BREAKING UPDATE! (Team Update & FAQ)
Resting Grinch Face Trail Edition
Hey gang! Can you believe we’re just days away from launching the second annual Resting Grinch Face Woods Run — AKA Ragnar, the place where teams from all over the nation gather to celebrate our collective awesomeness?
As we close in on race day, a bunch of great questions have popped up… so here’s your official Ragnar FAQ to help keep the chaos organized.
1. What’s the plan for food? Group payment? BYOF? Hybrid?
Great question — and this year, it’s a little new.
Historically, it’s been a mash-up of BYOF plus random group treats. But here’s what happens:
One guy brings a grill → another guy brings a grill → next thing you know, you’re eating a full diner-quality breakfast trailside instead of choking down a bruised banana and a protein shake.
This year:
I’m bringing the Blackstone griddle (trusty as always).
I’ll also be grabbing supplies for burgers, chicken, rice, and a few essentials.
I’ll put together a simple meal plan for:
- Friday dinner
- Saturday breakfast
- If you don’t like the team meals there’s always the food trucks!
We’ll keep things efficient, tasty, and cheap. Once I finalize quantities, we’ll do a simple optional per-person contribution.
2. Did anyone from our team volunteer? And what’s the benefit?
Yep — I volunteered for an early slot.
That means anyone riding with me gets early access to camp so we can:
- Claim better tent space
- Set up before the masses descend
- Avoid needing headlamps for setup
I’ll be rolling in with a group of Reef Donkeys, so if you want to caravan in early, let me know.
3. Jason, where are the team shirts?
On my person.
In my possession.
Guarded like precious cargo.
I debated handing them out early, but getting all of us together beforehand is harder than running the Red Loop in the dark. So I’m bringing them to the event.
Prepare yourselves.
They’re glorious.
4. What should we bring besides running gear?
Here are the items people always forget — and then regret forgetting:
• A Chair
A folding or umbrella-style chair is perfect.
Group reality: everyone brings one, and at any given moment half are empty since folks are either running and luxuriating in the port-a-potties. Still worth having.
• A Water Bottle
Ragnar is a no-cups event.
You must have your own bottle or reusable cup to fill at aid stations.
I once tried using cupped hands. Horrible experience. Zero stars.
• Charging Brick(s)
You’ll be off-grid for 24+ hours.
Bring at least one fully charged battery brick — two if you consume podcasts, shoot photos, or track your runs on multiple apps like a lunatic.
• Camp Mug
Morning coffee hits different when you’re sleep-deprived and cold.
I’ll have my Coleman grill, a couple of percolators, and a giant urn going.
Bring a mug (Grinch-themed = legendary status).
• Downloaded Playlist
Internet connection can be spotty in the woods. I suggest that if you like to listen to music or an NPR podcast, you download it while you have a solid Internet connection.
• Ear Plugs
People will be awake 24/7.
People will talk.
People will snore.
And people running past your tent WILL fart during their first half-mile (with surprising frequency). Ear plugs = sanity.
• Eye Mask
Pro-tip: people love shining their flashlights directly into your tent as if they’re searching for fugitives.
An eye mask helps block out rogue beams and helps you score precious sleep.
Bonus Wisdom: Why I Obsessedly Mention Sleep
I’ve done Ragnar both ways:
- Zero sleep + lots of alcohol
- Lots of sleep + water + electrolytes
At my refined age, the second option turns out to be… spectacular.
But here’s the beauty of being in a compound of 4 teams (32 people):
If you forget something, odds are someone else has you covered. There’s a variety of people doing Ragnar in a variety of ways.
Ragnar is suffering + camaraderie + hilarity on repeat.
If you want to be hardcore and wear the same sweaty outfit for all three loops — go right ahead. (I did this at Ragnar Vermont. I survived. My teammates’ noses… less so.)
Packing Tips
- Suitcase? Duffel? Storage tote? Doesn’t matter — you’re not flying. Pack however you want.
- Dirty clothes bag: Bring one. Trust me. Mixing dirty gear with clean gear in a cramped tent leads to regret, confusion, and the occasional “why does my pillow smell like wet socks?”
If you have more questions, drop them in the group thread and I’ll add them here.
Let’s get pumped — RGF is about to take over the woods again.
See you at the campfire.
— Jason (AKA Captain Lex, Keeper of the Griddle, Distributor of Shirts)