
Training
- Try running doubles or on tired legs at least once a week. On race day, you'll have to run anywhere from 4 to 16 miles several times with a few hours in between. Run a hard five miles in the morning and another four after work, or lift weights and then run, etc. The idea is to get used to running while tired.
- Prepare to run at night. Have someone run with you after dark and run wearing all the safety gear required - a headlamp, a taillight and a reflective vest.
- Figure out what you need to eat on the run and bring it. I packed my homemade peanut butter running fuel and it worked quite well.
- Pack light. There's a bunch of people in a van together with all the stuff. Limit yourself to what you actually need.
- Giant zip top bags. Buy them and use them. I needed four bags - one for each leg of the race, plus an extra for odds and ends like arm warmers, extra hats, lounging clothes and socks.
- Soak old wash cloths in water and put them in plastic bags, then add one to each of your clothing bags.
- Unscented baby wipes are not just for babies. Skip the scent or you'll smell like a sweaty baby.
- Pack an extra pair of shoes and a pair of flip flops for hanging out.
- Sunscreen and bug spray are important.
- Edit: Ragnar provides water at exchanges. I drank from my handheld water bottle during the legs that I filled using the cases of water we packed, then chugged electrolyte water after each leg to prevent cramping.
- Take a light blanket and a neck pillow. You never know where you'll end up catching a few ZZZs. I wish I had the Chawel then because it's brilliant - towel, changing room and sleeping bag. Live and learn.
- Pack your food in individual bags, then place the bags in large tupperware containers so they don't get crushed.
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I don't know why this picture is moving, but I'm going with it. Napoleon is there for scale. |
Race Day
- Most teams will rent cargo vans. These ride like buses, so if you get carsick, plan accordingly. I do, so I was happy to get assigned the minivan rather than the cargo van, but I brought Dramamine, too.
- This should be thought out in advance, but you may wish to run double legs. For example, I ran legs 33 and 34 because they were short - 3 or 4 miles. It's a waste to get out to run just three miles.
- Use a smartphone tracking app and mass texting to stay in touch with your team. The distance of leg seven was changed while our runner was out on the course. With the texting and tracking, we were able to pick her up and drop another runner. Technology is awesome. Use it.
- We bought car window markers to decorate our cars. You can also use dry-erase markers to write on the white part of vans, too. If you're going this route, pack a scrubby sponge so you can get the stuff off before returning your rental van.
- After each leg, head straight to a port-o-potty and wipe down with the wash cloths and baby wipes, place your dirty clothes in the zip-top bag and put on your next set of clothes. This keeps the smell down and makes you feel less disgusting.
- Sleep when you can, but only in designated sleeping areas. It's so much more restful to sleep horizontally than in the van.

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This was delicious, but I really shouldn't have ate it |
- Some exchanges have food, water and parties going on, and some are just little cones set up for an exchange. The exchanges that are fun are noted in the Rag Mag you get when you check in.
- The only bathrooms on the course are at the exchanges, or if there are gas stations or whatever in your run leg. You may wish to tote toilet paper and practice your outdoor bathroom skills.
- Learn from my mistake: Don't just eat whatever crosses your path unless you want to have to use those outdoor bathroom skills. Pack the food you know agrees with you and stick with it.
- Brushing your teeth and washing your hands and face with real water makes you a new woman. Take advantage of this where you can.
- It can be a long day, and tensions can rise. If things get heated, remain calm and remember it's only 24 hours and you're only upset because you're sleep deprived, dirty and in close quarters. Our team got along well, but in retrospect, it was because we didn't know each other well and kept things polite and diplomatic.
- Drinking isn't allowed on the course, but lots of teams bring a picnic lunch and hang out at the finish. I wish we would have thought ahead and done this. It looked fun!
- The women's shirts are true to size and quite nice.
- The medal is awesome.
- At the finish line, you get one pizza per van, one beer per person and one medal per person. Only the team captain can get the medals.
- Finishers get Ragnar vehicle stickers.
- There is a store at the start and finish with Ragnar gear, including jackets, shirts, pint and shot glasses, reflective gear and all sorts of doodads. Volunteers get a big discount.
- There are a variety of awards for best van, best outfits, best team name, etc. Check the Rag Mag that you get at check in for details.

Read my Ragnar Relay Race Recap from the 2013 Madison to Chicago event.