| Ragnar Relay
Del Sol The Ragnar Relay Del Sol is just a few weeks away and we are stoked! With over 1,000 participants and volunteers this running party will be the largest first year Ragnar Relay ever. We have teams from Arizona, Nebraska, Utah, Minnesota, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, and New York. This 189-mile adventure-fest is going to have you talking about the race long after it has ended. Those of you who have to wait a few months to run another Ragnar Relay....eat your hearts out. On a more charitable note. We would like to remind Del Sol Participants that the team that raises the most money for Operation Kids will receive a free team entry to the 2007 or 2008 Ragnar Relay of their choosing. It is not too late to start fundraising for Operation Kids. Team Charles Schwab is currently leading with $575.00; does anyone dare to oppose them? Most importantly, all funds that you raise will directly benefit children in Arizona. Raising funds for Operation Kids is simple, visit http://www.active.com/donate/DS07 for more information.  Ragnar Events would like to remind everyone that March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is killing 60,000 people a year and is as preventable as smallpox or polio. You may remember Christine Brimley, Team Captain of the December Featured Team “Women Off Piste”. Christine has been participating in the Wasatch Back since 2005. She is an employee of Ragnar Events, a member of the Wasatch Back Race Committee, an amazing athlete, and a dear friend to us. Eight months ago Christine was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer. She is confident, as are we, that she will beat this disease; however, it is an uphill battle.One that she and her Doctor, Edward J. Eyring of the Center for Colon and Rectal Diseases, hope that you can avoid. Let this article serve as a call to all those who think this disease won’t affect them because of some healthy lifestyle they espouse. JUST GET SCREENED! There are no symptoms in the majority of people until it is too late. Screening prevents disease. Waiting is often a death sentence and just a poor excuse to avoid a simple procedure. Dr. Eyring says “We as a society die in droves because we are not getting simple screening of our colons. The colon makes for great jokes until you have to see your best friend die needlessly from cancer of the colon.” Although this disease can strike at an earlier age, more than 90% of the time it is seen in those over the age of 40. At that age the risk doubles every 10 years. The main risks are family history of Colorectal Cancer/polyps or a personal history of polyps (adenomas), inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer of the breast or uterus. Dr. Eyring says “Everyone at low risk should start screening at 50. Those at higher risk need to start at 40 or ten years before the disease (polyps or cancer) was found in their family members. I recommend a colonoscopy but you can begin with a free screening through www.ucan.cc. As one who deals with this disease everyday I can honestly say I would rather deal with hemorrhoids and diarrhea than telling one of the more than 600 Utahans yearly that they must now fight for their life against a disease we can prevent and eliminate as a major threat to our lives, families and communities. Please put me out of this business. JUST GET SCREENED.” We would like to join Dr. Eyring and urge you to “JUST GET SCREENED”. Contact Dr. Eyring at the Center for Colon and Rectal Diseases in Murray, Utah at 801-265-3978 to set up an appointment. If you live outside of Utah contact Dr. Eyring and he will refer you to a doctor in your area. Best Regards, |
Series
Updates Local teams must meet the volunteer requirement by Friday, March 16th. Teams that do not have 3 volunteers will be disqualified. To check how many of your volunteers are signed up, visit the Registered Teams page. We are also looking for any volunteers that are trained in First Aid. If you know of anyone, please have them sign up. All team information including team name, divisions, etc. must be updated by Wednesday March 14th. To check the latest information go to the Registered Teams page. Team captains, please double check your team's start time on the Registered Teams page. Do one final check of your teams pace and enter it into the pace calculator. Make sure that your team will:If there are any problems or questions, please contact Corissa. A Team Captain Meeting will be held on March 21st from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. At the meeting we will make sure you are ready for the event, review some rules and regulations, make last minute suggestions, and answer any questions you may have. This meeting will be held at: Residence Inn Phoenix
Airport Cactus Shadows High School will be the location of Exchange 12. They will provide wrestling mats to sleep on, showers, and a pasta dinner all for $10 as a fundraiser for the school.
KSL Channel 5 has teamed with the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back to spotlight a different Wasatch Back team each month on their morning program, Studio 5. Tune in on March 27th at 11:00 AM for the next spotlight. Regular Registration for the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back ends April 15th. Click here for registration information.
Early Registration for the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage is now open! Click here for more info. Training for the Northwest Passage begins on March 12th. Training information can be found on the training page.
Registration for the Ragnar Relay Great River is open. Early registration ends March 31st. Click here for more info. Training for the Great River starts on April 9. Go to the training page for more info. |
| Featured Team - Pinnacle
Plodders
When asked about the team name "Pinnacle Plodders", Kody lamented the fact that they hadn't put more thought into their name, but decided to stick with the name that they have been using. The name came from Pinnacle Peak, a landmark in the Phoenix area. "Plodders" comes from the style of running they espouse, "we have a great time just plodding along." Being one of the few veteran teams that will run the Del Sol we asked Kody for some advice to assist the rookie teams. Kody's advice was, "don't leave your wife to run her leg, by herself, in the middle of the night. You just might end up running all her legs as well." He also suggested that you stop your van and watch your teammates as they run their legs. "There is something cool about seeing your teammates sweating and throwing up for the team." Kody's best memory from each race is when the sun comes up. "It is really amazing when you have been running all through the night; you are tired, cold, and exhausted, and all of the sudden the sun rises and gives you a jump start. Your energy returns, your sleepiness is replaced with excitement, and the feeling of running in the early morning sun is unbeatable." We would like to congratulate the Pinnacle Plodders on their fourth Ragnar Relay. If you are participating in the Ragnar Relay Del Sol and you see the Pinnacle Plodders team vehicle don't hesitate to stop and say hello. They make for fine friends during an overnight relay race. |
The Pinnacle Plodders are veterans of the Ragnar Relay Series.
The team, captained by Kody Thurston, is made up of friends and neighbors
from Scottsdale, Arizona. Although this is the first year of the Del Sol,
this will be their fourth Ragnar Relay. They participated in the Wasatch Back in
2005 and 2006, as well as the test run of the Del Sol last year. In fact,
Kody and team member Scott
Neil have been influential in the course design of the Del Sol.
| Featured Sponsor : Center
for Colon and Rectal Diseases
|
We
are proud to welcome the Center for Colon and Rectal Diseases as a sponsor
of the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back. If you have any questions about colon or rectal diseases or would like to get screened for Colorectal Cancer, now is the time. You may contact them at 801-265-3978.
 
|
|
-- |