength Training – 1 hour
- Walk – 4 miles – 1:06:35
- Rodney Yee’s Intermediate Yoga (affiliate link) Integration
I decided to switch my easy run to a walk on Wednesday, and found these wild flowers along the trail.
- Thursday
- Yoga For Runners
- Teeter Inversion – 15 minutes
On Thursday, I spent all of my spare time getting my stuff ready for Ragnar. Despite not spending much time working out, between training clients and packing, I was on my feet most of the day – not what I’d planned.
- Friday
- Running – 12.4 trail miles at Ragnar Richmond Trail
Bill and I arrived in Richmond around noon on Friday. Bill would be staying with Meagan’s husband and dad, cheering us on, and playing the role of the team photographer. By the time we arrived all of the setup work had been done at our campsite – perfect timing, but not planned.
Before our first run, Meagan and I had the pleasure of meeting Karen, from More Clutter From Karen, who went out of her way to stop by to see us! Karen came bearing gifts of little shoe ties. Mine says, “Enjoy the Moment.” Thank you, Karen!
I wish we’d had more time to hang out, but with the first of three runs looming, we had to keep our visit short so Meagan and I could get ready to run. Karen was every bit as sweet in person as she appears on her blog, and it was so nice to finally meet her.
As promised, Bill and Meagan’s family were waiting for us on the first loop of our first leg. As ultra runners, we ran two consecutive loops on each of our three legs. Each leg was supposed to be anywhere between ten and twelve miles.
Notice the head lamp in my hand. The sun would be setting soon after our second loop started, and we would be running most of it in the dark.
Photo courtesy of Bill
- Saturday
- Running – 11.36 trail miles at Ragnar Richmond Trail
- Running – 10.66 trail miles at Ragnar Richmond Trail
After about three and a half hours of sleep Friday to Saturday, we started our second leg around 4:55 on Saturday morning. I was super nice knowing that the sun would be coming up during our run. The first half of our early morning run seemed the longest even though it was the shortest course; but with Meagan and me feeling pretty sleepy we weren’t very chatty and the miles dragged by…
By the time we started our third and final leg, we were raring to go and the miles flew by! Bill captured this photo of me as we headed out for our final leg.
Photo courtesy of Bill
- Sunday
- Yoga for Runners
- Teeter Inversion – 15 minutes
Bill and I have spent almost the entire day today working on pictures from both the Loudoun Half/8K and Ragnar Trail races. My plan is to finish the Loudoun Half and 8K recap now that we’ve finished the pictures (I know, I’ve promised this twice already), so I can move on to writing my Ragnar recaps (one recap for each leg) by the end of this week. Fingers crossed!
Weekly Overview:
- Weight Training: Monday and Wednesday
- Running: Monday – 6 miles, Friday – 12.4 miles, Saturday – 22.02 miles (Total: 40.42 miles)
- Walking: Wednesday – 4 miles
- Biking: Tuesday – 15 miles
- Yoga: Daily except Friday and Saturday
- Teeter Inversion: Monday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Average Steps Per Day: 29,252
- Average Hours Sleep Per Night: 5:43 hours
- Questions:
- Do you notice animals or flowers when on your runs or walks?
- Have you run a Ragnar Relay or Ragnar Trail Relay?
- Did you race this weekend?
Have a great week!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
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I’m linking up with Holly at HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin for their Weekly Wrap. Be sure to check out not only the hosts, but the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
All the trail pics looked like so much fun! I’ve never done a trail relay. We did the American Odyssey this weekend too I am also on a serious runners high! ‘congrats to you
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…5 Great Mother’s Day Gifts For The Fit Mom In Your Life
The trails were beautiful, and fabulous as expected; and the weather even held out for us. How was your relay? Can’t wait to read your recap! How does the American Odyssey compare to Ragnar? One of my teammates just asked.
Congrats to you, too, Deborah! This was my second trail relay, and I’ve run a few trail races over the years – the longest being 17 miles on the Appalachian Trail during the JFK 50-Miler.
Looks like so much fun! I’ve never done a relay before. Now that I’ve run Big Sur, I’m looking for new challenges. Hmmmmm.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Big Sur Marathon Race Recap
Perhaps a relay race should become your next bucket list item! I definitely prefer the Ragnar Trail races over the regular Ragnars run from vans.
Last summer, I saw a little bunny just about every morning in the same spot on my run. I could never get a picture. Ragnar sounds like such a fun event. I know you enjoyed running with Megan. I’m very envious you got to meet my good buddy Karen. I haven’t! Get to working on those recaps. We need details! Thanks for linking with us Deb.
HoHo Runs recently posted…Tear Drop Half (WW # 39)
I remember you writing about that little bunny!
Karen was a sweetie! I just wish we’d had more time to visit. And yes ma’am, I’ll get right on those Ragnar recaps now that I’ve finally written my Loudoun 8K recap from two weeks ago.
I have never ran a Ragnar race. Always wanted to. Am thinking about DC in September if my schedule allows. I think it would be challenging to run in he dark. Good thing you had the head lamp. Congrats on completing the Race!
[email protected] recently posted…Weekly Wrap
Thanks, Lacey! I’m still on a high from running Ragnar!
I’ve never done a trail race or a relay. But it sounds like you had a blast. And you got to meet Karen…lucky you!
Darlene recently posted…April Recap
Darlene, I think you’d love running in a relay race with your friends!
Yes, Karen is a sweetie – obviously if she’d go out of her way to come to the park to meet us. I just wish we’d had more time to hang out or run together.
I loved Ragnar Relay. I think the trail version would be even more challenging – especially the nighttime legs. Can’t wait for the full recaps.
Coco recently posted…Fitness Is Better With Friends
Now that I can compare a non-horribly-muddy Ragnar Trail to a regular Ragnar, I like the trail race much better. The nighttime legs aren’t as bad as they sound, but they do require a lot of focus so you don’t trip.
I loved getting to meet you and Meagan 🙂 I can’t wait to read your recap and see what you thought of the trails 🙂 The ragnar was not what I was expecting! It looked better, maybe one day I will get my nerve to try one.
Great job running all those miles! I feel like they are not easy miles. I am glad you had some rain free time to run, it poured again Sunday.
Karen recently posted…Meeting Some Blog Buds!
Karen, thank you so much for going out of your way to come see us. You were so sweet to do that! You definitely should try running Ragnar Trail Richmond sometime, especially since it’s so close to you.
I’ve never run a trail race much less and relay trail race. Great job and good pics from Bill!
Sonia recently posted…Oh, the weather outside…
Thanks, Sonia! You should definitely try trail running, even if not racing. It’s so peaceful!
It looks like you had a blast during your Ragnar race. I have always wondered what those relay races would be like, especially if you get a good group of running friends together. Some day…. I also love to spot cool nature things while running. You certainly find lots of pretty things on your runs and manage to get photos too.
Pam recently posted…Weekly Workout Roundup: May 2nd
Yes, Pam, we had a blast at Ragnar! Of course, it didn’t hurt that I was with some of my favorite running friends and had my favorite photographer along for the fun!
I haven’t done any trail Ragnars but I would really like to, I have run three Ragnars, Napa, Northwest Passage and the one in Colorado, next up is Hawaii!!
Looks like you had a great time!
I always check out animals and flowers while running, and sometimes I stop to take pictures too 🙂
Oh wow! Ragnar Napa and Ragnar Hawaii both sound amazing! Have fun in Hawaii! If you enjoy trail running, you’d love Ragnar Trail. It’s much more laid back than the van Ragnars.
I don’t do a lot of trail running (due to lack of them in my area),but my race yesterday was on trails for the majority of it. I do enjoy seeing the flowers along the way, though, in yards, etc. NO, I have never done a Ragnar, but want to!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Some Proud Moments….
I still have four openings for my Ragnar DC team in mid-Septmeber! 😉 Unfortunately, the openings are all in Van 1, and I’ll be in Van 2 so we’d hardly see each other.
I’ve run 2 x road Ragnar, but am trying to find a team in need of a runner for their Appalachia trail race this summer. I think that would be so fun.
I ran the Pittsburgh Half Marathon this weekend, it was rainy & humid which was uh, less than ideal shall we say. Haha.
Excited to read your recaps!
I ran Ragnar Trail Appalachia last summer and it was a muddy mess. Here’s hoping you have better weather than we did! Fortunately, the rain held out for Ragnar Trail Richmond last weekend!
Congrats to you! Sounds like a fun race although running a trail at night (dark) scares the snot out of me- something to do with my fear of gators and snakes! Kudos to you! I look forward to the recap!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…May equals Marvelous!
Fortunately for us, there are no gators in Richmond! 😀
Wow! this looks like an amazing adventure! Congrats on another Ragnar!
I have not a Ragnar, but they look like amazing! Maybe someday!
I have run into deer during long runs, it’s pretty awesome!
Ana recently posted…Recovery Week and Runfessions
Thank you, it was! Definitely give it a chance if you have the opportunity to run a Ragnar. It’s not for everyone, but if you like that kind of adventure, you’ll love it!
Yeah Ragnar! I still get runner’s high thinking about Ragnar DC from last year-lol.
Great pics!
I love seeing animals and nature on my runs/walks/hikes. The foxes still freak me out though.
Thanks! We have foxes in our back yard so I’ve gotten used to them. A high school aged Deb would freak out if she saw foxes along the trail while running (as you’ll read about in tomorrow’s Wednesday Word). 😉
Beautiful trails and great pictures! I haven’t run a Ragnar race before. They sound intense! I tend to notice wildlife more often than flowers when I run, mainly because I don’t want any deer to run me over. Hey, it could easily happen! I best take in all of the nature details when walking with my kids… but I still prefer running with them in the stroller instead 🙂 Your pictures make me miss trail running!
You bet it could happen! A few weeks ago while finishing my training run, I almost ran into a deer standing right on the edge of the trail. He didn’t move when I ran by either!
Love this! We have a Ragnar Trail race a few hours from here and I want to do it so badly (the regular one, though, not the ultra).
I often notice the flowers and wildlife on my runs. It helps keep my mind off everything else, and I always gets excited when I see something new and cool.
Jenn recently posted…weekly recap: 4.24 – 4.30
This sounds so much fun Deb! I have always wanted to do a trail Ragnar…you are def inspiring me to try one:) Love these pics!
Lauren recently posted…Spinach, Avocado, Tofu Salad
Great post! I’ve never done a Relay but your looks like a ton of fun! I have tried trail running – and done a few trail races – but I’m a road girl at heart.
If you’re a road girl at heart, you’d probably enjoy a Ragnar Relay in a van more.
Thanks for stopping by!
How neat you got to meet Karen! My guess would be just that, she’s as sweet in person as she is on her blog! So very neat you got to run with Meagan again, So this Ragnar trail relay is different than running from one city to another right?
A Ragnar is on my bucket list I sure hope maybe in 2017 I can make it happen. Thanks Deb for linking up with us!
Tricia recently posted…Weekly Wrap 39 Rock n Roll Nashville
Yes, both Karen and Meagan are as sweet in person as they are in their writing.
A Ragnar Relay takes you from one location to another (usually about 200 miles away) in two vans with 12 runners (6 for ultra teams). A Ragnar Trail has you camping in one location and running three different trail loops usually totaling somewhere around 125-130 miles with 8 runners (4 for ultra teams).
I feel like I am still recovering, sleep-wise! Ragnar really takes it out of me. That photo Bill got of you heading out for your last leg is such a great one! I realized that everyone on our two teams had one complete leg that was in the dark, overall. But you and I certainly lucked out in that it got split between two legs. And we got to see sunset and sunrise after all.
Meagan recently posted…The Google Machine
We were definitely the luckiest. I talked to Kim this morning and she said that Amanda and she had the yellow and red loops completely in the dark. That sounds hard!
Ragnar always sounds like so much fun. Unfortuneately it has not come to France yet !
Karen – Fit in France recently posted…Weekly wrap : Rome part 1
Perhaps you could work a Ragnar into one of your visits to the states!