Finally, my Ragnar Relay race report that you've all been waiting for!

This was my first ever super-ultra-mega relay, with our 12-person relay team running from Madison to Chicago in a 197-mile, 30+ hour span. All the coordination, down to the tiniest detail, was meticulously planned by our captain Marty. We even had a designer on staff, Amy K., to get our official "12 Sweaty Nuts" t-shirts designed and printed. Sponsor, vans, drivers, volunteers, gear, food...everything was ready to go. We just had to execute.

And execute we did. Though it wasn't always easy, running our final legs on little to no sleep, the fine men and women on our team put in performances that would make Chuck Norris shed a tear. I'm talking about "what estimated pace?", "I wanted to see what it would be like to double my pace for a leg" type efforts. Inspirational to say the least.

Here are some of the highlights from Van 1 (sorry, Van 2...I can only speculate on the awesomeness of your performances):

Jordan H. -- http://www.dailymile.com/people/JordanH/entries/7689683
It must have been the Greenfield Park effect, as Jordan killed this leg with a 7:47 pace. As he came flying into the transfer point, he screamed "THAT WAS F-IN AWESOME!!" Indeed, it was.

Amy -- http://www.dailymile.com/people/amykant/entries/7709317
"The Leg Where Amy Almost Died". But she didn't. She said "suck it" to hydration, nutrition and sleep prior to the leg, then went out an used pure mental strength (The Force, I think) to bust through it. She even managed to make a proper slap bracelet transfer. Then she passed out. No problem, Amy -- you earned that van row and the Egg McMuffin.

Anthony M Van H. -- http://www.dailymile.com/people/avanhizzle/entries/7673243
Tony was Mr. Rock Steady during all his legs. Even in this 7.2 mile leg, his longest run in a while, he played it off like it was nothing -- "Nice run. Saw a deer. Listened to PM Dawn afterwards. Recovered almost instantly. Ain't no thang."

Tracey G. -- http://www.dailymile.com/people/tmgessner/entries/7711300
A gutsy 6+ mile performance along the Kenosha lakefront at 8:41 pace to wrap up her final leg. Her reward? A little C+C Music Factory blasted as loud as my iPhone speakers would go. Next time we'll bring real speakers and motivate you from a mile away, Rocky style.

Rochelle -- http://www.dailymile.com/people/RocLobster/entries/7748610
I call this the "WTF" leg. Meaning, WTF Rochelle (or as she was known on this trip and for the month of June -- Hermione)? You were feeling like crap, having motion sickness, didn't sleep well, and were dreading this 7.7 mile leg. So naturally, you went out an ran an 8:34 pace and finished so fast that we weren't even ready for the handoff. WTF!

I leave you with this awesomeness (RAAAAGGGGGNAAAAARRRR!!!): http://www.twitvid.com/2HQTP