Ragnar-Part 1

Here is the short version of my Ragnar experience:
Leg 1: 5.5 miles in 46:19 min. I think that's a 8:25/mile pace. Had cramps above my clavicle around mile 1.5 or 2. I wanted to walk and slow down. But then I thought about how hard I'd been working and training and I thought about Claire. It was really weird because I immediately got a surge of energy and my cramps went away. I picked up my speed and finished out strong & no walking. It was hard especially with the sun beating down (even though it was still freezing cold). My legs hurt and I was pushing myself.
Leg 2: 5.7 miles in 50:16 min. I was hoping to get an 8 mile pace. I was pushing myself really hard. I felt like I was running harder than my first leg. I was a bit disappointed when i found out I ran slower than my first. But I was happy that my pace was under 9 and that I killed 10 other runners. Within a half hour or so I was suffering from major stomach cramps for about 4 hours. That was miserable. I crawled up in the fetal position in the back of the van and tried to rest.
Leg 3: 7.6 miles. The last 3 miles all UPHILL. Yikes! I was scared for this one. The map showed a steep hill. I was running up that hill, my legs were really tired, as if I was almost running in place. I felt like I was running so slow. Almost cartoon like. I kept thinking, "I can do this. The hard part hasn't come yet. Don't walk, wait until the hill is steeper." I also used my technique of running past the first 2 landmarks where I told myself I was going to walk. I ran past the third and decided not to stop. And I told myself I can run one more song. And then I kept going and ran through one more song and a few more landmarks. So I ran about 2 miles up that hill before I walked. I only took 3 short walking breaks and ran the rest of the way. I was happy that I had a 10:06 min/mile pace.

 

This is the end of my 7.6 mile leg. I felt like my legs were barely moving.