MC200 Relay

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I had the opportunity to run the Madison to Chicago Relay, which is a 200 mile relay race where you (& your team) complete 200 miles of running from Madison, WI to Chicago, IL ... members of a team of 12 (we had 2 teams of 12 so no one was running alone) would run 3 legs with mileage between 10 - 21 miles total (mine was 17.17 miles). You (your team, rather) runs constantly until you finish, which means some team members run in the middle of the night (which is why we had 2 teams so that no one was running alone in the middle of the night on an unfamiliar course). Thankfully, none of my legs were in the middle of the night, I ran Friday morning, Friday night, and Saturday early morning. This relay is a combo of training (which I was somewhat lacking - I trained primarily on a treadmill with my longest treadmill run was about 6 miles - treadmills can be boring!) and mind over physical, because by your 3rd leg, you are running on fumes and essentially no sleep. We basically lived out of 4 vans for about 36 hours. Honestly, it was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had (no shit)...I would do it again next year for sure!

At the start on Friday morning. The teams start in waves based on projected finishing time. We started early; we were not a real competitive team. Our average speed was about 10 min. miles, and that was kind of considered slow ....some teams were 6:30s.... waaaay too speedy for this beer drinker! ;)

Helmut, stretching. This was Helmut's 3rd MC200, he was the one who got me to sign up. A co-worker of his coordinated everything and she rocked!

Since the Blackhawks had just won the Stanley Cup two nights prior, we thought it was only fitting to have our own replica cup at the starting line!

Lord Stanley making his MC200 debut! Helmut passed the "cup" (a gatorade cooler and some tupperware) off at the end of the starting gate. It would have been too awkward to run with it the whole time....also, very hot on Friday for the start!

Some of the team chilling and waiting for the next handoff.

You can't see them very well, but here they come!!

Helmut and his wife, Tanya. She has an 8 month old. I want her genes.

Tanya and me. This is back in Chicago at the finish line - we were waiting for our final 2 runners to come in so we could all cross the finish line together. Our team shirts (orange, which I originally questioned, but trust me, we found each other easily) and our team name: "From the Dairy Air to the Windy City"

Kieran met me at the finish... I am exhausted and sunburned. :)

Here we come!! (The flags weren't ours; they are safety flags provided by the race organizers and we had to return them at the finish line)

Awww yeah, I medaled. And, no, I didn't run in a skirt and flip flops - my final run was about 12 hours prior and I just needed to change into regular clothes. I didn't need running shoes for the 25 yards we ran in as a team.

Team From the Dairy Air to the Windy City!! They gave out whole Dominoes pizzas at the finish so some of us were posing with our pizza - the first "hot" meal since Thursday night!

Out of order pic of me, Helmut and Tanya....somewhere on the course right after one of my legs, I am sunburned and tired....

Anybody wanna run with me next year???? :)