Speed Sold Separately: Running for Shane

Van 1 from last year's race

From L to R: Ozzie, Me, Holly, Shane, Gerald, Eric

In two and a half weeks I’ll be returning to Washington D.C. to run the Ragnar Relay DC. For those of you that have been following me for over a year will know what happened last year during that relay. If you haven’t, take a few minutes to read it. It’ll help explain a lot of what I’ll be writing now.

This year’s relay will be THE most important race I’ll have run. Ever.

Following Shane’s death, Holly and the rest of our team planned to finish the relay this year. For Shane. For us. Obviously we didn’t finish the race last year. How could we? But our team has reassembled and we’re ready to rock and roll. I think Shane would want us to. I think, for the most part, we want to.

We’ve decided to leave Shane’s runner position empty. No one will run legs 2, 14, or 26. Those are Shane’s. I’d like to think that he’ll be there, in spirit, running those legs and cheering for each of us as we run our individual legs. We will finish as a team. All 12 of us. I have no doubt.

But, no worries dear readers. Team Speed Sold Separately is definitely ready to have a blast and rock this relay. There will be costumes. There will be nerdy headbands. There will be capes. (Capes? No Capes!) There may even be a tutu and a wig. Get ready, folks. Hilarity will ensue.

Here’s a breakdown of my legs:

Should be grand, right? I can’t wait!