The Ragnar Life Podcast

This was the last year for the road version of the Ragnar Relay race in Arizona, Del Sol. Steve Aderholt was a such a big part of Ragnar Relay over the years and it was an honor to get a chance the day after the race to talk with him about all things Ragnar! Steve has an incredible story of how he was able to become an employee of Ragnar and then excel at multiple roles for the race company. Steve was an integral part of the safety program for this race as well as developing out the trail version of this race. Thank you Steve for all you have done for so many runners and all those who have enjoyed the Ragnar Life over the years! Let's do this!

Chris was an athlete in school growing up, even setting a running record at the school he attended in Washington State. Chris attended University of Washington and continued to run. He has had several knee surgeries but continues to push himself to stay active and run. He was asked to join a team for a Ragnar Relay and he said yes right away! He quickly was made captain of the team. He applied to be an Ragnar Relay ambassador for the races in the Washington State region. Let's do this!

Jeff was a really great runner in high school but kind of stopped running for awhile as he got older. That is until he was asked by a friend to run a Ragnar Relay race in 2016. He was hooked right away. Jeff describes this race and community as "crazy awesome"! Let's do this!

Pamela did not start running until she was in her 50's. As she says on the podcast, "I want others my age who think this is for the younger people, you can do it too!" We see so many people of all backgrounds and skill level running and enjoying the Ragnar Life! Pamela loves to see new places and experience this community. She is an Army veteran and serves the United States Army as a lawyer to help Army service members who are facing medical discharges. Pamela has such a great life story of motivation for others...Let's do this!

Stephanie's story is very powerful and motivating! She found out once she started running that she had multiple sclerosis. Stephanie talks about how much is misunderstood about the ability to still be very active while having MS. She fell in love with the Ragnar community and loves the adventure that is the Ragnar Life! Let's do this!

Matthew came on the podcast and talked about how he first got started running and why he fell in love with the Ragnar race and community. Getting to experience the different parts of the United States while getting a  chance to get some exercise was something that interests Matthew! Let's do this!

Patty tells her story about why she enjoys running and living an active lifestyle! She turns the interview around to James and Rich and talks about funny stories seen at the different races. This is the Ragnar Life...lets do this!

Kat experienced her first Ragnar race at Wasatch Back in Utah in June of 2017 and fell in love with the race before it was even over. She now has done multiple races and loves both the adventure and friendships that have come from participating on teams where she did not know anyone going into the race. Kat loves to have a great time while getting a little exercise at the same time all while making new friends and experiences. She completed 12 Ragnar Races to get the Immortal medal in 2019. Let's do this!

David Willey, past editor-in-chief of 14 years for Runners World, and present podcast host of the Hive Life Podcast, sits down at the Spartan Media Fest to talk running. David shares where he got his love for running as well as his experiences covering so many types of runners. Even though he had not ran a Ragnar Race to date, David is all in to run it! Let's do this!

The Ragnar Life Podcast crew was invited to attend the Spartan Media Fest happening in beautiful Lake Tahoe, California. We had the pleasure to bring in Patrick Sweeney, a Full-Time Adventurer to talk about embracing fear and the parallels to facing the challenges presented to each individual participating in a Ragnar  Relay Race. Patricks goal is to use his story of overcoming Leukemia to motivate and inspire others to chase adventure! Le's do this!

If you have ever run a Ragnar race, chances are you have heard or seen Steve Soelberg! He has both ran and announced for many of the Ragnar road and trail races. Steve shares a lot of really cool stories of what makes this race and experience so special for so many. Let's do this!

One of the coolest things about a Ragnar Relay Race is all the amazing people that take part in the course! In this episode, Andre Kajlich, a racer, trailblazer, and public speaker talks all about how he has used his very positive attitude to overcome significant personal obstacles in his life. His story is amazing and you will be inspired by his story. 

The podcast is back with a new cohost. Rich Nicholes is a great new cohost of the podcast with his experience of both a runner of and DJ for the Ragnar Relay Race. It is hard not to want to go out and run this race after listening to this conversation! This truly is a Ragnar Life!

Get ready to hear a story of inspiration! During her birth, Lupe had her left hip pulled out of socket undetected until a year after. This hindered her from even being able to walk when she was young. She was told from a young age that she wouldn't be able to ever run. Three years ago she decided that it was time to push herself and to not listen to those who said she couldn't. A friend encouraged her to start slow and build up. It was around this time that she heard about a Ragnar race. She is now hooked! Let's do this!    

A common theme among most participants of a Ragnar Relay race is that of initial wondering what they got themselves into. That is quickly replaced by the experience of the team and this great community. KelleyAnn shares how she was introduced to doing a Ragnar race, and then how she loves to get the chance to do as many as she can that fits with her busy schedule. We had a great time talking about how much fun this is to enjoy the Ragnar Life! Lets do this!

Prepare to be inspired! This is the first team interview done for the Ragnar Life Podcast. It was the perfect team to be the first! When Rik Akey came on the podcast he mentioned after the interview that they had a current team that would be fun to have a chance to talk to at the upcoming race. We thought it was a great idea and scheduled the time after the race to sit down with the team and record an episode. What a great conversation we all had. But most of it happened to not get recorded properly. So we did it live and recorded it a few days later. Your not going to want to miss this! Let's do this!

One big reason this race is so addicting to us is the friendships that are made in such a short time! This was a fun conversation about how the team that Rafael Calderon and James Van Prooyen were a part of at the first Hawaii road Ragnar race, came together and had a memorable time! Your going to laugh and be inspired at the same time! Let's do this!

Sam ran his first Ragnar race this past December at the Florida Trail at the Alifia State  Park! He ran with other veterans and Team RWB members! What he took away was a great time running and a great sense of community! He is looking forward to a chance to run another one! Sam is interested in also checking out one of the Ragnar Road races! Lets do this!    

Sarah shares how she first started running to lose some extra weight in her college years! She enjoys it as it helps reduce life stress! Even though she didn't know what to expect when approached to run the Washington D.C. Ragnar race, she fell in love with this community! Sarah has been a captain several times and gives some tips for anyone who might be one for their team! Lets do this!    

It took just one Ragnar race for Tim to fall in love with the community! He ran his first and only race in the fall of 2016 at the first Ragnar race in Michigan! It just so happen to be that his team had several runners back out last second! He was up to the challenge! Lets do this!    

Tiffany is one of those people that is just so much fun! She is someone that loves to not only run, but be a part of a group of people that enjoy themselves! You will see why we have enjoyed getting to know her! Lets do this!

In this episode, James and Stacy bring Tim Cumberworth into the Ragnar Life community! Tim spent time in the Army and has enjoyed running as well as track in High School! He ran his first Ragnar race in Illinois and immediately fell in love with the community! He now wants to run them all! Let's do this!    

In this episode, James and Stacy get to have a conversation with a friend that was formed out of this community! Addy is such a great person and she loves what this race is about! You're not going to want to miss it! Let's do this!    

In this episode, James and Stacy learn from Edmund about how he fell in love with running after his time as a Marine! He explains how he loves the challenge as well as the chance to run with this type of community! Edmund has enjoyed all the new people he has met along the way! Let's do this!  

In this episode, James and Stacy bring in another great person who got into running later in life! Rik brings great passion and is the second person to come into the Ragnar Life community from the documentary: From Fat To Finish Line! This is a documentary that was filmed on location at the Florida Keys Race! You will love this interview! Let's do this!      

In this episode, James and Stacy got to know about Annemarie and how she got started on her first Ragnar Team! She has since done 15 races all total! She moved to Nashville, Tennessee a few years ago from Utah for her job in music education! She previously resided in Utah which is the home of the Ragnar! Let's do this!  

In this episode, James and Stacy get to know Simon who is an Army veteran that graduated from West Point! He was invited to his first Ragnar at the 10 year anniversary of the Utah race, where this relay was founded! Prepare to get motivated! Let's do this!    

In this episode, James and Stacy share the excitement of the community feel of a Ragnar Race with LeAnne! She has only recently discovered this race and now will be running two of them a year! Your going to want to hear her story! Let's do this!  

In this episode, James and Stacy were live on location talking to participants as they were completing this first trail race for Ragnar in Florida. Jamie Letendre shares about her first experience with this race! Even though she suffered an injury, she loved the experience and will do another one in the future! Kimmi Van Der Veen of the team Trailer Trash, explains how the team came together as well as how challenging this trail was! Let's do this!

In this episode, James and Stacy talk to Andrew Smikrud about his first experience at a Ragnar race! He best described it as full of personal obstacles, but at the same time so much fun and support. It didn't take long for him to fall in love with the great community! Let's do this!  

In this episode, James and Stacy bring on there oldest daughter, Allyson to the show! Since it is the Thanksgiving week in the United States, it was a great time to bring in family. Let's do this!

In this episode, James and Stacy have a conversation with Tiffany Player about how she was introduced to this relay race. She shares how the great sense of community separates this relay from other running events.! Let's do this!

In this episode, James and Stacy discuss the recent Napa Relay Race with Alicia Jenkins! She explains how ragnar community is part of her big life changes from an unhealthy and destructive addiction into positivity and inspiration! Along the way making life long friends! Let's do this!

In this episode, James and Stacy discuss the recent inaugural Hawaii Ragnar Race with Brent Hawley! This was his very first Ragnar race! He explains why he likes this race and how he fit right in with the great community feel! Let's do this!      

In this episode, James and Stacy chat with four members of Beast Club near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Nicole Billingsley, Janella Hensley, Misty Bruning, and Donnie Moreland talk about their Ragnar race stories! They all share how this race brings so much camaraderie and life long friendships! Lets do this!  

In this episode, James and Stacy sit down with Dawn Trainer, owner of The Beast Club Gym near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Every since she found out about Ragnar Relay, Dawn has involved the gym in training for and participating in them. She inspires and educates the members of her gym to live an active lifestyle. She loves the Ragnar Life!       

In this episode, James and Stacy talk with Vanessa Blevins who is a CFO of a non profit in Chatanooga, Tennessee. This inspiring conversation highlights some big challenges that she overcome in her life! Doctor's told her she would never run again. She has since ran 10 Ragnar Relay's! This is the Ragnar Life!        

In this episode, James and Stacy sit down with Mike Mowery of Outerloop Management and Jabber Jaw Media to talk running, specifically, the Ragnar Race in the D.C. area! It was great to hear about his experiences in this thing we call the Ragnar Life! Get ready, set, lets do this!

In this episode, James and Stacy talk with Desiree Rincon and her dog Roxie! These two are a great example of living the Ragnar Life! Your going to enjoy their story! Let's go!      

In this episode, James and Stacy talk with John Hulsey of the documentary From Fat to Finish Line! This is a documentary centered around the Florida Keys Ragnar Race that saw a group of 12 runners from all over the United States come together with a common goal! Hear all about it in this episode!

In this episode, James and Stacy talk with Hilary Wolf about how she discovered the Ragnar race series! She quickly fell in love with this community! In this episode, Hilary shares what separates this running community from others! 

In this episode, James and Stacy talk with Jaymee Derrick about what separates a Ragnar race from any other. Jaymee was joined by her oldest daughter who ran with her this year.    

It only took one time of running a Ragnar Race to be hooked for life! James and Stacy Van Prooyen have traveled all over the United States to participate in this race series. What they found is a passionate and supportive community of runners of all skill levels and backgrounds. This show shares these stories with the rest of the world!