Ragnar Northwest Passage: Summer Fun Part 1

So you’ve run them all. The 5k, the 10k, a few track races, a token marathon, some trail races and that crazy ultra marathon thingy. After over 25 years of running, it wasn’t until a few months ago that I finally got my first road marathon finish and felt like I could finally join “the” club. See even though I’ve completed the marathon distance and further on the trails several times I never felt like I could jump in the “marathon” conversation while people listed off races like NYC, Boston, Portland, Marine Corp, Chicago and Grandma’s. Now that I’m officially a marathon finisher and I can now jump in those conversations with ease(and a Boston Qualifier) but I still reserve the right to play my “Ragnar” card.

A little puzzled, you tilt your head and ask “What is Ragnar?”.  Take a seat my friend and let me explain.

Ragnar is a relay series with destination races across the United States varying in distance from 180 to 200 miles and that offers you and 11 of your best buddies the opportunity to traverse a veritable cornucopia of scenic and challenging running routes that will no doubt awaken your senses, challenge your physical being, rob you of much need sleep and allow you to see those around you from a different and more colorful lens while celebrating the joy of 24 plus hours of running. Now that sounds like fun.

The series itself started in 2004 in Park City, Utah as Ragnar Wasatch Back and has grown to over 15 events nationwide with over 70,000 participants annually. Luckily for those of us who live in and actively enjoy all that Western Washington has to offer, the Ragnar Nortwest Passage runs right through our backyard-from Blaine to Langley.

The Ragnar Northwest Passage  began for me as a mere spectator in 2009 when a crazy friend of mine signed up to run the race again as a 6 person ultra team.  Each of the 6 runners were well accomplished in their own right, great ambassadors of the sport and looking to challenge themselves beyond the same-old, same-old. So there I was at 5:30 in the morning, watching the sun paint its orange signature across the Cascade Mountains and waiting for my buddy to come rambling by.  Due to the reverse seeding(fastest teams start last) of the race, which is pure genius, I was able to witness and cheer on hundreds of runners and spy dozens of brilliantly decorated vans, before my buddy came running  by. The vans arrived in Mardi-Gras type procession complete with blasting music, scantily clad runners and an energy that was rare for Whidbey Island. As runners poured out of the vans and started dancing in the street I was overcome with amazement and I wanted to throw on my running shoes right then and there to join this traveling circus of runners. With the party in full swing my buddy came running into the exchange zone: he looked physically beaten, dusty and dirt ridden and was covered in something that resembled a sweaty Gatorade smoothie, but he was smiling beyond belief, slapping high fives and bounding towards his awaiting teammates who had worked themselves into a frenzy.

In that moment a wristband is exchanged, a fresh runner takes off, the party moves on and Ragnar has filled the hearts and souls of everyone for miles around.

Sign me up, I’m all in, no questions asked!!!!

(This is Part 1 of a 3 article series that will lead up to Ragnar Northwest Passage that starts on July 20th in Blaine and finishes 190 miles later on July 21st in Langley)