Jordan here. So, it turns out that whenever I work frantically and stress and fret to meet a deadline at work, I always end up finishing early and with very little left on my plate. Such is my situation this afternoon at work, so I'm writing about something I think is cool.
It must have been back in January when I caught wind of this crazy race series called the Ragnar Relay. Ragnar is a series of seven separate 12-person running relays that are held at various times during the year in various parts of the country: Washington State, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Wisconsin/Minnesota, Washington D.C. and Utah. Needing to get in shape, but being unable to just run for no reason, I set this race as a goal and a means to make me run and assembled a 12-person team which is currently training for the Utah Wasatch Back race on June 20-21.
So here's how it works: The race is a 178-mile relay race from Logan, UT to Park City, UT. It is divided into 36 legs which are covered by 12 runners. Each runner runs three legs, each leg ranging in difficulty, elevation change and between three and eight miles. Each team member has a number (1-12) which dictates the order in which they run. For example, Runner #1 will run legs 1, 13 and 25. Runner #2 runs legs 2, 14 and 26, etc. You get the point. So the race begins on Friday, June 20, we run through the night and finish in Park City sometime Saturday afternoon, June 21. Then we get our swerve on in Park City.
Once I decided I was going to do this, I basically just invited anyone I could think of that had any running experience (or not): friends, friends at work, friends of friends, friends of Janel....ANYONE! We ended up with a sweet team that I think is going to be very successful in this nutty race. My brother Morgan, who is also running on the team (and who is one of our strongest runners), came up with the apropos name of Team Chasqui for our team name.
The fact that I am preparing for this race will possibly answer several questions that you may have been asking yourself:
Q: Jordan, why are you limping everywhere you go and acting like you are in constant pain?
A: As a matter of fact, the constant pain thing is only 75% exaggeration, contrary to what many might think. The other 25% is actual pain caused by the shin splints that presented themselves soon after I began training.
Q: Jordan, why does your hair look like the ugliest mop that these two eyes have ever beheld?
A: Being the handsomest person that I know got old, and I am now seeing just how ugly I can make myself. Actually, I am trying to get my hair long enough to look like the brash, charismatic and legendary runner, Steve Prefontaine.
Q: But Jordan, Steve Prefontaine has a mustache in this picture. It would take you a decade to grow anything that even slightly resembles facial hair.
A: Good point. I will have to wear a fake one during the race.
Q: Jordan, if you are doing all this running, why are you still fat?
A: I don't know, but thank you for reminding me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Oh Jordan, You are so hilarious! Thanks for the great laugh, and good luck. That sounds totally cool, and totally crazy...hope your shin splints get better!
You had Mason and I both laughing really hard when we read this last night.
Jordan I had some peole invite me to do this race last year. I thought about it and thought it would be really fun and then i thought NOT!!! I will have you and Janel over for dinner when you complete the race. GOOD LUCK!
That's awesome! I actually have a bunch of friends that are running that race (in UT) too! I told them I was not doing it, but I would work out with them at the gym. They still want me to ride in the van for support. May see you there!!!
GO TEAM CHASQUI!!
I'm so excited for this race! And your Q&A portion of this post kills me! I can't wait to see you out there with the prefontaine mustache :P
Post a Comment