ExploringEyes

Dear Explorers,

Today, I’m taking you on a unique journey—204 miles, 34 hours, 12 runners—through the breathtaking New Hampshire mountains, all the way to the beach. And why? Simply for the sake of having a great time!

This is no ordinary trip; it’s the oldest relay race on the East Coast, USA. Yes, you heard that right—it’s a race, and it’s called “Ragnar Reach the Beach.” I’d say it’s the most stunning race course on the East Coast, winding through New Hampshire’s picturesque landscapes, charming towns, and ultimately ending at the beautiful Hampton Beach.

For me and the R3vive (Revive) Fitness team, this journey began four years ago. Back in 2021, when i ran this race for the first time, it was grueling during the event—but somehow, I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment afterward. And so, the tradition continues, with me running this race every year since.

But this isn’t just a race; it’s an experience—a chance to bond with your team in the van while running, cheering, sharing snacks, and swapping some great stories.

Want exclusive behind-the-scenes content? Join the R3vive Fitness team and get access to our OnlyVans contents! 😊

Months before the Race:

• The runners recruitment

This year, for the first time, all the spots were filled in record time! With eight exceptional new runners and five OG R3vive team members, we formed an incredible team for this year’s race. Here are the runners:

1. Rajiv Roy (Myself) – OG
2. Elizabeth Bartuska
3. Mark Howard
4. Derek Saffold – OG
5. Nisha Rao
6. Agne Jakubauskaitė – OG
7. Joel Zayas – OG
8. Benjamin Harper
9. Cristian Pereira – OG
10. Thomas Gassner
11. Mikel Garcia-Marcos
12. Matthew Fish

• The Leg selection

I think leg selection is a bit of a gamble. You can pick one based on the mileage, but that can change before the race. Don’t worry, though—if you’re new to the team, you can always swap with the more experienced runners. So, new runners are highly encouraged to join the team!

Here’s how the legs ended up for 2024:

• Training plan / Run Club:

R3vive did an amazing job sharing the training plan to prepare for Ragnar. I joined the R3vive Run Club to stay consistent with my running. A couple of months before the race, I followed a simple routine: running 5K (3.2 miles) at least 2 to 3 times a week and doing longer runs once a week, ranging from 10 to 15K (6 to 10 miles).

Run Club with Coach Tom and later with Coach Cristian was such a fun experience. I really hope the Run Club continues next spring / summer!

And finally, I joined the R3vive team for the Road to Wellness 5K run organized by Dimock Center in Roxbury, Boston, just a week before the Ragnar race. This is a perfect way to wrap up the Ragnar Reach the beach preparation.

• Team Logo and Slogan :

Ben Harper stepped in as Chief Fun Officer (CFO) and absolutely crushed it, making sure we had a cool team logo, slogan, and T-shirt. The whole process was a blast and definitely brought the team closer together!

Night Before the Race Day:

The night before the race, we all gathered at the gym at 7 PM and then split into two vans to head to Coach Derek and Caity’s cabin in New Hampshire. Huge thanks to Derek and Caity for hosting us! Staying at the cabin was a game-changer, giving us a chance to get a good night’s sleep before race day since the starting line was just an hour’s drive away. 

Finally the Race Day:

Our start time was 8:45 AM, so we all woke up at 6:00 AM, got ready, and headed out at 6:30 AM. On the way to the starting line, we stopped at the Mad River Coffee Shop to fuel up for the race. This is a tradition as well . But if you want to save time , call them and place your order ahead of time !

The Course:

Starting at Lancaster Fairground early in the morning, you can see clouds descending, covering the roads, and feel the mild autumn breeze as you begin the run. It’s the perfect setting for a race this time of year, with the leaves just starting to change color. Runners get their first glimpse of fall foliage while passing through the scenic Franconia Notch, the majestic White Mountains, the serene Lake Winnipesaukee, and the charming towns of Concord and Manchester. This 200-mile autumn-inspired journey concludes in the best way possible—at the beautiful Hampton Beach.

The Results:

This was our fastest run so far. We completed 204.8 miles / 36 legs in 31:34:20 hours (9:15 min / mile pace) and finished 99th out of 232 teams.

Here are the results from previous years for the R3vive team.

2023 – 198.9 miles /35 legs (due to hurricane alert) in 32:29:34 hours and finished 51st out of 78 teams.

2022 – 200.8 / 36 legs in 32:57:51 hours and finished 41st out of 67 teams.

2021 – 200.6 / 34 legs (because we were told to double up and skip last few legs to finish before the course closed lol) in 33:04:03 hours and finished 166th out of 251 teams.

Professional Photo Credits: Matthew Fish – the official R3vive photographer for the race – who also took on the role of runner #12 and sprinted the final mile on the beach to wrap up this amazing race through the scenic New England state of New Hampshire!

Here are some fun video clips of the race:

2024 race:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DACjKVfugX3

2023 race:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxReoATutmk

Hope this tradition continues, and we make more memories in the coming years ! Cheers to all !