{I wrote this post LAST SUMMER after Ragnar SoCal Ultra, but it got lost in the shuffle and I never posted it.
Michele recently emailed me asking for relay tips which reminded me to dig up this long lost piece of crap. You’re welcome.}
You can find relay packing lists online if you Google around, and SarahOUaL has a post about everything relay-related: check it out for great beginners’ relay tips, packing lists and more.
But this isn’t a packing list; it’s a helpful guide to running a relay without the whole team mutinying against you and dropping you off in the middle of the desert and never coming back to get your stinky self.
Not that I’d know what that’s like… maybe.
Actually, I consider it a great personal success that I’ve been on two relay teams now and neither has threatened me with a restraining order or spammed my emails. #winning.
So in order to keep the peace, my three tips:
1. Clean that crap up
You know I can fully support dirty, unwashed three day old hair, but now is not the time. Arrive clean and washed and shaved and lotioned up – basically like you’re going to Prom.
{That is a prom picture; they must go to school in Washington.}
Wait, what, why?! Because you’re going to be running multiple times without a shower and then sitting in a packed van for 18 hours with a bunch of people who are running short on sleep. No need to encourage a stankfest.
Do everyone a favor, put that loofah to good use and show up to the party so fresh and so clean. Side note: now is not the time to start saving the Earth by only using hibiscus petals instead of soap. Clean your bad self up.
2. Zip that crap up
Once you have run your leg, take your sweaty, nasty clothes off and zip them up in a sealed Ziplock bag pronto. Even better is if you’re like my parents and have a professional grade vacuum sealer, use that sucker.
Everyone’s proud of you running that last leg; it’s just that no one wants to smell it on you for the next 6 hours.
{Double zipped is your new best friend}
So as soon as you’re done running, change into your next leg’s outfit or loungewear and put the sweaty clothes in a sealed bag. You’ll feel better anyways with clean gear on. And people will actually sit by you.
3. Pack that crap up
Things to bring to keep clean: dry shampoo (or baby powder), ShowerPill athletic wipes (baby wipes or makeup remover wipes work great too), Febreze to spray your rank shoes, or a couple fresh dryer sheets to go in with your clothes.
Also don’t forget to pack personal hygiene items like a toothbrush (it will feel amazing to brush your teeth, promise), DEODERANT, and maybe a very light body spray. Now isn’t the time to relive Grandma’s Obsession and Opium perfume collection, but if you have a fresh smelling, light body mist, that might work great.
It sounds like I have an olfactory obsession, but the bottom line is you’re going to be in a van with a lot of people for over a day without showers. (If you run an ultra, you basically don’t leave the van besides to run.)
And at some point, the fun starts to wane and everyone gets a little tired and grumpy and little stuff like the stank in the van can become a major annoyance. So avoid that altogether so you can get annoyed over something way more important… like who’s eating all the Swedish Fish!?!
Help Michele out – what’s a relay tip serious or not that you can share?
Any relay horror stories or plain awesome ones?
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{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
I did a relay once and we had a totally OCD person on our team who INSISTED we get to her drop-off point an hour early even when the runner before her was requesting support. I say be as flexible as possible when in the van.
Great tips. Olfactory unpleasant is the pits (pun intended). Listening to 2 of your vanmates engage in pillow talk / watching PDA also become unsavory. Quickly. Save it for after the finish line!
haha this had me cracking up. A relay is on my running bucket list and I will be sure to remember these tips so no one pushes me out of the van
My biggest tip is EAT, whether you want to or not! My first Ragnar I didn’t feel like eating, after all most of the time you are sitting on your butt in the van! I didn’t eat much and my stomach got ANGRY! I’ve never experienced such pain in my life and I’ve had 2 c-sections! My 2nd attempt at Ragnar was much more pleasant. I made myself drink a TruMoo right after every run and I snacked on pretzels and such. Maybe I’m weird and I’m the only one who doesn’t feel like eating on such adventures, if so just ignore this comment.
You’re definitely not the only one! I found it hard to want to eat and to ever feel like it was the right time. I mean, you just ran and you’re going to run again in a couple or a few hours, so it feels like there’s no good time to eat.
My second and third Ragnars, I brought multiple breakfasts and treated each run like a morning run. I knew my body could handle racing after eating oatmeal, so I made lots of oatmeal pancakes and brought those and peanut butter. Ate a ton of those and maybe 1 real meal, but it was enough.
Bring Costco size Pepto with you:) Our whole Ragnar team was chugging it by the end!
Piggy-backing off Stephanie’s comment: If it’s your first (or you’re in charge of van food), err on the side of less of each thing, but more options. It’s hard to predict what you (or anyone else) will want to eat at 4 AM having just run 6 (or 12) miles, somehow trying to refuel for the 6 (or 12) more that will happen in a few hours. And while junk food is part of the fun – be sure to have some real food, too. Chocolate milk, fruit, Wheat Thins, and yogurt were popular in the van at my last Ragnar.
Also – if possible, before you leave, let lots of people take turns practicing driving the van on the way to the race. We did ours without a separate driver, and that was fine – until the three people most comfortable driving were running or sleeping, and someone else had to get behind the wheel (in the dark, on a foggy night, in a van-crowded parking lot, with lots of other newbie van drivers, and runners dashing everywhere) of the big van the first time. Better to practice, first.
Alternatively, you could be the only girl in a van with 5 guys…we had a plan where you would drive the leg before you ran (to make sure you were awake), but even though I was willing, my teammates all continued to drive through my turn and I rarely had to get behind the wheel
I’d really like to do a relay since I haven’t done one before…. There’s a sunrise to sunset one here in Florida….Ragnar is a Bucket list item though!
I run a 100 mile relay each year in the Florida Keys (Keys100- 6 person team). I can ditto all of SR’s suggestions for staying fresh! I also suggest packing many pairs of socks. If it rains while you are running your clothes may dry quickly afterwards but your socks will not and you will spend the rest of the time running with soggy feet. Definitely eat even if you don’t think you’re hungry. Maybe it’s because of the heat when we’re there but we go through a lot of cold deli meat. I know it sounds weird but it provides protein and sodium which seems to hit the spot.
I’m running Ragnar Chicago this year, so I’m open to any advice people may have. Team American Sweathearts!
I’m starting to seriously prep for my first Ragnar in a month and a half and have no idea how to pack or prep for it. This definitely helps!
this is hilarious but so true. I ran a mixed ultra and was not digging the man musk in the van… febreeze was my best friend to try and cover that up- gag
I’ve ran two Hood to Coasts and I can assure you, NOBODY wants to smell your stank. My ultimate tip would be to stick to tummy friendly foods. Do not go out of your comfort zone and eat the tortilla soup because it sounds good. You will be puking before your third leg at 6:00 am. No bueno.
Well Beavis, I’ve never ran a relay or thought about all this stuff and now I’m nervous. That’s a lot to think about. Shnikies.
If your van has room, I would suggest bringing a sleeping bag or blanket and a pillow! I had neither and sleeping crunched up on a cold van seat with a jacket for a pillow isn’t as comfy as one might think
Great – saving all these links here coz I may be doing the Ocean-to-Ocean in southern Thailand at the end of the year.
I’ve run 2 relays. Both were a blast. Different groups. Very different people. Wide range of speeds, ages, walks of life. First rule of thumb for me is: SHUT THE F UP ABOUT YOUR PACE. Everyone is doing their best. In my book, that’s a given. Stop apologizing/rationalizing/explaining and just do what you can, get back in the van, contain your stank and have FUN.
Oh, and don’t hog all the good food.
Oh, also…do NOT open a can of tuna in the van. Be courteous – open and eat that shit OUTSIDE.
Sidenote–my sister actually had a duct tape prom dress. It was a scholarship contest. She is crazy though.
have to say, thats impressive.
Ive done the great lakes relay in michigan a couple of times. So fun. you are on target with the smelly thing. My team’s fastest runner didn’t believe in deodorant. He did believe in broccoli and farting. It was disgusting. But he was fast, so we had to grin and bear it…
hahahahahaha!
After volunteering at a Ragnar, I’ve pretty much decided never to run a relay like that. I don’t think I have the patience for it. Plus, I’m a germaphobe and a little OCD so I don’t think I’d actually be able to handle being in the van.
Getting ready to do the Palmeto 200 for my second time. Pb&J sandwiches were a very hot item last year. Made a stop at Wendy’s for some salty French fries at one point, and they were awesome. Father in law met us at our 6am stop with McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches which was great too. Lots of “Five Hour Energy” bottles chugged but not too many gels or gu’s as they tend to upset my stomach. I saw the post about the oatmeal pancakes and I am definitely going to try something like that since oatmeal is my go-to long run food. Keep it mild and your tummy should fare ok! Take a few pairs of compression socks and a foam roller if you can! I tried not to sleep at all because if I did I’d feel even worse trying to wake up to run. Such an awesome and exciting adventure and a feat to complete. Have fun out there and wear lots of blinks lights if you run in the dark!
Great advice! The stank is quite indescribable. I would suggest bringing an extra set of running clothes. I was scheduled for three runs, and ended up doing the last leg because one of my team member’s was injured. I hadn’t brought an extra set, and I had to change out of my comfy, clean sweats and get back into dirty, smell, and downright gross running gear. NOT A WIN. Do yourself a favor, and bring an extra set!!
I have made a few posts about relay tips- Find them here
http://runningaragnar.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-ten-tips-for-running-ragnar-take.html
http://runningaragnar.blogspot.com/2011/02/tips.html
I ran and planned 2 ragnars and YES hygiene is key…. and so is healthy eating… do not.. I REPEAT.. do not eat a cheeseburger before your last run. It seems like common sense but sleep deprivation and lots of running makes you do crazy things
Thanks for the tips. They’ll come in handy NEVER. LOL
Relays… that shiz is craaazaay!!!!
hahahhahah
This has got to be the most hilarious post yet LOL ….”now is not the time to start saving the Earth by only using hibiscus petals instead of soap. Clean your bad self up.”… Priceless LOL a relay is sure enough on my bucket list! but first the Rock and Roll DC this Sat!! yipee!!
Jos
I’m hoping to run the UT Wasatch back Ragnar this June, these are great tips, thanks!
Reducing body odor and food odor is key!! I also think it’s important to try to evenly share everything—driving time, food, etc. I also think it’s important to be with a good group of people. Humor is a necessity towards the end of the relay!
4. If your husband is the driver, find a balance between “I love you baby” and “seriously I hate your face give me that map”
5. If you say you’re going to be out with water on someone’s long leg, actually be there (still feel bad about that one)
Hahahaha
I need to second (third, fourth) all of the eating comments. I had leg 12 in my Ragnar Relay last year (Colorado). I’m never hungry right after running, and after each of my first two legs we drove to the next van exchange and slept. When I woke up my next run was just a couple hours away so I barely ate anything to keep my belly in check. This was fine for a 2.9 and 4.0 mile leg, but when it came time to run the 9 miles w/ 2,000ft of vertical climbing, I have no fuel stores left and bonked hard.
Make sure you eat right after each of your legs even if you aren’t hungry. Your body will need the energy.
My husband and his Army buddies are running the 2 day, 260 mile Run Across Georgia in May. I’ll have to share these tips to try and save him some unnecessary agony. He’s a guy, so he may not care, but being the gal who does his laundry I sure do! (Love your Opium perfume reference- my mom wore that for years!). http://www.runfortheheroes.com/plaintext/home/home.aspx
Could you post a packing list somewhere of necessary “gear”?!
I will do a Ragnar tips post very soon. Look for it.
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