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You are here: Home / Running / How To Enjoy and Survive Your Ragnar Relay Race

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How To Enjoy and Survive Your Ragnar Relay Race

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In a few weeks, I will be joining 11 of my running besties to take on my 4th Ragnar Relay and my 5th relay race. While every Ragnar Race brings it’s own challenges and adventures, there a few aspects that remain the same. So how do you ensure you will enjoy and survive your Ragnar Relay Race?

how to enjoy and survive Ragnar Relay

Table of Contents

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  • How to Enjoy and Survive Your Ragnar Relay Race
    • Recover between legs
    • Pack enough but not too much
    • Bring Rain Gear
    • Bring more night gear than you think you need
    • Test out your gear
    • Pack more snacks than you think you need
    • Eat when you can
    • Go with the flow
    • Don’t worry about your pace
    • Embrace your team name
    • Make new friends
    • Make memories
    • Pat yourselves on the back
    • Just writing all of this got me super excited for my upcoming Ragnar Niagara Falls race. Hope I gave you some tips on how to enjoy and survive your Ragnar Relay race too. Anyone else have one coming up?

How to Enjoy and Survive Your Ragnar Relay Race

Recover between legs

Running 3 times is very different than running once for a longer distance. Take the time to stretch, foam roll and recover between your legs. Changing out of your sweaty clothes is a must.

@RagnarRelay coming up? tips to enjoy every step of the way #Ragnar #Running

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Pack enough but not too much

It took me a few times to narrow down the essentials I needed for a successful race. Something that is always in my bag are Shower Pill wipes. They offer an easy way to clean up and feel fresh between legs. Your van mates will thank you.

Ragnar Packing List| Survive Ragnar
Ready to Ragnar!

Bring Rain Gear

Invariably you will need some sort of rain gear at one point or another. Your rain jacket can double as an extra layer for chilly nights where you are standing around waiting for your runners. Don’t forget your Body Glide! Lots of chafing can occur on those runs especially if it rains.

 

Bring more night gear than you think you need

I was surprised by how dark it was on some of the night legs. Having a headlamp and a reflective vest are rules of Ragnar but having a few extras can make running in the dark way more enjoyable. My knuckle lights are a must have. Super light to have on your hands and they not only allow you to see better but allow you to be seen better. We also used clip on lights on our running shoes.

Survive Ragnar| pack for a destination relay race

Test out your gear

If you are not used to running with headlamps, it can be a little awkward at first. Test out your headlamp to find which setting work best for you.

Pack more snacks than you think you need

Staying up all night and running at crazy times can throw your eating schedule way off. Pack more snacks than you think you need because you never know what you might be craving.

Eat when you can

Fueling can be challenging with strange running and eating windows. Sometimes you have to eat when food is available and not necessarily when you might normally eat it or want it. That’s just the way it goes on a Ragnar.

Go with the flow

All of the logistics can sound overwhelming and daunting but Ragnar has it all worked out. Just go with the flow and you and your team will make it to the finish line. Just don’t sweat the small stuff.

Don’t worry about your pace

Ragnar relays are not really about running your best pace. Just run at a comfortable pace and you enjoy and survive your Ragnar. If you exhaust yourself on that fist or second run, your last run will not be pretty.

Embrace your team name

Own that team name and have fun with it. Whether it’s decorating your van or wearing team shirts, show your team spirit and persona whenever you can.

survive Ragnar

 

Ragnar Napa Valley

Make new friends

Take time to chat up other teams and cheer them on. You are all in this together. Chances are you will run into the same teams over and over again and it’s nice to have some rapport.

Make memories

Take funny photos and embrace the ridiculousness of what you are doing with your team mates. Some of the fondest memories and friendships come out of spending 2 days in a van with people. When else can you or would you take these kinds of photos?

Part 2 Ragnar Napa Valley| Survive Ragnar

Pat yourselves on the back

Ragnar races are no easy task! You all worked hard as a team to get to the finish line. Acknowledge and celebrate that.

Part 2 Ragnar Napa Valley| Survive Ragnar

Just writing all of this got me super excited for my upcoming Ragnar Niagara Falls race. Hope I gave you some tips on how to enjoy and survive your Ragnar Relay race too. Anyone else have one coming up?

Linking up Kim and Zenaida

Debbie and Marc

enjoy and survive your Ragnar relay

enjoy and survive your Ragnar race

 

 

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About Deborah Brooks

Hi I'm Deborah! I spend my days successfully raising a husband & 2 teens in the VA/DC area. I am a lover of all things running & fitness. As a life long vegetarian, I've always been passionate about healthy living & exercise. Looking for partners in crime, I started my own chapter of Moms Run This Town (MRTT) which has grown to over 700 members. I've met so many amazing women who inspire me daily to keep moving forward. You can usually find me running with my crew and training for the next crazy adventure they talked me into. I love to keep up to date on new running & fitness trends. I definitely choose my running gear based on color and love to express my fashion sense while exercising.

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Comments

  1. Wendy says

    05/15/2019 at 7:04 am

    Sounds like SO much fun! You’ve got this down. Shower Pill for the win!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/15/2019 at 8:30 pm

      Yes it is so much fun!

  2. Sandra D Laflamme says

    05/15/2019 at 7:07 am

    Packing the right amount can be so tricky when getting ready for a Ragnar. I have learned to bring outfits for the number of legs I will run each packed in a ziploc bag. Bringing rain gear is key too because you never know. Bright colors are good so you can identify your team members easily.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/15/2019 at 8:31 pm

      Yes it does always seem to rain at some point doesn’t it?!

  3. Debbie says

    05/15/2019 at 7:13 am

    I had never met any of my most recent Ragnar teammates before the event, and only a few of the ones on my other teams, so I definitely made new friends. I’ve been so fortunate to have great teammates and I think that makes such a difference in my Ragnar experience.

    I agree, Knucklelights are a must. Headlamps are great for seeing ahead, but handheld lights help you see in other directions too. And extra light is always welcome in the middle of the night.

    You’re going to have such a great time! I just finished my Ragnar and I already have FOMO!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/15/2019 at 8:35 pm

      Yes making new friends is the best part of the experience. Having a great team does make it so much better.

  4. Kimberly Hatting says

    05/15/2019 at 7:21 am

    Team relays are SO MUCH FUN, but like you said, they are not the typical race LOL The eating is the toughest challenge for me, because the timing is so whacked…but that’s also part of the excitement 😉

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/15/2019 at 8:48 pm

      It sure is part of the whole experience

  5. Kim G says

    05/15/2019 at 7:30 am

    These are awesome tips! I would love to do a Ragnar, but the night running kind of scares me, so I totally agree about packing more night running gear than needed. I would probably look like a Christmas tree out there, lol.

  6. Annmarie says

    05/15/2019 at 7:45 am

    All awesome tips! ShowerPills are where it’s at for Ragnar – I never shower until I’m done lol

  7. Renée says

    05/15/2019 at 11:55 am

    I had so much fun with my Ragnar Relay last summer! I’m so glad there were also experienced people out there (like you!) who were able to offer me such great tips. One thing I had WAY too much of was food. That’s not a bad thing! I think my racing everywhere in all conditions also helped me deal with the wild weather we got (and I brought throwaway rain ponchos for everyone just in case – they came in handy!!). I hope you have a brilliant time at your upcoming Ragnar!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/15/2019 at 8:56 pm

      Thanks! I am really excited about it and it’s a fun way to see a new place too

  8. Marc Pelerin says

    05/15/2019 at 1:13 pm

    That’s really exciting. I was supposed to do one with friends, but looks like things are falling through. I will be pumped to do one at some point though.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/15/2019 at 9:00 pm

      I hope you have the chance to sometime they are lots of fun

  9. Zenaida Arroyo says

    05/15/2019 at 9:21 pm

    Have fun at Ragnar! I’ve done one and would like to do another one. I just have to find one that fits in my schedule.

    Great tips! One tip that helped me was packing your running clothes and gear for each day in a ziploc bag. No need to be fishing in your bag to find a pair of socks. Everything you need for that leg is in that bag.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      05/17/2019 at 3:41 am

      Yes the ziplocs are a huge help! I should be thoroughly exhausted after this vacation for Ragnar but I will get there

  10. Cari says

    06/04/2019 at 8:43 pm

    Love the team name
    And cute fingerless gloves!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      06/05/2019 at 8:32 am

      Thanks team name seemed appropriate for us!

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Successfully raising a husband & 2 young adults in the VA/DC area. I am a lover of all things running & fitness. NASM Certified Nutrition Coach & RRCA Run Coach. As a lifelong vegetarian/pescatarian I’ve always been passionate about healthy living & exercise. Looking for partners in crime, I started my own chapter of Moms Run This Town (MRTT) which has grown to over 800 members. I’ve met so many amazing women who inspire me daily to keep moving forward. You can usually find me running with my crew and training for the next crazy adventure they talked me into.
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