I participated in 2 Relay Race events recently, The DC Ragnar race and a Sprint Triathlon Relay. I loved them both for many of the same reasons. Here are my top 5
1. Get a taste of a Tri-If you are thinking about doing a Tri race and not sure about how all of the logistics work, “tri”ing one as part of a relay team is a great way to see how it all works. You have the opportunity to watch the swimmers and bikers come in and get an idea of how everything flows. Bonus: you only have to train for one of the legs.
2. Cute Matching Team Outfits- Yes that’s so important! We literally spent hours planning these.
3. Team Motivation-You know you are out there as part of team. You are not competing for only yourself. When you start to feel tired or discouraged, you remember that you are part of a team that needs you to do your part. This was incredibly important to me at both races. During my team tri, my chain fell off my bike and I had to pull over to fix it. I had a “I’m not going to lose this for our team” moment and just fixed it. Had I been on my own, I may have gotten very discouraged.
4. Opportunity to Excel- I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually (ok ever) get called up to the podium for an award of any kind. However, our team crushed the tri race and we came in 2nd place in our division. Such an amazing moment made so much better because it was shared with friend.
5. Built in Cheer Leaders-During Ragnar, running at crazy hours in crazy places, your team members drive by you on each of your runs cheering, honking & shaking their cow bells. In fact, the other teams will also cheer you on in the same way. You are constantly receiving support and encouragement in a way that doesn’t happen when you run a traditional race.
Bonus reason: Your team mates become even better friends 🙂
I’m linking up today with the amazing DC Trifecta: Courtney, Mar & Cynthia so please stop by and check out all of the other Friday Five posts today.
Ever done a Relay Race? Did I miss any reasons to love them?
I always see your posts like this, and you do a very good job at convincing! If my schedule was not so strict with the races I could do, I would love to. You make me sure that someday, when I can, I will! Love it, and these are definitely tempting reasons!
One day we will definitely have to do a race together when you are in your off season so you can just have fun. 🙂
I can’t wait to do a relay next year! And a tri. Maybe I’ll even find a tri relay to do as well!
Lovely post (and top graphic). I hope to do a tri relay next year! Do you have any planned?
I don’t have another tri relay planned yet but I def want to do another. Let me know if you hear of a good one
Great reasons to do a relay race! I would love to do one in the future! Sounds like so much fun!
They really are so much more fun to do with friends
I haven’t done a relay race yet but you sure make it sound fun!!! Have a great weekend!
Thanks! It is so much fun to do one with friends. Happy Friday 🙂
I’ve never done a relay race but it’s something i have always wanted to do!
They are tons of fun and so much less stressful bc you have each other.
The team aspect & overall binding experience are the main reasons I’d love to do a relay some day!
Those are the top reasons for sure! Do it!
I’ve never done a relay but they do sound like alot of fun! Maybe one day!
I highly rec them! Such a fun way to go!
I LOVED Ragnar and I can’t wait to do another relay! It really is SO much fun!!!
Me too! We are already planning our next one-Cape Cod!
I think I am going to do Cape Cod too!!!
OMG! Can’t wait to meet you in person 🙂
I would LOVE to do something like this with my friends…I don’t think I’ve ever really considered a relay race. I’m going to try to find one!
It’s honestly such an amazing experience to have with friends
I have never done a relay race other than when I was in high school on the track team. What I loved about the relay then was that you have the support of your teammates and it’s just plain fun to be a part of a team! Great post! I loved sharing the experience through you!
It is amazing to have the support of a team behind you. It makes all the difference and makes for such a fun experience. Hope you try one again soon.
I have only did two relay races before. They were both 50milers. It was a lot of fun. I have been wanting to try a Ragnar race sometime but with my crazy work schedule it is hard to commit to it so far in advance.
It is hard to commit to races that are far away. I just love the team atmosphere and find it so inspiring.
This sounds so fun – and it’s a great idea if you’re trying to learn more about triathlon! Great tips!
Thanks! They really are so much fun to do with friends
You really made these sound like so much fun! The team aspect and cheering each other (and matching outfits!) sound so cool.
Those were the best parts! You should do one
Relays are great and I want to do one one day soon. I was speaking about tri-relays at work yesterday. Another advantage is if you are strong in one thing and not the others, a relay is a great option. You guys have so much fun!!!!
Yes absolutely! I always hated the swim when I did them on my own.
Oh, my gosh…I would LOVE to do a Ragnar Relay! I have never participated in a relay event, Deborah, but I think it’s a great idea. Thanks so much for sharing this! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks! I hope you have the chance to do one-they were so much more fun than I expected. Happy Friday
Very cool list. Ragnar is on my list to run someday (the someday is mainly a logistic and budget someday). I didnt know you could do a leg of a tri as a relay team. That’d be pretty cool. Tri is one of those at a short distance would be cool but so much training that I just cant fit into my schedule right now. So one leg of it is doable.
the Tri I did is in Reston in June. I will “tri” to remember to remind you. It was lots of fun. I never would have had the time (or energy) to do all of this when my kids were little.
YES YES YES!! Love this!
Thanks! They were so much fun huh?
great list! the tri relay is really intriguing!
It was so much fun and such a different experience for me. Hope you get to “tri” one sometime
I’very never done a relay race but always considered it. People always look like they are having a great time and who wouldn’t want to wear a cute matching outfit??
The matching outfits are always a plus in my book 🙂
I love the idea of having a built in set of cheerleaders!
It certainly helps! Hope you get to “tri” it 🙂
So true! It has been great seeing one of my Ragnar teammates again this weekend. We have a special bond of solidarity now!
Absolutely! Great fun indeed 🙂
love this!! It is definitely on my list to do a relay sometime soon!
So much fun I highly recommend!
I’m doing my second ever relay in a couple of weeks. HOPEFULLY. My injuries just need to get that memo. It’s a fun pumpkin themed one.
That does sound like fun-hope you are feeling good
Great post! I love running a relay race! 🙂
They are so much fun aren’t they?!
I’ve never done a relay, but I’m interested it doing one! I’m trying to convince my chicago running friends to do the Door County (Wisconsin) fall50 next year. Lots of hills but beautiful scenery.
That does sound beautiful! Hope you can convince them to do it
I have never even thought about doing a relay…. I am so slow I would let down the team!
That’s the beauty of a relay race. You don’t have to be the fastest. At our Ragnar race we had runners of vastly diff speeds that got the opportunity to be as one team. It all averages out in the end.
I felt the same way when running Raganr DC – I didn’t want to let the team down, so there were times I pushed myself harder than I might have if I’d been running a race on my own.
I like the idea of doing a tri as part of a team, because I know I’ll never do one on my own!
I totally agree. There is something different about knowing you don’t want to let the team down. It’s great motivation
I was thinking about a tri but I have no idea what I would do in one maybe a relay is the way to start?
It is a great way to start out. You can see how all the legs and transitions work. I highly rec it!