So many emails have been flying today.  Here is a summary:


Here is what we should expect to see for van ...

I know this is bigger than I thought we were getting, bonus!!!

Tonight, Ben or myself will move the information from Amelia's spreadsheet to a google doc spreadsheet that can be updated during the race.  Some folks will bring iPads (there should be at least 1 per van, and ipad charger, if needed).  That way when Ted gets lost if something changes, we can update the anticipated start times for each leg as we go.  

Meghan has a bike rack that can attach to a hitch that can carry 2 bikes ... this would mean van 2 has both bikes .... Laura & Ben have 2 bikes, but they are hybrids, not road bikes.  They are not the most friendly bikes for hills/racing.  But since the runner will prob. be slower than a biker, we should prob. be fine w/this?!  anyone else have road bikes they want to bring?  Do we want the bikes?  If we decide on the bikes, Van 1 will have to squeeze the bikes in van 1 until leg 7, when we can move the bikes to van 2's bike rack .... is this worth it?!  what do you guys think?? UPDATE:  Greg will bring a bike for van 2.  van 1 doesn't have a bike rack, so unless someone feels strongly, we can leave the bikes at home.  Van 1 - you ok w/this?  I'll send an email so we can discuss.

Lawn chairs can be nice.  Preferably ones that fold up real small.  For example, Ben and I have 2 camp/stadium chairs that will fit under the seats.  We also have these types of lawn chairs - they fold up and will prob. fit under the seats, as well.  

Each van will have a cooler (Greg has this under control for Van 2, Van 1 is covered from Laura & Ben).  each van should work out their own food situation.  Van 1 is having everyone bring their own food for themselves/to share.  

You need to arrive to your starting leg 1 hour before your start time to allow time to check-in, show off safety equipment, get race numbers, and take a safety course.  

We're looking for "race/bib number attachment thingys" (yes, that is their official name, I swear).  It'd be 

great to have 2 per van.  Otherwise we'll be fiddling w/pins, and who wants to do that.

Greg had some advice for moving the drop off location for the van.  Van 1 may try to change the drop off location ... to be determined.

REMEMBER to bring your reflective vest (we need 6-7 per van) and head light/butt light if you said you had one.  

Alright ... that's it for now.  T-28 hours until some of us start this road trip!

~Laura

Captain's Meeting

Go here to read the notes from the captain's meeting.  You probably also got the email that included all this information, but in case you didn't, or you didn't read it, here's another reminder! =) 

~Laura

Packing List & Welcome to Newest Members

Alright ... so a few things ... 

We have a full team!!! Can you believe it?!  Amorette & Meghan have both joined our team - as of yesterday!  So welcome them, hug them, kiss them, and cheer very loudly when they run b/c they are saving us from running MORE than we are already crazy enough to volunteer to run. =)  (PS: you may also want to hug, kiss, and cheer loudly for Erika who found both of these wonderful additions to our team!)

I will send out a group email to everyone so we have everyone's information.

Now - onto the packing list.  This was kindly forwarded from Ted - it's been used in years past.  So if you want to add any other suggestions, go ahead.  Our race is in just a few days - some of us leave Thursday.  Ahh!!!

PACKING LIST

EACH van needs:

-6 reflective vests (7 in van 1)

-2 head lights 

-2 tail lights 

Each Van Captain will make sure we have the following things:

-Cooler with ice 

- Water/sport drink/prefered beverage 

-Vehicle GPS with ALL exchanges preprogrammed in 

-GPS charger

-Binder with up to date race bible

-First aid kit - instant cold packs, mole skin, tape, ace bandages, band aids, pain pills, etc.

-Phone number list 

-2 Flashlights (other than the running head lights)

Ragnar recommends that each person pack (minimum):

o Warm coat

o Running jacket

o Sweat pants

o Two pairs of shorts

o Three shirts

o Change of underwear

o 3 or 4 pairs of socks

o Toothbrush

o Toothpaste

o Running shoes

o Comfortable shoes

o Any medications

I would say bring

-2 full sets of running clothes (in addition to the ones you will wear the first leg)

-Running shoes

-Your running gear (Garmin, watch, etc.)

-Deodorant (Please!)

-Body glide 

-Toothbrush (your call)

-Towels (at least 1)

-Off time clothes

-Off time shoes

-Extra socks

-Cell phone

-Cell phone charger

-Camera and charger

-Video camera and charger (if you've got it)

-Snack food

-Sleeping/Camping stuff (if you're deluded enough to think you'll sleep)

- eye mask and/or ear plugs?!

Ragnar recomends bringing fun stuff too:

o Blow horn

o Cow bells

o Frisbees

o Rubber chickens

o Van decorations

o Costumes

o Noise makers

o Candy

o Music

o Hula hoops

o Other Fun Stuff

OTHER NOTES

-Each person is responsible for bringing their own snack food!  

-Plan on stopping to eat during your off time.  

-I also highly recommend topping off the gas tank while you're off.

-Please select one person from your van to pay for gas - and they can save the receipts and we will add it to the accounts payable spreadsheet

READY!!! BREAK!!!

RUN. DRIVE. SLEEP? REPEAT.

Getting the details organized

2 weeks away!!!  

So there have been lots of emails going around.  And I'm finding it difficult to keep track of. So I thought I'd lay some stuff out here in a blog post - so people can go back and reference. 

First off - a little disclaimer about money.  So as we get closer - more and more people are helping to pay for things.  I think that it is only fair if we all split everything equally among all 12 runners.  If you spend money on anything for Ragnar (including on the days of the race) - keep your receipts.  I will put it in the spreadsheet after the race and make sure we are all even.  I know that is what some of you guys did in years past.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns with this method. 

Ok - now that money is out of the way ....... here's a run down of what's going on.  

1. DECORATIONS/TEAM SPIRIT!!!!

Ok - I'm most excited about this.  I can't run, but I can cheer - LOUDLY!!!  

**So Amelia threw out the idea of bacon sweatbands - awesome!!  I'm going to let Amelia take the lead w/that - email/comment below if you need any help w/that.  

**T-shirts!! Nicole threw out some design ideas.  Head over here if you need reminding.  Let us know which design you like better ... option 1 or 2.  So Nicole and I plan to make these shirts in ~ a week - so send us your t-shirt size so we can start to get materials.  

**Van decorations - Ted mentioned that he has markers from years past.  So I think we will just use these to decorate our van.  I'm not an artist - but I can draw bubble letters.  Some people have brought up concerns w/cleaning the vans in time to return them - so we should definetly be mindful of this when we decide how much writing goes on the vans.  

2. VANS!!!!!

That brings us on to vans.  I think from all the emails it sounds like both vans have been rented.  I think we are still working out details for returning the vans?!  Are we all set w/who's picking them up?

3.  VESTS/LIGHTS:  

We need 2 headlamps, 2 butt lights, and 6 reflective vests PER VAN.  We need to show these when we check-in at the initial leg for each van.

Here is how the situation works out ....

Van 1: 4 head lights and butt lights and 4 vests - from Laura, Ben, Nicole, & Ted

Van 2: 4 head lights (Laura F., Amelia, Greg, & Erika), 1 butt light (Laura F.), and 2 vests (Amelia & Greg). 

So basically - we're covered in head lights/butt lights but we need more vests.  Do we want to just make it a BYOV ... bring your own vest?  Amazon, Target, etc. all would have vests.  Please email the me or the team to make sure that we know we are all set w/vests.  

4.  VOLUNTEERS:  Paid $360 to cover all 3 shifts.   So we're good to go w/this.

5. RUNNERS - - we are still short 2 runners.  Sounds like there are some potential runners on the horizon ... more of the Russ family may be joining along =)  But keep your ears open in case that doesn't work out.  I have posted an ad on the ragnar website, facebook ragnar page, my facebook page, and sent emails to ~15-20 "runners looking for teams" via the ragnar site.  No luck yet. 

On the horizon ... 

we still need to figure out 

- - logistics - car pooling to the starting line, places to sleep Thursday night (is van 2 going to sleep anywhere or just head over Friday afternoon?), etc. etc. 

- - organizing supplies to bring ... what each runner needs for themselves and what we will want to share

- -getting phone numbers and organizing how we want to communicate on the day of the race

- - what to do if we run into problems on race day (e.g. can't find your runner, we get lost, etc)  

I plan to start these discussions and more this weekend. I just wanted to get this out tonight so that we are all up-to-date.  In the meantime, please correct me if I misspoke about anything.  

HOMEWORK: 

1. Send me or Nicole your t-shirt size

2. Buy a vest - if you don't already have one

3. Let us know if you have a design preference for the t-shirts