One month to go!
I hope your training is going well. I've had an unusual opportunity to prepare for what has always been, for me, the least favorite part of the race - running in the heat of the day. This week, vacation travel has given me the opportunity to run in the steamy heat of the Cocody district in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Last week it was high 40s and 50s in South London but this week on the sub-Saharan seaside it has been nearly 80 with a "RealFeel(tm)" in the low 90s. I'd been exclusively on the treadmill prior to this trip so I'm gotten a much-needed upshift in my training.
Let's see if there's less complaining from me when I step out into the sun on June 12-13.
I don't have any updates on the missing maps (#18, #27, #29 and a van transition) but I pinged the race director. (No answer yet but her out of office message included the intriguing phrase: "I am currently out of the office scouting out the best possible deals for Ragnar Relay Chicago." Maybe she meant roads. Or maybe she meant deals. ???)
Have a great weekend.
best,
Eric
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Featured runner: Bo Lackey is running with Rank Strangers for the third straight year. A Ragnar Ambassador, Bo runs, does triathlons and there's some GORUCK thrown in there somewhere. More about his ambassadorial role: he answered Ragnar's call to join the Ragnar Ambassador Team and "spread the Ragnar love to others in your communities." Here's his oath his office: "I, as a Ragnar Ambassador, do pledge to introduce those who have not yet had the pleasure (poor darlings) to the magic and celebration that is a Ragnar Relay. To help friends and strangers understand, plan, decorate for and conquer a Ragnar Relay. And to lead by my own example, that the hours spent connecting with friends, conquering a Ragnar, and celebrating the accomplishment are among the most awesome that life has to offer." Van #1 teammates, be prepared to be converted!
Tips
This week's tip offerings include something of a re-run from April 12's updatehttp://rankstrangers.blogspot.com/2015/04/hi-team-calendar-says-just-61-days-to.html that had a tip titled "Night Running and Elusive Sleep." Today we focus on the sleep thing.
From May 11, 2015 --> You are likely NOT going to get a completely refreshing snooze on this journey, unless you habitually sleep in a noisy, moving van and have mastered the art.
Still, try to catch a cat-nap as soon as you're done with your first leg. It's easy to want to stay up all night cheering people on, but if you finish your first leg and lay down in the back of the van for an hour or so, you'll feel much better later.
There is "down" time for each van. To make the most of the opportunities, bring a bag you can stuff with clothes to make a pillow, a light blanket or lightweight sleeping bag. A space blanket can be used as ground cover.
The Rank Stranger record for hours sleeping, established by Rachel in 2005, is untouchable. She slept in the noon sun at Lake Mills, WI, in the noisy van as it bounced from stop to stop, and even through breakfast in Zion, IL. The conservative estimate is 8 hours of sleep.
May 9, 2015 --> Eric's nomination for worst sleeper in Van #2 history goes to Tim Scott in 2013. Tim's battery never went dead; he grabbed every opportunity to jump from the van to cheer for teammates and when that was time for...well, dinner or breakfast. Anything but a snooze! This was the first year we watched Van#1 cross the Illinois border, and also discovered the new favorite Saturday breakfast haunt, THE COFFEE POT in Kenosha.
Another tip you might not have thought you needed (recycled from Saturday, May 10) - TED talk by Terry Moore "how to tie your schoes" http://www.ted.com/talks/terry_moore_how_to_tie_your_shoes
Charities
The Ragnar Chicago race benefits two charities:
1. The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) is the official charity of Ragnar Relay Chicago 2014. The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) is a non-profit organization devoted to expanding, motivating, supporting and celebrating the running community of Chicagoland. CARA connects runners to resources that enable them to run - farther, faster, better, for life. CARA: http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cararuns.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFC3x-RZ_gDBcQ4R4Yq8P_sLUDdwg
2. Back on My Feet (BoMF) is a national, for-purpose 501(c)3 organization that uses running to help those experiencing homelessness change the way they see themselves so they can make real change that results in employment and independent living. BOMF:http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fchicago.backonmyfeet.org
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