Run, RV, and Revel: Uniting the Ragnar and RV Communities

What is the Ragnar Relay Race? Today we take a look  into the world of the Ragnar Relay Race, a team-based running event that spans various picturesque locations across the United States, and its unique connection to RV enthusiasts. The host introduces listeners to the concept of the Ragnar Relay, emphasizing that it's not solely for seasoned runners, but for anyone seeking adventure and community. Special guests, James Van Prooyen, a retired Air Force combat veteran with a passion for podcasting and veteran advocacy, and Mara Lago, a renowned entrepreneur and luxury jewelry designer, share their experiences with the Ragnar Relay and their transition to RV living. The discussion covers the race's format, the vibrant community it fosters, and how it perfectly blends with the RV lifestyle, offering a sense of freedom and exploration. Additionally, the podcast touches on practical RV living advice, including recommendations for campgrounds and essential services like fuel cards and toll passes, adding value for listeners contemplating or already embracing the nomadic RV life.

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My friend Kimberly Crossland, co host of our partner podcast The RV Entrepreneur Podcast,  participated in the Ragnar Relay and said "Our Ragnar road race left us with a lifetime of memories! From the lack of sleep, sleeping in strange places, and running in the middle of the night, to the cheerleading we heard at every exchange point and the belly laughs we had about random events along the race, we will never forget our time in this unique race. Highly recommend anyone doing this at least once! I will be running another one!"

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

What is the Ragnar Relay Race and what does it have to do with RVers? I'm Patti Hunt and you're listening to the RV Life Podcast. Today, we're going to learn about the incredible events taking place across the country called the Ragnar Relay Race. Trust me, this is a bucket list item for you. When I heard about the Ragnar Relay Race it's for runners my thought was I'm not a runner. Being on the road full-time for over three years, going to over 50 campgrounds and 35 states, I found the love of walking and exploring on my electric bike and yes, I do pedal and get exercise. I never say never, so maybe running will be in my future. Please start listening, because these events are not just for the runner in your family, but they are for you. They are there. It's now time for today's fun fact brought to you by Open Road Resort, with four locations in Montana, idaho and Texas. There are two amazing campgrounds offered by Open Roads Resort in the beautiful area of Flathead Lake in Polson, montana, koa Holiday Campground or Polson Motor Coach Resort, which is Class A only and it is in the top 10 of all motor coach resorts in the country. So the fact for today, flathead Lake, located in Montana, is the largest natural body of freshwater by surface area. It's one of the cleanest lakes in the world. I have been looking forward to visiting this area and may not get there this summer, but I definitely will get there. The pictures of Flathead Lake never been in that area at all, but they look absolutely amazing. Definitely a bucket list item for me. The RV Life podcast is a little over a year old and I have to say I love doing these podcasts because for each and every week I get to meet and share with you, the listeners, these incredible people I meet along my journey. If you have a topic you would like to hear on the podcast, please send us a message on our social media channels, instagram and Facebook. At RV Life Podcast, our guest today is a couple. Now, I met him almost five years ago and I had the pleasure of meeting her just this past few months, and we'll talk more about that. Before I introduce them, I'd like to share the great companies and products and services that help you, the RVer, on your journey, the RVer on your journey as we RV or camp, whatever you want to call it.

Speaker 1: 3:10

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Speaker 1: 4:07

James Bonpuren is a 20-year retired US Air Force combat veteran who transitioned into civil life in 2015 with a sense of purpose. He's a mastermind behind a mutually enriching network that aims to support its members. Simultaneously, he has carved out a meaningful career in podcasting, captivating audiences with his unique insight. Passionate about the topics and cause he holds dear, he's a sports enthusiast and committed to advocate for the veteran community, and committed to advocate for the veteran community and the incomparable Ragnar Relay running scene. Overall, he's a multifaceted individual, genuinely invested in contributing positively to his own enrichment and the betterment of the communities he is part of His wife, mara Lago.

Speaker 1: 5:10

She's an accomplished entrepreneur and visionary in the luxury jewelry industry as the co-founder and CEO of a globally recognized multi-million dollar jewelry brand. Beyond her business acumen, mara is a celebrated as a award-winning jewelry designer and trailblazing female entrepreneur. Her passion for mentoring reflects in her commitment to support other entrepreneurs, drawing on her personal arsenal of grit entrepreneurs. Drawing on her personal arsenal of grit, intuition, smarts and inherent courage qualities she considers her superpowers. In a bold shift from conventional success, mara has recently chosen to explore life on the road in the US with James. This new chapter involves leading enriching conversations on a spectrum of topics that span the mundane to the virtually important, all aiming at underscoring the richness of their life experience. Now I am so excited to welcome James and Mara to the RB Life podcast.

Speaker 2: 6:30

Thank you so much.

Speaker 1: 6:31

Thank you. We're so glad to be here. I am so glad we have been finally able to get this podcast recorded. I got to go back, james. You and I met in another place, another world, so five years ago.

Speaker 1: 6:48

Yes, we met in Las Vegas five years ago and we stayed in touch for a while but over the years, lost touch. And then there we were in January at PodFest. And for those listeners, podfest, yes, there is an event for podcasters. So podcasters get together and Dan and I came into the event early. There was nobody there. We actually came up to you, laura, and you helped us get checked in and my thought was wow, I really like her, I really connected to you.

Speaker 1: 7:25

So I'm walking around this event for two or three days and I kept looking at you, james, and I kept saying I know this guy, I know this guy. Where do I know him? Because I could not place you. Now, I don't know if anybody knows this, but I'm an introvert. I'm actually pretty shy. This idea of going up and walking up to people has been in the past. Maybe I'm just getting better at it. Difficult for me, but I finally walked up to you and I said I know you and you looked at my tag and you said I know you and we figured out that we had met in Las Vegas and it was just so great. Then you turned and said Las Vegas, and it was just so great. Then you turned and said and this is Mara, my wife, which is just so cool.

Speaker 2: 8:12

Yeah, it was a good time because you were at the registration table where Mara was helping out at, and I had seen your name, I think, in the Podfest Facebook group chat that you were excited about going and, if I remember right, it was going to be your first time. Your husband had been there before Now I didn't realize. The year before I saw RV Life, I saw who your husband was, but I didn't know any of these connections were there. So it was really cool, really small world. And I actually want to mention too there is no Ragnar Life podcast. If it wasn't for Podfest, I got fortunate and lucky to start to be involved with the founders of that conference as I was getting out of the military in Tampa Florida and had to wrap my head around Okay, anybody can do a podcast, I can do a podcast about anything. What would I do a podcast about? So it is a cool, great event. And years later and this past year when we met you there, of course it was the 10 year anniversary of it.

Speaker 1: 9:05

If anybody's interested, yeah, so let's just break that down a little bit. I like to reinforce I'm a teacher, so, audiences, you had gotten out of the military, you decided you wanted to do a podcast. You, five years ago now that you're saying that, you kept saying to me you need to do a podcast. Remember no way, no way, no way. I'm not doing that.

Speaker 2: 9:32

Yeah, and it's the things I remember that you were involved with and doing, and the kind of people that you and your husband were. You are now as well, but were then it was. I say no brainer because it's easy for the person to tell someone else it's a no brainer, but I think. So. To go back a little bit of what you say, I was even. So.

Speaker 2: 9:52

Katie Kermitso started her podcast at the beginning of 2014. So even before I got out, I started listening to a fellow veteran, john Lee Demas' podcast, and so I was really getting a lot out of podcasts. And not just that when I was deployed different places in the middle of nowhere, I was listening to sports podcasts. So I understood what a podcast was, all the stuff behind it, what I didn't really know, and started to wrap my head around. In 2014.

Speaker 2: 10:19

And I was at that point, by the way, still a year from being out I was like, okay, so anyone can start a podcast about any subject, about anything, and stories, or make a good podcast, and these niche areas are good to have a podcast for. So that's how it all started for me being around people that were doing it, and, of course, podfest was starting. So I'm basically helping tell other people stuff that I've already taken a long period of time, because from the time I knew that I might do a podcast from when I started recording, it was, at least I would say, a good even if I'm saying trying to be nice to myself Definitely by the beginning of 2015, I knew I was going to. I didn't start recording until 2016. So it took quite a bit of time to wrap my head around it, even for myself. I'm just like, am I really going to do this, saying I'm late.

Speaker 1: 11:11

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 11:12

It took me what? Three years to even think about doing it. And then when Dan said, hey, we're going to do this, I was like, still, no, you're nuts, I'm not doing that, I really. I bought him. And then RV Life came along. This is how the RV Life podcast was born. Rv Life came along and said, hey, we're thinking about doing a podcast, and I was outnumbered. So Dan was like, yes, rv Life said, yes, I was outnumbered.

Speaker 1: 11:41

But let me just say in the RV Life community we talk a lot about people wanting to do a podcast. Podfest happens every year in January an amazing community of support, so that's a good plug for them. You've been involved with them since the beginning. As you said, it was their 10 year anniversary and it is talking about the things you love, so I guess that's what I bought into. That was my. Okay. Podcasting sounds like a good idea. I certainly like to talk and it's easier to talk behind camera sometimes, but behind my computer, okay, so let's jump in. So you decided. Now let's just say your podcast is Ragnar Life Podcast. So we're going to jump in and talk about all of that just in a minute. Now, mara, you had already been living the RV on the road life. But, mara, you weren't, so how did you start jumping into this RV lifestyle?

Speaker 3: 12:40

I, as a jewelry designer, I traveled a great deal. We had factories in five countries and we had 780 doors, so in different places. So I did travel a great deal, I just traveled differently. So I remember when we first met he said have you ever slept in a sleeping bag? And I said are you kidding me? No, I mean camping, four Seasons Hotel, oh right. Oh well, I mean camping before seasons, oh right. But it became really a fascinating idea for me because I do like to travel.

Speaker 3: 13:12

And being with James just he I joke, it's not true, but I joke that he can sleep under the axle of his truck and be perfectly content. But just he lived that life. He already did. And I fell in step and realized that there was an opportunity for me to start a podcast which I've delayed on for three years now. So you're in such good company, or I'm in such good company. The Beverly Hills to Boondocking podcast is what's going to be coming out soon. We're starting to record because we're literally going to be living full time in our RV starting this month, starting the end of this month. So I call it the great purge.

Speaker 1: 13:56

Yes, yes, oh goodness. Yes, the great purge is a real thing. Tell us about that, your podcast thoughts and ideas. Let's put it out to our listeners, then we could all encourage you to get it going. Appreciate that.

Speaker 3: 14:12

So what it's going to be is our basically our relationship and our travels on display. That could be a good thing. It could be a bad thing. You can see him grimacing in the background. Nobody else can see him grimacing, but it's really about me experiencing RV life for the first time and what does that look like for me, being where I'm from and what my lifestyle has always been like. So some of the frustration, some of the joys, some of the interaction between him and I, which we tend to have a little the bickerings sometimes and stuff. So it's really about just enjoying our lives and what it's like and my experience of it and his frustration with me.

Speaker 1: 14:57

It's really what it is. There you go. So the great purge, the living on the road, two people in a very small space and not killing each other. We are really small, yes, really small, and we're going to talk about what that looks like. The RV Life Podcast has covered a lot of those things. We have a lot of incredible sister or partner podcasts. We have a lot of great resources for you guys that we'll talk about as we go along. So what is the RV that you'll be getting into?

Speaker 3: 15:29

We have a small 17-foot Sunline Q 5.4 SE. That's what we have. It's very temporary. It's only, like I said, 17 feet, so it's a bed about three feet, a bathroom and a cook kitchen.

Speaker 1: 15:48

So most of the hotels you stayed in were bigger, right Most of the hotel rooms.

Speaker 3: 15:52

Yeah, okay, I got you Significantly bigger, so it's a lot of hell for me. So I'm just trying to help. If I'm not on the bed, then where am I? Where do I miss out?

Speaker 1: 16:07

Yeah, my saving grace was the outside space, the outside space. I love being in nature, I love sitting in the sun, I love warm. When it's cold I put a sweater on. I want to move to a warmer location, so that outside space is so important. One of the people that we've connected with is Carol from Lido luxury in the outdoor. This is right up your alley. She showed us how to set up our campsite Just beautiful. She's got these beautiful tablecloths and outside tablecloths that are really hardy and they just have beautiful designs. So that for me, was my space, just so, you know, creating nature outside, but creating that. Sometimes that picnic table is ugly or the table that I have that I'm setting up is not pretty. That really made a difference for me. You could check her out and see just so much cool stuff. So that's tip number one, for you're not staying in that 17 foot space, but getting, but getting out and enjoying what's outside of it. I do a lot of my workout on a picnic table.

Speaker 2: 17:19

And complaining to a lot of people how horrible this is going to be. So that's very timely.

Speaker 3: 17:24

Yeah, it's perfectly timely. Yeah, I think I have a reserved positive attitude about what.

Speaker 2: 17:30

I'm going to be doing.

Speaker 3: 17:31

Yeah, there's a little negativity sometimes, and just not because I don't want to. I want to. It's an adventure, I'm excited about it, but I just yeah, I just yeah, I'm sure, but I think there's. There are going to be moments where I'm going to be a bit of a wreck. Thank you for the tips, because that one was great and I'll use them all because I know that it's going to be a bit of a challenge for me and I think the outdoor life is going to be a great bit of advice.

Speaker 1: 17:59

You're welcome, and there's a lot of incredible people within the community that are there to help. One of the things that I struggle with was asking for help and receiving it, and over the last several months, I couldn't help but ask for it and receive the help, so you're in good hands within the RV community.

Speaker 2: 18:18

Not the only one that has that problem.

Speaker 1: 18:20

Yes, yes, and I say it on these last several podcasts because it's so important to ask for help. Receive it, be okay with receiving it. Yes, In my last couple of episodes we've talked about that, but now I want to jump into the Ragnar Relay Series and that's Ragnar R-A-G-N-A-R. I wasn't exactly sure exactly what it was called. If one of you both of you jump in and break it down what exactly it is, yeah, and I want to.

Speaker 2: 18:55

so this is what I thought about at the beginning. I want to back up but talk about that. But when I first thought about doing a podcast, it was right away to me a no brainer. I was like, okay, there's this crazy extreme race somewhat, that's at least viewed that way but I felt like I want to be able to tell these stories, amazing stories.

Speaker 2: 19:18

There's so many people all over the country that are of all ages, all backgrounds, running, walking, disabilities, healthy, not healthy, just the wide range of people doing this race. And so many people that I would talk to my friends or different people that I would say, hey, I would tell them about the race and try to get them to do it. And overwhelmingly, the ones that would, of course said they would, but so many of them oh, I need to train all kinds of reasons why they couldn't do it, and I'm like them. Oh, I need to train all kinds of reasons why they can do it and I'm like, okay, I really need to. That was my goal of the podcast, or one of the big goals was to get information out there and to really tell the stories and show people's backgrounds and how anybody really, truly could do it. So that's how the podcast came to be as it was and that active lifestyle. The podcast came to be as it was and that active lifestyle.

Speaker 1: 20:14

And I'm glad you clarified that again. Like I said, I'm not a runner and as we get into talking about the specifics of the race, that's great that you said that, so maybe it's a part of it that I will talk about that. But your podcast is Ragnar Life Podcast, and what platforms can people find it on?

Speaker 2: 20:35

Everywhere, and if it's not on some platform, please reach out to me and tell me it's not Okay, because, as podcasters.

Speaker 1: 20:42

we like them on all platforms. Okay, so now give us the details of this relay race.

Speaker 2: 20:49

Yep, yep. So, as I explained to a lot of people, as you can imagine, it's a road race and a trail race team event. They start generally on a friday and on a saturday. The road version a full team is 12 people. An ultra team is six people. Trail full team is eight people, ultra team four people. The road they say 200 miles-ish. It just depends which state, which course.

Speaker 2: 21:20

The races generally start in around March of every year, march-april timeframe, and the very last one every year has been the trail race just outside of Tampa Florida area at the beginning of December. And then there's kind of those few months that is, quote unquote, the off season going into the next year. So the teams, as you put in a team, so say you're going to do the road race, the 12 people there, there's a captain, so there's one person, that that is the organizer. Everybody puts in their information of what their average mile pace is. So everybody puts in their information of what their average mile pace is and the race itself calculates or has a calculation with all that, the slower teams, all the way to the faster teams, and start times usually end up being around 5.30 am and go all the way into the early afternoon I forget the last time, but it could be 2.00, 3.00 for the fastest teams, because of course they want everybody. They got to set up the race at different points for the exchanges and stuff and then also at the final where the finish line is. They of course don't set that up on Friday. It's more set up early, it's more prepared for the people to be finishing Saturday at a certain time in the morning. But so that's the gist of the race, of the road race.

Speaker 2: 22:38

So it's a van one, van two thing. So your first six runners start, let's say 6 am is your start time. So everybody of course goes and gets set up, usually the day before to get their registration stuff on location done, to get their registration stuff on location done, and then race morning when it starts, runner one, let's say six o'clock, so all the six o'clock teams, they'll give a countdown 30 seconds, blah, blah, blah. So then once that runner starts, let's say the first leg is four miles. There's some legs that are supported, some legs that are unsupported. So the van will go, let's say runner one, I don't need any support. Then van one, all the team will get in. Go to this next exchange. Runner two will get ready, know roughly the pace that the runner is and then once runner one gets onto that exchange, there's a slap bracelet. They slap bracelet to the next runner two goes and that kind of repeats all the way through six.

Speaker 2: 23:37

There's a major exchange for van one going into van two and then runner seven starts their legs and their the legs could. There's some, I'm trying to think the shortest one I ever ran or ever saw could be like just shy of two miles, or it could be all the way to, I think, the longest one. I remember they used to have one in the Florida Keys and one of them was over the couple of those bridges. It was like 14 miles, which was fun. I actually personally got to run them and they were fun. But of course that's a long way and that would have really have to do with your team who can or can't do different runs.

Speaker 3: 24:11

I think what's important too is that they're non-competitive teams and they're competitive teams and the captain determines what position you'll be in based on your capabilities. So if you said to your captain, hey, I really, this is my pace and I can't do anything longer than eight miles, they're gonna figure out what runner number you should be in order for that to work best for you. The nice thing is that this is such a huge community, so I don't run. I go with James. I'm not a runner, I don't run. I don't even walk it. He's trying to. He's smiling because he's trying to convince me to even just walk it, which I haven't done yet, but I'm open to the idea. But it's really exciting because the people there is what makes it different. Honestly, it's really like the RV lifestyle. It is in this diverse background of people Some are much older and super bit and some are much younger and not and everybody is just so encouraging to one another. It's just a fun thing.

Speaker 3: 25:16

I personally am a trail lover, so he was just talking about the road race, which is a little more challenging, obviously, with an RV, because you're running, you're following your runner, so you'd want to leave your RV somewhere in particular and just do that 48 hours or 36 hours, whatever it is. I think it's 36 hours. That's 36 hours with just your truck or your car or whatever it is you're towing or towable. But my favorite is the trail. The trail is like a location where you could go and everybody's there and everybody camps and everybody kind of the night before, because everybody arrives Thursday night, because it's an early start on Friday. Oh, they drink. The funny thing. You think runners are all healthy. No, they drink, they go crazy. They have fun.

Speaker 3: 26:06

Ok, we're talking about beverages, obviously yeah, adult beverages, yeah that's the best idea before a run or a walk or, yeah, okay, community. Again, my favorite is the trail because I like that home base, that one base where you're there, everybody goes and comes back and they run these three different loops and I'll let James tell you about that if you want to know.

Speaker 1: 26:41

Okay, so two separate A trail. Yeah, sounds cool.

Speaker 2: 26:46

Yeah, the trail is definitely. A lot of people I hear prefer that one, not just from the running perspective, but I think you spend more time with groups of people on that. The logistics you don't have. So you set up a space, essentially where the base camp is. They've got the different areas for people to stay or to set up their sites as a team and they have even the Thursday night, the night before the race, they've got movies showing to a certain time at night. They have s'mores campfire, so that race is set up.

Speaker 2: 27:22

I said earlier eight people or four people will be in the ultra team, but once that race starts there's a green loop, yellow loop, red loop, format, loop format. So that race is usually always. Every trail is generally around 15 miles and split up through those three right, green being the easiest loop could be like two, three, four mile, but usually that too, but three or four miles for that first one and then the yellow green I'm sorry, yellow red being the most difficult, not always just because of how many miles it is, it could be a lot of times yellow and red could be pretty similar, but it could have to do with because several of the races are out west.

Speaker 2: 28:01

So you got the mountain type environment, colorado ones. The Colorado trail race is done at a ski resort area. You've got. They get you up high up into the mountains pretty quick on that one.

Speaker 1: 28:12

So that's yeah, so definitely the mountains pretty quick on that one.

Speaker 2: 28:13

So that's yeah, so definitely the trail one is very much community. They're both community, but that one you just have that campy tailgating feel to it yeah, tailgating, that's a nice way to put it and let's talk a little bit about that.

Speaker 1: 28:28

So this is where it's a shame that we don't use video for the podcast, because, mara, as James is talking, you are like shaking your head, you're excited and again, you don't run. And that's what I really wanted to point out I don't run. I can walk two miles, so maybe I'll walk the two-mile green trail, maybe I'll work my way up to a three-mile, we'll talk about it. Maybe I'll work my way up to a three mile, we'll talk about it. But it sounds for Laura, you were saying like just being there sounds like so much fun. And I want to ask a question because I did my research online what's with the costumes? They're both laughing.

Speaker 3: 29:11

I think it's the funness. It's really about the funness of it and being a part of a little bit of craziness, and that's what's great about it is it's a little bit crazy, a little bit athletic, a little bit community. It's a little bit of everything and it makes it really a great experience. One of my favorite things to do is to wake up on Friday morning or Saturday morning and to get a cup of coffee. Like they have coffee, they have hot chocolate. James said there's s'mores at night and movies. Kids are welcome.

Speaker 3: 29:45

We don't see little kids usually too much, but we do sometimes do that. But it's a very inclusive I think that word's so used nowadays but it's a very inclusive community. And you, I know that I can take one lap. So if I want to try my green loop and I and it's only a mile and a half or two miles and I want to try it just once, I know I can go with James who's already doing it and I can pick up his. I could technically pick up his lap and just see what it's like without committing 100%.

Speaker 1: 30:21

I'd love that, because that's where I would be Like. Here's the green loop, it's one to two miles, you don't have to run. I would love that, but I want to. So I want to talk about somebody as I was doing my research. Kimberly Crossland is the host of the RV Entrepreneur Podcast, which is our partner podcast, and she ran the race and the first time she was there she was with her husband. It was funny, I saw her name pop up, so she was there with her husband and I. I think they have, and I'm sorry if I'mar Road race left us with a lifetime of memories, from the lack of sleep, sleeping in strange places and running in the middle of the night to the cheerleading we heard at every exchange point and the belly laughs we had about random events along the race. We will never forget our time in this unique race. Highly recommend anyone doing this, at least once. I will be running another one, so I just that's just so cool and I wanted to put that in there.

Speaker 3: 31:49

She captured that so beautifully. I can't even tell you how what she wrote. What she said was so on the mark.

Speaker 2: 31:59

And that was another thing. Just from a podcast perspective, I wanted to really tell these stories and tell experiences like that on the podcast and I forget the could be a little bit off on the statistics, but I want to say it's in the 90 something percent of people that run a race run another one of this race and so it's interesting to see throughout the years to hear somebody's experience about oh no, and then afterwards, maybe not the very second, the race is done, but within a day or two everybody's oh yeah, like when are we going to do it again?

Speaker 3: 32:34

So the other thing that we didn't miss James has a Facebook group called Ragnar Life that people can join I think there's about 7,000 people in the group as it is right now and that people can join and get a feel for that community and start to engage with people. The nice thing about it you can find a team. So if you're just a sole person, you're like how do I do this, how do I find a team? Go to Ragnar Life on the Facebook group and put it out there that you're looking for a team. You just say I'm non-competitive or I'm competitive. This is what I'm like, and people are very encouraging and they will help you out.

Speaker 1: 33:11

And this is great. Again, I'm not a runner. My question to you that you've now answered, is can I come be part of this event? We had a conversation the three of us months ago. We're talking about the event and the community and I kept thinking I'm not a runner. I'm not a runner, but it definitely sounds like something I could be part of.

Speaker 1: 33:33

Now I want to take a bit of a break. We have so much more to cover as you guys are traveling across the country, and this is something that RVers should put on their bucket list. But travel when you have a diesel we have a 40-foot diesel pusher costs money, so I'd love to share with my audience OpenRoads fuel card. This card is free. To get the card, you attach your bank account to it. You then have an app and you can find gas stations in the area that do diesel fuel and you're looking at savings anywhere from five cents a gallon all the way up to 90 plus cents a gallon on gas. But even if five cents a gallon, with as much as you guys travel, you can't be without that card.

Speaker 3: 34:21

It makes a huge difference at five cents. You don't even realize until you start.

Speaker 1: 34:26

Really doing, it Starts adding up. So, like for our 25 gallon reserve, somebody drew the map on the map on that it has saved us a tremendous amount of money. We've had it for over three years probably when we first got the RV and we have saved so much money Now. Openroads fuel card. Openroads has also come out with a new product. About three or four months ago I was the first to get this product for the RV within the RV community, but it's been around for 20 years and that is the Innovative Tolling Solution. It's on open roads.

Speaker 1: 35:02

This toll covers all 48 states. The two of them are like Mara just hit James, like we need this. It only costs $24 a month so I can get rid of my sub pass and my easy pass and be done with it. Travel across the country. The best part now. Over the last year I had $150 in toll fines before I had this toll pass, because by the time the fine goes to my mail service and I get it in full words and I deal with it. You only have 25 days to get it resolved. So the one fine was sent to an attorney and I said listen, this would happen. They could care less. $250. What innovative tolling does. And again, this is all on openadscom, it's in the show notes. With this toll pass, if you have a problem, they have a concierge service that helps you handle it, so you don't have to worry about this stuff anymore. That's awesome.

Speaker 3: 36:04

We just had a problem at the toll road in Dallas because we were there and I didn't have the doodah.

Speaker 1: 36:13

And next thing we're like when are we going to get this in the mail and now that you're going to be traveling full time, you have to hope it finds you. And that's where it happened for me, which was in Dallas, one of the finds that we got and again, it was my fault. They only give you 25 days, which I think is ridiculous, but it was my fault I didn't get it handled. But, having this toll pass, I have an app. If I have a problem, I can either go through the app or call my person. Now you travel in luxury, so you know what having concierge service is like.

Speaker 3: 36:43

That is so worth it to get a concierge service at that price point, to say it.

Speaker 1: 36:49

I think I paid $25 for my easy pass, so the price is right, in line with what everybody else does. Again, that's all of the show notes, but let's get back to this. So now the race. First of all, you didn't tell me about the costumes, because I heard about costumes. I want to know about that. And secondly, while we're calling this a race, there's not really a winner. What does the team that gets their first get?

Speaker 2: 37:19

Yeah, and so those are two great questions. I probably don't talk a lot about the uniforms myself because luckily I haven't been on a team. I don't barely like to run with the things I've got on to begin with.

Speaker 3: 37:31

He would run naked if he could, because he doesn't like to put on. He doesn't like yeah, he doesn't like to wear the little flap strap thing that you wear to.

Speaker 2: 37:41

Hopefully runners aren't listening.

Speaker 1: 37:43

Okay, so that would be a whole different kind of race for adults. We'll talk about that, yeah, yeah it is a cool thing, right?

Speaker 2: 37:50

so you see, I've seen themes of guns and roses as a team, so you have different people with different slash look or action when I saw recently was it was that holy grail, the movie holy grail.

Speaker 3: 38:04

They took a bunch of characters from that and each person became a character from that movie, the holy grail, and they ran through in that and it's very fun so I think it goes back earlier when we're talking.

Speaker 2: 38:17

I think one of their ragnar's taglines is embrace your inner wild right. So it's I think along those lines of adding that dimension of a fun. And I say extreme, I don't even think of it as extreme or talk about it extreme, but just to a lot of people just running at all is extreme or that type of running.

Speaker 1: 38:37

So I want to jump in here before you answer the next question. You don't open your inner wild, experience your inner wild. I work with a health mentor. She's my lights coach, she's my everything. A health mentor, she's my lights coach, she's my everything. And for me I don't like costumes at all. So Halloween, from about the week before till two weeks before and a week after, I just want to hide somewhere. I don't do costumes, I don't do dress up. But then, getting a little off topic, it is about bringing out your inner wild. It is about me coming out of my shell. We could talk about that some other time on another podcast, but I think that's great, okay, so now let's get off of that you shared that I'm probably similar.

Speaker 2: 39:20

It was cool when I was a kid. It's out there.

Speaker 1: 39:22

It's out there.

Speaker 2: 39:25

For all of our podcast listeners.

Speaker 1: 39:27

Thank you, mara, for sharing that.

Speaker 2: 39:30

It was cool as a kid to put on or do the whole Halloween thing. But I've never I shouldn't maybe say publicly, but I've never understood why adults like to dress up at Halloween. It's always been.

Speaker 3: 39:41

Oh, and I love it, and so I'm totally that.

Speaker 2: 39:43

So I'm with you on that.

Speaker 3: 39:44

Yeah, but now I wouldn't want to run in a costume, right Two-twos. Now I wouldn't want to run in a costume. But tutus, they run in all kinds of stuff.

Speaker 1: 39:54

So you need a costume that's really going to be form fitting or something, and so for you and I, james, we might need to work through that. There's something that from a mindset, standpoint we need to work through. But let's get back to the question, and I love this. Let's get back to the question of is there a winner? Is there the race? Does it have winners? Does it have prizes?

Speaker 2: 40:14

it does not miss. When I think of prizes, where some races have cash prizes per second third of different things there is, some races have specific. I'm trying to remember a thing would be, could be like a bourbon chase has bourbons, yeah bourbon chase.

Speaker 3: 40:31

So bourbon chase is one of the one of the races that I love. It's a you're basically running and you stop at different breweries not breweries, but distilleries, different distilleries and they really promote the whole bourbon chase concept. And at the end the winner takes the top of one of the barrels and it's heat flame engraved, that they're the number one team and whatever it is. I can't remember what they put on it, but it's an actual beautiful plaque that's been made out of the top of one of those whiskey barrels. Wow.

Speaker 2: 41:09

But yeah, so different races do different things, but there's different divisions, there's mixed, there's women's teams, men's teams of different categories.

Speaker 3: 41:18

Masters teams for older people like me.

Speaker 2: 41:21

There's a public service one, I think would be like firefighters, military things like that, that's great, and I read when I was reading about it.

Speaker 1: 41:30

it said you get to walk away with kick ass medals, bragging rights and the unforgettable story of this epic adventure. I'd love that. So it's not that you do pay to be part of the races, but there's no prizes at the end. So what does a race cost? And again, there's two different types. What do they cost?

Speaker 2: 41:49

It's funny because it's that's a legal lead into when. So I was in the military when I ran my very first ride in our race was 2010. I was in a, I was air force, but I was in a joint unit that, if anybody knows anything about joint, might as well be army, even though all the army people told us it's not army. So we ran five days a week as a group, one as a group, we ran like we weren't. There was no choice, right, like we did pt monday, tuesday through monday through friday. And so an air force person had heard about this race or done one before somewhere and told our army commander at the time about the race, and then, of course, our army commander was all about it.

Speaker 2: 42:30

Let's put in a team for our unit, right, we're going to put in a team, and I was one of the top runners in not just our squadron but what's called elements or multiple squadrons, right? So the whole entire group of people, which was, at least I would say, 300 people, all branches Marines, army, navy I was definitely in the top five of everyone, pretty close to the top one. So when they put in this team, of course they're like and I went by BP, or everybody called me BP or Southern BP. So they're like BP. We need you to run this race. I'm like, let me get this straight, I'm going to pay money and I don't know if you use certain kind of language on the show, but I was like you want me to pay money to run with your asses on a Friday and Saturday.

Speaker 1: 43:12

That's an okay word I want.

Speaker 2: 43:15

Who would what? Go away, say no, and they weren't really asking me. I was a volatile thing but I didn't want to do it. But I did it and then I had fun. But I thought when I did do it, the camaraderie I'd felt and the experience I felt because I did it was from St or Port, st Ritchie, so north side part of Tampa, across to Daytona Beach was the finish line. So it was a great course and that was last year they did that course. But I really enjoyed it. We had no idea, most of us, the rules we were running too fast because they've got certain rules where you can't get to an exchange before a certain time or you get penalized, because a lot of that is because they don't set up yet Right, we were a great team, of course. I don't know, I think first or second in our division, but we were all military people at that point.

Speaker 3: 44:04

Talking about taking first or second in the division. Everybody gets a medal if you finish. So it's a night. It's not like you have to, like I said, and there are some competitive teams and there's some not. But the cool thing is you get a different medal for each and every race that you run and then if you run two races or three races every a third, your second race, you get a special medal. Your third race, you get a special medal. Your fourth race, you get a medal, and it says basically four.

Speaker 3: 44:31

If you run 12 races, is it well, 12 races in one year, you're considered immortal. Wow, yeah, you would have to be. You're immortal. You've done 12, right? One year. I think james has been immortal. Is it twice? Now, sweetie? She's been immortal twice, and we were hoping to immortal this year as well, since we were going to be on the road so much. But I twice. And we were hoping to immortal this year as well, since we were going to be on the road so much. But I'm not sure we're going to be able to hit enough races. We'll check.

Speaker 1: 44:56

We're going to check back with you and see about that. So what do the races? Yeah, yeah. What do the races cost? It's a couple hundred dollars.

Speaker 2: 45:03

Sorry, it's OK, there's not really one answer. It's okay, there's not really one answer. So usually a hundred and some dollars per person. But it depends when the team signs up. So there's an early period of time when someone can sign up and it's less money than later. And then there's other costs associated with the road. For sure, you have to rent a van as a team, so there'll be usually teams split the cost. It's a lot of work to be a captain. I've learned my lesson really quickly. I've been a captain a few times and it's easier not to be a captain, just saying.

Speaker 3: 45:34

Yeah, so our full respect to captains, yes.

Speaker 1: 45:38

Yes, it's just the extra work. It sounds like so there is so much more people could learn about this. Where can people go so they could go connect with you at Ragnar Life? On the Facebook group, you have Ragnar Life podcast, which I highly recommend. I was listening to it yesterday. They talk about safety. They talk about everything there is to know. The one I listened to was about safety, which obviously is a big concern. Is there a website people could go to for the Ragnar Relay?

Speaker 3: 46:15

go-to for the Ragnar Relay, the actual Ragnar Relay, I think it's ragnarrelaycom. It gives a lot of information and they'll have all kinds of information about the different races. So people can select a race that they want to go and be a part of and then they can go to Ragnar Life on Facebook group and see if there's a team they can join up with. I think that makes the makes it the easiest way to go.

Speaker 2: 46:32

And I had a website, but it is in construction, so no problem, she's taking blame.

Speaker 1: 46:40

That's good. Any information that you have, I'll look up where people can go, what the website is, and I'll put it all in the show notes.

Speaker 3: 46:50

We're on Instagram and we're on Facebook. You can always communicate with James on Messenger or Facebook from the Facebook group. That, I think, makes a difference, because he's got this huge network where he can connect people if they need to, or give them information Great.

Speaker 1: 47:07

So much incredible information and we're not done. I have to thank you guys for all of this information. There's so much more I'm sure we could talk about. We'll give people so they can look it up, they can reach out to you. Right now, though, I want to do our question of the week and actually this is for you guys, and the question of the week is brought to you by Oprah Rhodes Innovative Tolling, and I can't say enough about that toll pass that covers all 48 states. Now for the question of the week, I'm going to start giving our listeners ideas for 2024. So I've decided to now ask our guests for what is on their bucket list for 2024, to give our listeners some ideas for the coming year. So I'm putting you on the spot. I didn't tell you this was happening. I could see both of your brains like how am I going to answer this? So I want you both to give me an answer of something that would be on your bucket list for 2024.

Speaker 3: 48:08

I have to confess, when you were talking about Montana earlier, I have always wanted to go to Montana, so I think my bucket list is Montana. I want to go somewhere. I really want to see it. I want to experience that. I always wanted to live there. My mom jokes that when I was a little girl I said I'm from Montana, have a lot of land and horses.

Speaker 1: 48:34

So that is my bucket list there you go, and I'm glad I was able to give you something to add to it, james.

Speaker 2: 48:42

It's weird because I don't usually operate in bucket list things. I want to skydive more and I'm leading up to do what I call squirrel suit, or I know somebody that I call squirrel suit person or dude. So you need so many jumps on skydiving to be able to do that. But that's not necessarily. I don't know that. I'll be able to do that.

Speaker 1: 49:05

Bucket list thing. Yeah, wow, that's you.

Speaker 2: 49:08

But my goal is to do more things like that this year. I can't think of one thing that's cool to go to montana, so yeah kind of piggybacking off of you. Oh good, I want to.

Speaker 1: 49:19

I just like to do new things, and that's what on the rv, like podcast, we like to give people ideas. I want to go to montanadiving, not so much squirrel suit. No, thank you, I keep my now. Now I will say, though the Albuquerque balloon fiesta, going up in a hot air balloon was incredible, so that I'll put out there you go that to your podcast, because you come up with these great concepts.

Speaker 3: 49:50

That is absolutely that privity.

Speaker 1: 49:54

I love it. So definitely great concepts. But while we're talking, I also like to talk about campgrounds, and it is time for our feature campground of the week, and this campground I picked because it is in California and that's where you guys are launching full-time from. It is Sun Outdoors in San Diego Bay and it's located in Chula Vista, california. This campground has only 50 sites. It is an upscale how appropriate coastal living and, yes, they have full hookups, pool, tour site, they have a pet area and they have so much more.

Speaker 1: 50:31

What I loved when I looked at this campground was the pool just looked incredible. And when I say upscale, it looks upscale. And not only do I think it looks beautiful, but their ratings are a 9.1 rating with 53 reviews. That sounds awesome. Yeah, with 53 reviews, you can find this. Yeah, so you can find a book campgrounds by going and you guys might not know this yet Campgroundsrvlifecom. They have the most comprehensive resource for RV parks, campgrounds, state parks, national parks, cores of engineers, you name it. They have the most comprehensive site with authentic reviews. So reviews are only by rvers. People have stayed at these campgrounds. Leave the reviews. The reviews that I put out each week are the top feature. They're called feature campgrounds within the rvcampgroundsrvlifecom. Now, if you don't have the rv life suite of products yet, go to rv life and you, I do okay.

Speaker 3: 51:39

Well, I do have them because I before we ever met. I found it extremely valuable awesome, so good then.

Speaker 1: 51:46

Thank you for saying that. She's not being paid to say that on the podcast. But because you have RV Life the product, because you have the membership, you can go to the RV Campground. People can use the Campground Review site, but it's limited. If you don't have RV Life Pro, if you want RV Life Pro and you don't have it for those listeners pro, if you want RV Life Pro and you don't have it for those listeners, there is a 25% discount for RV Life Podcast listeners. The code is RV Life Podcast. How easy is that?

Speaker 1: 52:18

Okay, I wish we could go on and on about this for another, I don't know how long, but I just want to thank our guests. They can reach out to you on Instagram, at Facebook, at Ragnar Life. It's a group on Facebook and I'll put all of that in the show notes. If you want to reach out, if you have an idea for the RV Life podcast, reach out to me at RV Life Podcast on Instagram and Facebook. I personally answer all of these messages and I am looking forward to hearing from my guests. I want to thank both of you so much for being on.

Speaker 2: 52:57

Thank you and I want to end thank you so much for this. Has been awesome to be on your show. You're a great host, but also I'm available on all like any. Anywhere you find my name. Reach out to me on LinkedIn message. I'm an IT communicator from by trade, so I love my phone. So you can reach me by any way, any social or anything.

Speaker 1: 53:19

Yeah, that's awesome. You've got it all. I can't do all that.

Speaker 3: 53:23

Great. Thank you so much for having us on the show. We appreciate it and I'm I can't wait to keep you posted on how my Beverly Hills to boondocking is going.

Speaker 1: 53:32

Yeah, so when you do that, we're going to post it on social media. We'll get you back on to talk about it. It sounds amazing. So you get that running so you could be back on the RV Life podcast. Thank you again. You are listening to the RV Life Podcast. I'm Patti Hunt saying have a great rest of today and an even better day tomorrow.