This was my second year running the Ragnar Trail West Virginia race and it was good to be back in the beautiful Appalachians of West Virginia!

For those who not heard of a Ragnar Trail race, Ragnar Trail is an all day and night team relay race consisting of two days and two nights of camping out in the great outdoors and best of all, RUNNING! Teams consist of 8 people (or 4 for ultra teams) and each person has to run the red, yellow and green loop for a total of around 15 miles (sometimes more). Everyone on the team runs all day and night until each team member completes each of the three different trail loops.

This race was at the same venue as last year’s race at the Big Bear Lake Camplands so I had a good idea of what to expect.

I started my first loop running the green loop and was excited that my team, the Donner Party, saw me off!

The green loop (3.5 miles) is rated the easiest out of the three, but for some reason I ended up tripping during this loop and falling. I was running in altra’s and I definitely dislike how these shoes are a little bigger in the toe region.

Salomon’s are definitely my trail shoe of choice.

I was very much looking forward to running the yellow loop (4.6 miles) as I remembered this being the prettiest run out of the three. I was thankful I got to run it during the day!

The tree line is one of the most beautiful views I have ever run in!

I ran the red loop (6.5 miles) during the middle of the night again this year and it is definitely a different experience running that late at night in the middle of the woods. I made sure to be extra careful out there on the trails. That August humidity can get pretty brutal out there!

Chilaxing near our campsite and just behind me was part of the trail that runners would run by.

So honored to have run with such an amazing Team! Thank you Donner Party for the awesome running adventure!

Our medals consisted of multi-tools again this year! Another amazing team race, can’t wait to get back out there. Until next time Ragnar!