Dogs Per Mile
Dogs Per Mile is all about rediscovering the joy in running. Hosted by Coach Bridget, a run coach with over 10 years of running behind her. This weekly podcast brings you stories, tips, and interviews to help you find fun in every mile. Whether you're tracking dogs per mile, using mental tricks to power through tough runs, or just looking for a good laugh, this podcast has something for you. Perfect for new runners overcoming that first step or experienced runners wanting fresh motivation, we’re here to remind you that there can always be something fun about running.
Dogs Per Mile
Running in the Dark: Why I'm Terrified and Excited About My First Relay Race
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What happens when a control-loving, routine-dependent runner signs up for a 200-mile relay race with strangers, unpredictable running times, and sleeping in vans? That's exactly what I'm about to find out.
The Ragnar relay represents everything outside my comfort zone as a runner. As someone who meticulously plans her morning coffee time, enjoys solo runs, and has mastered the half-marathon distance, I'm now preparing for middle-of-the-night legs, team dynamics with people I've never met, and the challenge of covering 32 miles over a sleep-deprived 48 hours. This isn't just about physical endurance; it's about breaking through self-imposed limitations and arbitrary rules I've created for myself.
My journey toward this New Hampshire relay race reflects a deeper personal shift. After a challenging year that's shown me just how strong I can be when facing discomfort, I'm channeling that newfound resilience into adventures I previously deemed "not for me." While researching how experienced runners should train for these unique events (hint: there's surprisingly little guidance out there!), I'm discovering that preparation goes beyond physical training to embrace flexibility, unpredictability, and even unconventional fueling strategies like midnight Pop-Tarts. Will I become one of those Ragnar enthusiasts who can't stop talking about their relay experiences, or will I complete this once and never look back? Either outcome is perfectly fine because "you won't know if you hate it until you actually fucking do it."
Ready to challenge your own running comfort zone or curious about how this control freak handles her first Ragnar experience? Subscribe now and follow along as I document my training journey and preparation for running legs at all hours with strangers in New England. What limitations have you placed on yourself that might be ready for reconsideration?
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You won't know if you hate it until you actually fucking do it . And I'm actually fucking doing it and I am
Saying Yes to the Unfamiliar
Speaker 1really scared . Hey runners , you're listening to Dogs Per Mile , where we're making running work for your life , not the other way around . I'm Bridget , with over 13 years of running experience and approximately 4,892 dogs seen on my run . I'm now here to help you find your own path to running happiness . Ready to run on your own terms . Let's get going . Hey everyone , welcome back to the Dogs Per Mile podcast . I'm your host , bridget , and here we talk about dogs , running and everything in between .
Speaker 1I have done something I deem to be a little bit crazy , very much out of my comfort zone as a runner and as a human , and it is signing up for my first Ragnar relay race , and I am in a phase of my life where I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone , doing things that are out of the ordinary for me and allowing myself to say yes to things that I deemed not for me for whatever illogical reason , and so I kind of want to talk about why this is a big deal for me , kind of what a Ragnar relay is if you've never heard of it , and just kind of talk to you guys as if we are sitting , not sitting , kind of talk to y'all like we are taking a run together and we're just chit-chatting and gossiping and I'm telling you about this . So imagine we're next to each other on a treadmill , on a trail , on a road , wherever you run , and I hope you enjoy hearing me talk about my decision to run a Ragnar relay race and if I will even survive it . I think the first , most important thing is to kind of explain to you what a Ragnar relay is , and it's basically . It's a relay race that this one has about 12 people in it and you're kind of split into two vans and basically it's a point to point relay race , and so you get to tag people on your team . There's different legs that you run . You run usually three legs throughout the 48 to 36 hours 36 to 48 hours or so , or 24 to 36 hours of running and your goal is to get from the point A to the point B as a team . And so there's some other ones that are similar to a Ragnar relay . There's Hood to Coast , which is out in Oregon .
Speaker 1That's always been on my bucket list but I've just as the type of runner that I am . If you didn't already know , I am a very type A . I like to run at my certain time . I love my routine , I love the routes that I run . I like , I'm a creature of habit . I want to get up , I want to have my coffee for X amount of time and I want to have my Rice Krispie squares , or , if I'm doing a long run , my extra carbs and my Rice Krispies . I want to run at the hour and the temperature I want to . I want to be able to have full control over my run
Why This Race Scares Me
Speaker 1and a Ragnar relay , oh , and I'm a solo runner most of the time beside my run club . I like to run by myself in a race alone .
Speaker 1I'm not doing a lot of group runs and so with a Ragnar , I'm part of a team . That's already out of my comfort zone . Your legs are at a variety of time of day and night , so there is a chance that I might be running in the evening , in the middle of the night . I could be running at midnight till three in the morning , and you're also not able to sleep like I normally do , so I'm not going to be able to do my run and then go to a hotel , you're in a van with other people and this group is going to be people I don't know . So that's just another personal out of my comfort zone .
Speaker 1I got this opportunity through my husband's work , where they have a team that they're doing , and somebody dropped out and of course he dropped my name , saying , oh , this is way more her jam , she will love this . So he's also doing it . But this is my story and this is about why I'm doing it . And so this one is the Ragnar in New Hampshire . So we're going to start in New Hampshire and make our way to the ocean . It's 200 something miles .
Speaker 1I have honestly done very little research beside allowing myself to sign up for it , and I am very excited , but I'm very terrified . So if you are like me and you've signed up for what you deem a scary race , this is probably the first time in a long time that I've signed up for a scary race , since at least I signed up for a marathon or triathlon . So I'm excited to go through this process with you guys and talk about how the training is going , how it's different than any other training I've done , because I am a strictly a half marathon girl . I don't train for 10Ks , I don't train for 5Ks , I don't do marathons , I do the half marathon , but that is doing 13 miles at once . That's not doing 32 miles over 24 or 48 hours at night or in the hot and
Finding New Strength in Discomfort
Speaker 1the elevation and everything .
Speaker 1So it's going to be probably one of my more mentally , physically challenging races and I'm excited and I'm terrified and I'm scared shitless because I love my routines and I have been trying to do research on how does one train for one of these , and most of the information that I've been able to find is geared toward people who are new to running very , very new and they are giving tips like make sure you don't wear anything new and make sure you test your fueling and just practice your endurance , and I'm not finding any content out there for people who are established or already have been running for a while , or people who do road races and have signed up for their first one . So that's what I want to create . I want to talk about what it's like to train for something when you've never trained for one of these before , and how that is different for someone who does understand their fueling strategy . But how does that change when you're sleeping is completely different and what you know ? How am I going to incorporate strength training into this in order to be able to run on fatigued legs and tired legs and run all that sort of stuff , and I had mentioned that this is kind of like the big thing . That's like driving me and exciting me is being in a season of doing things that challenge me and saying yes to things that I deemed that were not for me because of whatever rules that I put on myself , because I am very good at putting rules and regulations on myself that only apply to me .
Speaker 1I was talking about this on a run the other day , which was grace is reserved for other people , not for me , and that hits really deep close , because if I'm doing a training run with a friend and they are running a easier pace than I usually do , they may feel bad or they may say , oh , I'm sorry , I'm so much slower than you are , or whatever bullshit thing they say . I would never say that to them , but at the same time , if I was by myself and I was having a hard day , I would deem that grace was for them and not for me , and so I'm kind of really just fucking tired of saying no things or not doing things because of whatever reason thing I came up with , and so this is a big race that I'm going to be doing after Brooklyn , which is in May , and I'm kind of scared on how to create my own training plan that pairs well with a Ragnar race but still also allows me to enjoy all the other elements , and I'm also excited to see how many dogs or how much fun that I can really throw into this race , because I think that's the other now that I'm live thinking about this . So enjoy . This is how my brain works . One of the other things that's drawing me to it is they seem to be a very joyful and fun run . There are teams that are very fast , take it very seriously , and I'm excited to cheer on other people . I'm excited to find fun in this and enjoy the silliness or the weird moments of trying to get a two hour nap and eating food that is not a traditional nutrition gel . I'm excited to eat Pop-Tarts as my fuel , or Skittles or gummy worms or anything . So I'm excited to see if this is something
Introduction to Dogs Per Mile
Speaker 1that can open up a new world of running , a new world of fitness for me , and just see what they're all about , because people who do Ragnars fucking love them and I want to know why .
Speaker 1I want to see if this is something that is for me , because I've tried some things and they're for me . And there's some things that I tried and they aren't . And I just never tried this because of fear , because I didn't think I'd be good enough , because I didn't want to be uncomfortable . And if the start in the middle of this year have taught me anything is that I'm much fucking stronger than I realized . I can handle a lot more and I can be uncomfortable way more than I realized . And I want to take that . I want to pivot that pain and anger and everything that I've been going through this year and know that I'm fucking strong and I'm going to be able to train for this and I'm going to be a really valuable member of this team . That doesn't know me .
Speaker 1And I'm excited to do everything that steps me out of my comfort zone , of being around people I don't know , not worrying about what the fuck they're thinking about me running my own race , but also , at the same time , cheering everyone on and being just having the most fun . That is what I'm really excited for and doing it in New England , which is very special , very meaningful to me . It's where I'm from , so I am even more excited to be there in the fall and I'm really hopeful that it's going to be a good time . And if it's not , that's fucking fine . If I never do one again after this , that's fine . But at least I tried and that's what I hope you learn from this . I hope what you take away from this . You won't know if you hate it until you actually fucking do it , and I'm actually fucking doing it and I am really scared . I hope you enjoyed this little short catch up , quick little run with me and thank you so much . I appreciate you all , appreciate
Closing Thoughts and Community Connection
Speaker 1everything and everyone , and I'm so excited to create some new content and some new ideas and show you my training and figure out how you can train for this . Until the next one , I will see you out there on the run . Thanks for sharing another mile with me today .
Speaker 1Before you cool down , here are three quick ways to stay connected with our running community . First , hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this right now . It's the best way to make sure you never miss an episode . Second , if today's show helped you or inspired you . Please leave a review . Your words help other runners find their way to our community . Lastly , want more running adventures ? Follow at dogs per mile pod on Instagram , where I share daily motivation , behind the scenes moments and plenty of pictures of my two running coaches , yogi and Maple . Be sure to tag me in your run photos and use hashtag dogs per mile to share your own dog spotting stats . I love celebrating your victories , big and small , and thank you for being a part of this journey . Until our next run together , remember every step forward is progress and every dog you see is bonus motivation . Keep running , keep smiling and keep counting those dogs .
