Last week, my Facebook feed started populating itself with pictures of tutus and custom signets, motivational running quotes, last-minute pleas for a runner, and the back-and-forth typical of any large group traveling to a new city. Who's in town? When and where should we meet for dinner? What are you guys doing anyway?
The Ragnar Relay. 200 miles (more or less), 4-12 friends, 2 vans, 2 days, 1 night. My lovely, insane friends were about to run from the Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone, MD (think Western Maryland, beyond the narrowest part) through Hagerstown, Frederick, Rockville, Bethesda, DC's Rock Creek Park, Virginia's Arlington and Alexandria, and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to National Harbor, MD. And because this is the type of event that encourages fun, and because the team name was "Red, White, and Tutu," they were going to do so in red, white, and blue tulle.
As crazy as I thought they were, there is something inherently appealing about this kind of trip. It combines physical activity, the best of a road trip - close quarters, a goal, themed playlists, inside jokes - and slow travel. There's not much that's slower than crossing the state of Maryland on foot. They got to explore the trail systems of state parks and run past Civil War battlefields. They got to see small-town America's volunteer fire departments, churches, and small businesses stay open through the night to support the event. They got to occasionally get lost, backtrack, run the extra mile, and finish their legs among cheering teammates. (They got to drive past the trail systems of national parks, then double up on other legs, since the federal government is still closed.) And at the end of the race, they got to join the final runner to cross the finish line, blistered, aching, and triumphant.
I'm still working my way back from ankle surgery, but next time, I just may join them. Maybe we'll run from Miami to Key West, then stick around for some diving!
Where would you do a relay race?
The Ragnar Relay. 200 miles (more or less), 4-12 friends, 2 vans, 2 days, 1 night. My lovely, insane friends were about to run from the Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone, MD (think Western Maryland, beyond the narrowest part) through Hagerstown, Frederick, Rockville, Bethesda, DC's Rock Creek Park, Virginia's Arlington and Alexandria, and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to National Harbor, MD. And because this is the type of event that encourages fun, and because the team name was "Red, White, and Tutu," they were going to do so in red, white, and blue tulle.
As crazy as I thought they were, there is something inherently appealing about this kind of trip. It combines physical activity, the best of a road trip - close quarters, a goal, themed playlists, inside jokes - and slow travel. There's not much that's slower than crossing the state of Maryland on foot. They got to explore the trail systems of state parks and run past Civil War battlefields. They got to see small-town America's volunteer fire departments, churches, and small businesses stay open through the night to support the event. They got to occasionally get lost, backtrack, run the extra mile, and finish their legs among cheering teammates. (They got to drive past the trail systems of national parks, then double up on other legs, since the federal government is still closed.) And at the end of the race, they got to join the final runner to cross the finish line, blistered, aching, and triumphant.
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| Red, White & Tutu, L to R: The Mayor, T-City, Braveheart (he's Scottish), Sweet D, Spider Monkey, Tiger Lily, Honey Badger, The Skipper, Gilligan, Popping Fresh, and Freelance. Missing: Chocolate Thunder |
I'm still working my way back from ankle surgery, but next time, I just may join them. Maybe we'll run from Miami to Key West, then stick around for some diving!
Where would you do a relay race?
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