Robert's Wasatch Back

This year Robert ran with a team from Deloitte in the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay.

This relay is run by teams of 12 people and each member of the team runs 3 legs. Most teams start training early in the year and build up their mileage and speed. Since this was a team of accountants, they didn't start training until after the April 15th tax deadline.

What a bunch of nerds!! Robert's final prep for the race involved his friend Dave, some clippers, and their hair. Accountants don't intimidate other runners but hard core mohawk wearing men just might.
What a couple of hotties! Robert's first 2 legs were fairly flat. The first leg was 3 1/2 miles long and the second was 7.7 miles long. Robert ran very well and averaged 8 min miles and 8.5 min miles respectively.

And for his third leg, he had the honor of running the hardest leg, affectionately called, "the Ragnar". As it says on the website "ragnar is a noun and it signifies a man of divine ancestry who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his brave exploits and favored by the gods." Definitely applies to Robert, especially with his mohawk. The Ragnar leg consists of 4 miles at an 8% grade. He climbed a total of 1631 ft over his 4 miles. If that isn't hardcore, I don't know what is! It must have been getting hot running up that mountain.
At the end of the race everyone crosses the finish line together.

And after 24+ hours of running, sleeping(?), eating (?), and driving; on the ride home an exhausted (though with a sense of accomplishment) Robert couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and fell asleep. I'm pretty sure there was drool and snoring involved.

I have to say I am so proud of Robert. Not only did he run the Wasatch Back, but he did the hardest leg and he did it with style!