STAUNTON RUNS RAGNAR - IT'S THE FINAL STRETCH!
Welcome to the final installment of The Ragnar Relay blog series! In these Staunton themed Ragnar Relay posts, you get to learn more about the fun, crazy, and ridiculous members of our team. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 to read about the rest of our team members and learn about a meaningful cause.
The Recap
In the previous posts you were introduced to 7 members of our team. Today you will learn about the final members. The same questions have been asked: 1) What are three fun facts about yourself? 2) Why are you running this race? 3) What do you hope to accomplish by participating in this race? So without further ado, let's meet this week's team members!
ANNA MERRITT
Three fun facts?
1) Back flipped off a 30-foot cliff in Canada 2) In 2010, competed in the Ragnar Relay (with a priest in my van!). 3) On the final stretch of my last leg, I threw up black from Mylanta (& 5 hour energy).
Why you're running Ragnar?
So that this mostly men's team could have an advantage and compete in the mixed category? But really, I am on the "Graeme made me" team.
Hope to accomplish?
To finish (without throwing up black!)
RYO YOSHIIKE
Three fun facts?
1) I married a U.S. Citizen to avoid taking the 5 questionnaire from the US Immigration Office.... I keep forgetting to schedule the exam, that was 4 years ago. 2) Got stuck in Tokyo with an expired U.S. Visa.... made a few calls to the "U.S. embassy", they provided asylum and got me through customs. 3) I prefer to fly economy, i like the feeling of being swaddled in my cozy seat and be with my "people".
Why you're running Ragnar?
My plan was to back out of this race last minute. I just wanted to be part of the email chain. Then my internet service provider went out for several weeks and I missed my opportunity to opt out. I played a dangerous game, and now i'm paying the price.
Hope to accomplish?
I hope to run this race without eating any solid food. I tried getting sponsorship from Soylent (meal replacement)... still working on my sponsorship.
RICH DEDIC
Three fun facts?
1) I peaked in 3rd grade. I won first place in the Burbank decathlon and the next week, Beth Hobard (that b*tch) beat me in a run-off in our 3rd grade class. It's been down hill from there (see picture). Then I met Graeme. I trained hard, found Beth Hobard, challenged her to another run, and yes, I beat her (granted, she lost one leg to a horrific ice cream truck accident and has a bit of a drinking problem). 2) When I was about 10, I was on the toilet...and was playing with matches. As I was sitting there, I noticed the toilet paper just hanging there so I thought, "matches... toilet paper... toilet paper... matches... let's see what happens." My parents were NOT happy for the next few years looking at tile that had its finish burned off. 3) In my 30's, I was in church with my parents for Father's Day mass and I was completely hung over. Towards the end of mass, you shake the peoples hands and say things like "Bless you." A little old lady turns around and says to me, "Bless you, are you a father too?”. I was not prepared for the question and the only thing I could think to say was, "Not that I know of." She had a look of disgust and my parents looked at me with this horrible expression. I still see that woman.
Why you're running Ragnar?
I have always wanted to sit in a van with 6 guys for an entire weekend who have run hundreds of miles without bathing. Check that baby off the bucket list.
Hope to accomplish?
1) Eat RYO. 2) What's this "for charity" bs? I plan on making some money off this. 3) Hit Graeme with the van.
TOM MERRITT
Three fun facts?
1) One of 2 non-U.S. Citizens to ever win the prestigious GreenBlazers Golf Championship held at Sidney Marovitz. The other winner being from Ireland. 2) Unknowingly trained for Ragnar every summer between the ages of 11 – 20 by carrying canoes across portages connecting lakes through the Canadian wilderness. The longest of such trip was 21 days with some portages as long as 6 miles. I have been tapering since then until now… I am confident I am finally ready for this challenge. 3) I am a better ice skater than runner so if we were to do this in the winter and we could skate, I would be much more helpful to the team.
Why you’re running Ragnar?
I am running the race because so I can have one of those “once in a lifetime” experiences. And I do mean I will only do this once.
Hope to accomplish?
Hope to prove to everyone, including myself, that I can actually run 3 separate times in a 24-hour time frame.
See you at the FINISH LINE
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Don't forget to check out our donation page for Charity: Water to help bring clean water to the 748 million people living with out it! https://my.charitywater.org/staunton-for-ragnar