Ragnar Trail McDowell Mountain, AZ

All I can say is that I am hooked.  The Ragnar Trail Relay was spectacular.  We had perfect weather and a great yet challenging course.  The Village was a lot of fun and camping out with 7 of my running friends made the entire weekend special.  It turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more.  I can't wait to do another one.

It all started off on Thursday afternoon when I along with two of my teammates met up with our team's gear packed in our cars and headed up to the race site at McDowell Mountain Regional Park.  Even though we showed up at around 4:30 p.m. (30 minutes after the official opening of the gates), there was already a pretty long line to drop off gear before heading out to park our cars.  It didn't take too long to get in and drop off our gear.  We then parked the two cars and walked back to the Village and the campsite we had selected.

If I have one complaint about the Village, it is that the camp sites are a little too small for 8 people.  We only had 2 tents, cook gear and chairs.  Even with minimal gear, we could barely fit it on to the site.  We did ultimately get our site set up before it was dark.  It wasn't the best laid out site.  But it was functional and allowed us to have an area for cooking and an area to sit down between relay legs.  I would suggest that Ragnar increase the sites from 17 x 17 to 20 x 20.  If they did that, we would have had plenty of room.

After set up, the three of us headed in to Fountain Hills to grab some dinner.  We decided to grab some Mexican food at Senior Taco (one of my favorites).  A little quesadilla, rolled chicken tacos and carne asada burritos never hurt anyone.  After our feast Scott and I headed back to the Village to spend the night.  The rest of our team was carpooling up on Friday morning.  They wanted to get a good night's sleep before the race.  Truth be told, I think Scott and I had it better in our tent.

We woke up early on Friday morning.  We both ate a little snack and then went up to check out the starting/transition area and to make sure we knew where to check in.  We got a text from our teammates telling us they would be arriving around 10:30 a.m.  Our official start time was 12:30 p.m.  We had to check in an hour ahead of our start and watch the safety video.  They all arrived a little later due to the traffic coming in to the race.  But we got checked in and watched the safety video and still had an hour to spare.

Ragnar is really good about running their races on time.  Our first runner headed out with the pack on the Green Loop (4.1 miles) right on time.  I was in the 3rd runner position and would be starting off on the Red Loop (6.6 miles).    Like clockwork our first 2 runners finished their legs in good times.  I got into the transition area at 2:10 p.m. to take the bib hand off from Stacy.  I left the transition area at 2:12 p.m.  I was off on a new running adventure and was both excited and nervous about what lay ahead.

The sun was shining but the temperature was almost perfect at 68o.  The Red Loop started off along the same trail as the Green Loop.  About a mile into the loop, you take a right hand turn and head up to the ridge.  My trail training came in handy.  I was able to get up the hill to the top of the ridge with relative ease.  Once I got there, I was treated to some spectacular views of the valley and mountains to the north.  There was a nice breeze as I ran the trail.  It was simply spectacular.

At the 3 mile point, the trail started to gradually lose elevation.  The last 3.6 miles consisted of mostly downhills with some rolling elevations.  The last 1.6 miles were all downhill.  I was able to pick up my pace quite a bit at this point.  Partly because I was feeling really strong and partly because the trail was mostly smooth.  I didn't have to worry too much about tripping hazards.  I was able to run miles 4, 5 and 6 at a sub-9 minute per mile pace.  When I could see the village, I really picked it up and completed the last 6/10 of a mile at a 7:40 pace.  I made it to the transition area with an official time of 59:51 (9:04 pace) and handed it off to Dana for her first leg.

I headed back to the campsite to change out of my sweaty clothes and to grab a little something to eat.  I figured I had at least 6 hours before I had to run again.  This allowed us to take advantage of the pasta dinner that was included in our registration fees.  I grabbed a Kilt Lifter beer to celebrate a great run (better than I expected) and headed up to the mess hall.  The dinner was perfect with pasta, a green salad and bread.  It really hit the spot.  I knew I would need the energy as I had the Yellow Trail next.  I was hearing from other runners that the Yellow Trail was going to be the hardest loop.

After dinner, I went back to the campsite with my team and relaxed until it was getting close to my turn to run.  Since I had heard the Yellow Loop was going to be hard and I would be running it in the dark, I planned to start off slow and then take it as it came to me.  Stacy came into the transition area at 9:10 p.m.  She handed the bib off to me and I was on my way out through the tiki torches to the Yellow Loop.  It was pretty dark and I was a little worried about falling on this loop.

The temperature was 61o and the sky was clear.  The stars were out and it was a perfect night.  The moon was just a sliver which meant I would have to rely on my knuckle lights to light up the trail and potential obstacles.  I also had on my head lamp to shine further down the trail to allow me to see what was ahead.   Once I passed the first mile, the steepest hill was in front of me.  I attacked it carefully to ensure I didn't fall.  I was able to get up and over it with no problem.  Then I had 3 more miles to go.

The best way to describe this trail is that it is like roller coaster.  That first hill is tough.  Since I had prepped on a very steep trail near my house, I was able to conquer it with some ease.  After that the hills are smaller.  But they come and go through out the loop.  There are some narrow passages with skree making the footing a little treacherous.  I slowed my pace when I was in those areas and picked it up when I could.  The good news is that the last 7/10 of a mile is easy.   I ran into the transition area at an official time of 49:34 (10:32 pace).  I felt good about my time which ended up being the second fastest on my team.

After handing off to Dana, I had to get back to the campsite to change out of my wet clothes as it was starting to cool off.  Plus I had to work our volunteer shift at the S'more area from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.  Our team decided to work it in shifts so that we could all grab some shut eye before having to run our last leg.  I finished my shift at 11 p.m. and headed back to the tent to get some much needed sleep.

I got my gentle wakeup call at 4:00 a.m.  I had actually slept pretty well.  I had one last leg to go and it would be the easiest leg of the race.  I slipped on my shoes and got out of the tent to get ready to run.  It was still 61o and clear but felt colder than that with the wind.  I decided to run in long sleeves but no fleece or sweatshirt.  I knew once I got started on the trail, I would warm up pretty quickly.  I wore my sweatshirt up to the transition area to stay warm until I had to go.

Stacy came in at 5:32 a.m. and handed off to me.  Since it was still very dark, I again ran with my knuckle lights and head lamp.  The Green Loop is basically flat.  There is a little bit of elevation gain but it is barely noticeable.  Plus the trail is not as rocky which meant that I could really pick up the pace along the way.  I was still sore from the previous 2 loops.  It didn't hamper my ability to run well.  I just couldn't push it to the limit.  I think I could have trained a little harder for speed on a trail.

Regardless, it seemed like I had barely started running when I made the turn and could see the village.  I was on solid trail and really picked up the pace.  I was able to run the last 1.1 miles at an 8:25 per mile pace.  I was ecstatic as I ran up the incline to the transition area.  I felt like I had really accomplished something.  I had challenged myself to do something I had never done before.  The best part was that I did better than I had planned.  I met Dana in the transition tent coming in at an official time of 37:01 (9:02 pace).  The sun was coming up and I drank in the atmosphere around me.  I had run 15.4 miles on trails and did well.  I was proud of myself as I walked back to the tent to change and start breakfast for my team.

Our last runner (Janet) headed out of the transition area at 10:30 a.m.  Before we knew it, we were back up at the transition tent to run the last 1/10 of a mile with her as she came in.  It was an awesome feeling.  I could see the sense of accomplishment and joy on all of my team's faces.  They had had a blast.  We officially crossed the finish line having run 123.2 miles in 23 hours 9 minutes and 38 seconds.  This was ahead of my projection of 24+ hours.  Our average pace as a team was 11:17 per mile.  Not too shabby.  I had an average pace of 9:31 per mile which is only 31 seconds slower than my normal road pace.  We all high fived, hugged and celebrated our personal victory.

I am so happy to have had this experience.  While I have run several of these adventure relays, this was the first trail relay.  What made this one so much more satisfying was the time we got to spend as a team together.  Since we were not focused on driving to the next exchange, we had time to sit down together and really share the experience.  I know I am going to run more road relays in my future.  I just hope that I can incorporate these relays into my future because they not only challenge me physically but they help me build stronger relationships with my team.  These types of events prove that the running community is one big happy group of people who share a common passion and embrace each and every participant no matter how fast or slow.

I am so glad to have stepped out of my comfort zone and faced this challenge.  It showed me that even at 54 years of age, that there is still so much out there to see and do.  As actor J.R. Martinez said, "I've learned in my life that it's important to be able to step outside your comfort zone and be challenged with something you're not familiar or accustomed to. That challenge will allow you to see what you can do."  Now I know that I can be a trail runner and that is a wonderful feeling.

Nov. 2 – 4.20 miles (36:33, 8:42 pace)
Nov. 3 – 6.20 miles (57:18, 9:15 pace)
Nov. 5 – 4.20 miles (38:41, 9:13pace)
Nov. 6 – 6.60 miles (59:38, 9:02 pace) - Ragnar Trail McDowell Mountain/Red Trail
Nov. 6 – 4.80 miles (49:06, 10:18 pace) - Ragnar Trail McDowell Mountain/Yellow Trail
Nov. 7 – 4.10 miles (36:29, 8:50 pace) - Ragnar Trail McDowell Mountain/Green Trail
Nov. 9 – 5.10 miles (44:17, 8:41 pace)
Nov. 10 – 6.20 miles (57:11, 9:13 pace)
Nov. 14 – 5.10 miles (44:30, 8:44 pace)
Nov. 15 – 8.10 miles (1:14:04, 9:16 pace)

Total Miles:  54.6 miles
2015 Total Miles:  1,689.2 miles

Pre Race - Ragnar Trail - McDowell Mountain

This coming Thursday, I am headed out to McDowell Mountain Regional Park to set up my Ragnar Relay Team's campsite at the Ragnar Village.  This will be my first Ragnar Trail relay run.  I cannot tell you how excited I am for this new challenge.  I am planning to spend the night at the campsite Thursday night with a couple of my teammates.  We will wake up the next morning to welcome the rest of our eight runners to the Village.

The Ragnar Village is the center of the Ragnar Trail Relay.  Each of the three trail loop begins and ends in the Ragnar Village.  Therefore it is the starting line, the finish line, and the exchange point. After my teammate finishes their loop they will be coming back to the support of our team and the adulation of the teams around us.  This is very different than a normal adventure relay where your team is split into two vans and you hardly get to see the other half of your team let alone the rest of the teams.  We will truly be one team at this race.

McDowell Mountain Regional Park where the race is being held is only 15 miles from my home. The park sits in the lower Verde River basin and comprises 21,099 acres in the northeast Phoenix Valley. While it is hard to imagine elevation here in Phoenix, the park actually rises to 3,000 feet along the western boundary at the base of the McDowell Mountains. What I am really looking forward to is the spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges.  I am hoping that while I am out on the trail running I might get to see deer, javelina, many birds, or even coyotes.  Luckily it is getting too cold for the rattlers to be out.  So I don't have to worry about that.

In this race each runner runs all three of the loops on the course in a round robin fashion.  The three loops are the Shallmo Wash Trail (Green - 4.1 miles), T-Bone Ridge (Yellow - 4.7 miles) and the Pemberton Trail (Red Trail - 6.6 miles).  All three trails are challenging.  I am runner number 3 for this race.  This means that I will run the trails starting with red, followed by yellow and then finishing with green.  I wanted to get the longest run out of the way early and in daylight.  This way I can run the shorter loops at a good pace in the evening and sunrise hours.

Here is how the race website describes the three loops:

Green Loop - Shallmo Wash Trail - 4.1 Miles (Easy).  Flat-ish, fast-ish, and super fun to run—who says it isn’t easy being Green?  Green loop starts off with the Red loop, splitting off just short of a mile to take you along the lower Scenic trail.  The first half of this loop offers a climb so subtle, you’ll swear you’re on flat ground.  After meeting up briefly with Red again, Green takes off down a brand new trail paralleling Shallmo Wash.  Speedsters will have fun bombing down this loop, while the rest of us can sit back, relax, and enjoy the gentle rollers all the way back into the Village.

Yellow Loop - T-Bone Ridge - 4.7 Miles (Hard).  This year, Yellow starts off with a climb back up over T-Bone Ridge.  Intense but short, the view from the top of the Ridge is your first reward; we recommend taking a second to take it all in.  After a quick scramble down the back of the Ridge, you’re next rewarded with 2.5 miles of fantastic single-track trail.  It’s just hard enough to keep your brain and feet  happy.  Your final reward?  You’re almost done!  For the last bit of the loop, you join up with Red for a speedy finish back into the village.

Red Loop - Pemberton Trail - 6.6 Miles (Hard).  At 6.6 miles, Pemberton is the longest of the three trails. After splitting from Green, the Red loop takes you on a single track climb through the saguaros to the summit of the Scenic Trail.  It’s challenging, but that’s what makes it great! From the top, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous panoramic view of the mountains.  After descending the Scenic Trail, you’ll converge on to the Pemberton Trail, briefly meeting up with Green again.  After Green splits off to the left, you head straight ahead for the water station (it’s the only one on the loop, so fill up!).  From there, you’ll continue down Pemberton, eventually leaving the trail to cut down a sandy wash.  The wash is tough, and may feel longer than it is, but you’ll be back on trail before you know it, meeting up with Yellow for a final push in to the Village.

What I am most looking forward to is joining two things that I love to do - camp and run.  I get to use all of the camping knowledge I have amassed while part of the Boy Scout program.  Plus I get to use my running skills on a new and unique type of course.  This race will challenge me in new ways and allow me to get out of my comfort zone.  I have learned that if you don't challenge yourself regularly you can't change or grow.  I am sure at some point during the race I will ask myself "what have I gotten myself into?"  The only answer to that question is that life begins at the end of my comfort zone.

Oct. 12 – 5.20 miles (47:31, 9:08 pace)
Oct. 13 – 6.20 miles (57:24, 9:15 pace)
Oct. 15 – 6.30 miles (59:28, 9:26 pace)
Oct. 16 – 5.50 miles (56:45, 10:19 pace) - Hill Repeats
Oct. 17 – 7.10 miles (1:02:25, 8:47 pace)
Oct. 18 – 7.10 miles (1:16:43, 10:48 pace)
Oct. 19 – 5.20 miles (47:21, 9:07 pace)
Oct. 20 – 6.20 miles (56:47, 9:09 pace)
Oct. 22 – 6.20 miles (58:35, 9:27 pace)
Oct. 23 – 5.50 miles (57:38, 10:29 pace) - Hill Repeats
Oct. 24 – 6.20 miles (1:16:25, 12:20 pace) - Trail Run
Oct. 25 – 4.10 miles (36:48, 8:58 pace)
Oct. 26 – 6.20 miles (54:51, 8:51 pace)
Oct. 27 – 6.20 miles (57:12, 9:14 pace)
Oct. 29 – 6.20 miles (58:47, 9:29 pace)
Oct. 30 – 5.20 miles (52:55, 10:11 pace) - Hill Repeats
Oct. 31 – 8.10 miles (1:10:42, 8:2944 pace)
Nov. 1 – 7.20 miles (1:07:38, 9:24 pace)

Total Miles:  109.9 miles
2015 Total Miles:  1,634.6 miles