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Posts Tagged ‘Ragnar’

Long run, big payoff

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , on July 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Devon Wyman gets hydrated with help from Wolf teammates Aleksia Jump (left) and Mikayla Wagner. (Photos courtesy Elizabeth Bitting)

It made for great team building.

Coupeville High School cross country runners and coaches teamed up this weekend to participate in Ragnar, covering ground from the wilds of Blaine down to the Southern tip of Whidbey Island.

“Other teams go to camp, we ran RAGNAR,” said CHS coach Elizabeth Bitting.

“They all ran amazing, their splits were phenomenal, their energy was off the charts, they pushed back their tiredness, the memories they made were priceless.”

The Wolves were financed by a variety of folks, including the Coupeville Booster Club.

“I wanted them to pay for nothing and just enjoy the experience,” Bitting said.

With Ragnar being a unique competition, it gave the Wolves a new perspective on what they can accomplish both as individuals and as a team.

“This relay changes how you look at races,” Bitting said. “You run your leg then immediately jump back out to cheer on your teammates … no matter what time of day or night that might be.

“You run, eat, sleep, repeat! It was truly a great experience. I hope I’ve made sone Ragnarians for life!!”

CHS cross country, which finished third among high school teams, had two vans operating under a “Running with the Pack” banner.

The roster included:

 

Van #1:

Elizabeth Bitting (Coach)
Aleksia Jump
Allie Powers
Kelly Powers (Driver)
Ivy Rudat
Mikayla Wagner
Devon Wyman

 

Van #2:

Isaiah Allen
Shaloma Allen (Driver)
Zeke Allen
Carson Field
Ossian Merkel
George Spear
Andy Wyman (Coach)

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One team, one (running) dream

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , on July 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Wolves (left to right) Allie Powers, Hank Milnes, and Cael Wilson spent their weekend running from one country to another. (Photo courtesy Kelly Powers)

It’s 200 miles, two countries (or close to it), and a million memories.

Three young Coupeville athletes joined up with a pack of Wolf Moms (and dads) to complete this weekend’s Ragnar Road Northwest Passage running event.

High school aces Cael Wilson and Hank Milnes were joined by middle schooler Allie Powers, fresh off a run to the state tourney with her Central Whidbey Little League softball squad.

The trio all put in more than their fair share of the miles, with Milnes topping the team at 24.2 miles as the event played out Friday and Saturday.

Wilson, who was a last-second addition to the team, piled up 19.2 miles on the backroads of America, while Powers finished with 18.3 miles.

The CMS cross country supernova barely made the cut for Ragnar, competing as a 12-year-old, which is the minimum age for runners.

“I just was so impressed with these kids this weekend!” said team captain Kelly Powers.

“They all just showed real persistence and dedication making things happen.

“Each had their own struggles or setbacks but never gave up.”

The parents are ready to rumble. (Photo courtesy Helene Lhamon)

The young trio were joined by vets Helene Lhamon, Claire Milnes, Stephen Smith, Lark Gustafson, Kelly Powers, Stig Carlson, Scott Milnes, James Kunz, and Rebecca Albright.

Ragnar is a true team event, with runners alternating legs over the course of the race, which starts in Blaine and ends at the southern tip of Whidbey Island in Clinton.

“No land speed records were broken, but friends were made, tacos devoured and unforgettable moments of perseverance abounded,” Kelly Powers said.

As the hours (and miles) tick away, individual runners merge into a unique group.

“It’s odd, putting six random people in a van turns them into a team,” Kelly Powers said.

“A camaraderie formed, and they figured out how to support each other through challenges of heat, cold, dehydration, cramps, low blood sugar and ultimately the management of all the snacks!

“No one was left out or behind … especially as we moved from checkpoint to checkpoint.”

The team started in the heat of the day Friday, took a brief pit stop in La Conner, ran through the night and into sunset.

Picking back up Saturday after a brief siesta, it was on to Whidbey, wrapping things up in late afternoon.

Now, it’s time to ice any balky legs and look towards a reunion.

“We all can’t wait for next year!” Kelly Powers said.

The power of the shoe compels you. (Photo courtesy Helene Lhamon)

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Long run, plenty of pics

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , on July 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Larry and Sylvia Hurlburt ran this year’s Ragnar Relays to honor the memory of mom Kristin.

It’s a party, with some running tossed in to keep things interesting.

Now, I’ll admit it — I’ve never felt the urge to join the Ragnar Relays and be part of a group which runs from Blaine to the southern tip of Whidbey Island.

In fact, my enduring memory of the event comes from a few years back, when I was jolted awake at 4:57 AM by support crew folks letting rip with air horns as runners straggled past my duplex at the corner of Madrona and Sherman.

That being said, the 2022 edition featured support crews more in touch with their softer side — no air horns in my neighborhood until after 10 AM this time around.

Though, from the photos scattered across Facebook — several of which I’ve poached, thanks to the generous natures of Sylvia Hurlburt, Helene Lhamon, Amanda Fabrizi, and James Steller — it looks like the party was still in full swing.

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Class of ’23 preps for Ragnar Relay

Posted in Fundraisers, Running, tagged , , , , on July 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville High School students prep food for sale to hungry Ragnar Relay runners. (Photos courtesy Dina Guay)

Many hands make light the work.

The runners are coming, and so are the fundraising opportunities.

The annual Ragnar Relay, which sends teams from Blaine to Langley over the course of two days and a night, kicks off today.

As the runners descend like locusts on Whidbey, the Coupeville High School Class of 2023 is taking advantage.

Students, parents, and other volunteers will be selling breakfast to participants, with profits going to post-graduation festivities.

The Class of 2023 is also helping flag traffic in Langley from 1:30-8:30 PM Saturday and is still in need of more volunteers.

Completing that task will garner an $850 donation for the CHS students.

If interested, pop over to:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4eabaa2ba02-ragnar

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Run for the sun

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , on July 11, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Helene Lhamon and her crew enjoy Ragnar 2021.

The runners returned.

Whidbey Island once again became a hub for people getting out and putting one foot in front of another Saturday, as the Ragnar Road Northwest Passage 2021 capped its two-day, one-night event.

The trek, featuring teams of runners, started near the Canadian border in Blaine and finished in the wilds of Langley.

The photos above and below are poached from Wolf mom Helene Lhamon, and feature a crew of Coupeville athletes who tore up the course.

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