Bourbon Chase

One of my friends finally talked me into running a Ragnar Relay! The Bourbon Chase is a 200-mile relay that takes place in the heart of the Bluegrass, and passes through Kentucky's prettiest horse country, six famed bourbon distilleries, and the quaint towns of Bardstown, Springfield, Perryville, Danville, Stanford, Harrodsburg, Lawrenceburn, Midway, Versailles and Lexington.

Not that any of us are bourbon drinkers (except for one of our runners), but this is our home, our history (the Bluegrass area is the birthplace of bourbon), and really the best way to feel apart of our community. Each distillery (Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey, Four Roses,  and Woodford Reserve) was a picturesque destination in itself with free tours, bourbon tasting, and delicious food (the guys on our team can attest to that more than the girls!).

Some day I would like to drive the same route and visit all the distilleries and towns again, only this time really taking in each ones uniqueness and beauty! 

Our team consisted of 6 women and 6 men. Since us women ran the first 6 legs of the race we stayed in a hotel the night before so we would be ready for the early morning check-in located on the outskirts of Louisville, KY.

 The hotel room, which slept six, was not for getting a good nights rest, but for staying up all night talking and giggling.

 

The start line was at Jim Beam Distillery, and this is also where we received our instructions, t-shirts, and "goody bags" which we never got because they didn't arrive until after our start time (we were really bumbed).

 Photos with Jim Beam himself (I think?).

 Picking up our t-shirts.

 A group selfie inside the heated instructions tent.

 Crazy photo booth pics.

The reason we race isn't so much to beat each other, but to be with each other.

 Luella was our first runner of the race which was the perfect place for her with her positive attitude and bright smile not only before, but after each of her legs.

Since our team was not very fast by Ragnar standards, we had one of the first start times at 8:00am (some of the other more experienced teams had a start time of 8:00pm!).

We needed every bit of the 36 hours to complete the race! (overall our team ranked 406 out of 430 teams).

No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch!

 

 Luella ran an awesome first leg,

 and handed off the baton (bracelet) to Trinity, the fearless Captain of our team, and the one running the most millage. 

 Two thumbs-up for Bridgette's first race ever! Bridgette was the whole reason I signed up. I figured if she could run it, having never ran a race in her life, then I could run it too, and maybe even survive!

The real purpose of running isn't to win a race, it's to test the limits of the human heart.

 Trinity handing off to Bridgette.

Bridgette doing an amazing job...

and handing off to Jennifer. 

Running is nothing more than a series of arguments between the part of your brain that wants to stop, and the part that wants to keep going.

 Jennifer killing it like she always does... 

and handing off to Vicki, who is the one who came up with the idea of running the Bourbon Chase, after running a couple of Ragnars in other parts of the country.

Vicki then handed off to me, who was the sixth and final runner for the women. 

I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done.

 

I then handed off to Rich (far left), who was the guys' first runner. The guys' last runner was Bart (2nd from right), who then handed the baton to Luella as we cycled through two more times for a total of 3 legs a piece, or 36 legs total.

 When the girls ran, we spent most of the time in the van... 

trying to decipher the horrible driving instructions as we drove from one exchange point to another .

While the guys ran, we tried to stay loose by foam-rolling and stretching.

(Luella getting the most out of her foam roller!) 

 (Someone else also really getting into their stretching)

We also tried to catch a few hours of shut-eye when and where we could, which usually meant throwing a sleeping bag on some grass somewhere. 

 All too soon it was time to run through the night.

Bart sporting our night gear which was vitally important, especially on Kentucky's narrow windy roads!

 Brad even bought me a fancy running cap with built-in LED adjustable lights, just for the race!

 Luella all ready to start with her big smile (but why not, after such good rolling and stretching!). 

 Each team who lived within 100 miles of the race, had to recruit four volunteers. Molly and Greg Hamlin were two of our wonderful volunteers.

Everyone living it up at Maker's Mark (during one of my runs, of course).

 There were four couples on our team. Too bad Brad was out of town, or it would have been five!

 After my run at Member's Mark, enjoying some BBQ pulled-pork sandwiches for lunch (pretty much our only actual meal during the race)!

Selfie right after my final run as proof that I still had a smile on my face, despite what the information sheet said about my last leg: "Enjoy a wonderful start, but don't let the beginning lull you into a false sense of security. When you turn onto Duncan Road prepare to suffer. As Mr. T says, 'I pity the fool!'" Yeah, that pretty much summed it up!!!  

It's supposed to be hard...the hard is what makes it great.

Since I was the final runner for the women, it was time for a celebratory group hug, and huddle-selfie. 

 The guys still had 6 more legs to run. Mark running his last leg...

 and Wes surviving hwy. 25, gnats and all!

Bart enjoying the perfect weather and beautiful surroundings. 

While waiting for the guys to finish, we could finally have a real meal (that is if we could stay awake long enough to eat it!).

Did I mention that we were all going on about 48 hours of no real sleep (for me definitely the most difficult part about running a Ragnar)? But it doesn't seemed to have affected Luella any!

After lunch, we treated ourselves to a much deserved spa-pedicure...

and it did not disappoint!!!

Just ask Luella, who was enjoying her pedicure almost as much as her foam roller!

The beautiful end result!

After our pedicures, it was time to meat up with the guys at the finish line at Triangle Park, downtown Lexington. 

 

Displaying what number order we ran.

 Displaying our numbers the correct way!

 

Running together across the finish line...

 

  as Bart completes the final leg of the race!

 Bart receiving his metal.

 

 The rest of the team receiving our metals.

Commemorative pictures with race bracelet.

  

Go Team!

 

  When it's all said and done, the finish line doesn't care how many miles you have ran or how fast you have gone. It just cares that you arrive. That you finish what you started!

 The Barbers were nice enough to have all the race participants and their families over... 

 

 

 for the best selection of barbecued meats ever!! 

Beverly Wheeler, and Chris Alcorn, were two more of our amazing volunteers (if you could see how chaotic the exchange points were, you would know what I'm talking about!) 

 Brad crashing the party for some good eats!

A final picture of runners and volunteers. I personally want to thank everyone for making my first Ragnar such a wonderfully unforgettable experience!!!