Hey Captain! You've got a big job (and everybody knows it). Taking a team of runners on an epic adventure, overnight and in the wild? No pressure! But don’t sweat it. Race day will be here before you know it, and when it does, things will fall into place. Here are 5 insider tips that can make your Ragnar experience truly epic. No matter what the road or trails throw at you.
Don't Do it All
Way before race day, become an expert delegator. And don’t feel bad about it! If you write down a list of five tasks that need to be taken care of before race day, find five people on your team and assign each of them one task. It’s not your job to do everything. Wait. Let's repeat that. It is not your job to do everything.
Let it Go
Your experience will be much better if you're ready to expect the unexpected on race weekend. Something (anything) is going to go wrong on race day. So, let it roll off your back. Inevitably it will be something you didn't plan for or thought you had under control. Try to laugh about it. A runner might quit, something catastrophic might happen to your gear, or there might be snow. It's happened.
You Are Resourceful
McGuyver could do just about anything with basic office supplies. You can do this. You have a smartphone and a whole team to problem-solve. Plus, it's one weekend! Don't stress too much. The key thing to remember is: if there's something you've forgotten, you can probably find it, order it, have a friend bring it, or beg/barter/borrow it from a neighboring team. Buy, borrow, or steal (just kidding!).
Don't Forget to Have Fun
In the hustle of getting runners to their legs and ensuring everyone is ready for their night run, you might forget that this is supposed to be fun! You’re allowed to enjoy the weekend, too. Visit the sponsor booths, take photos, run fast and free, and be goofy.
Find Your Co-Captain
Batman and Robin. Bert and Ernie. Mario and Luigi. Don't deny the power of the Dynamic Duo. Find your +1 and ask them to be your bestie in this adventure. The two of you can tag-team your way to victory and high-five your way to the finish line.
Remember: You are a glorious, freaking unicorn. Your team loves you. You can do all of this and conquer Ragnar. Just relax, have fun, be resourceful, have a friend help you out, and try not to take everything on yourself. You'll do great, Cap!