Even though I’ve had a few days to recover from being a member of #TeamPumpedUpKicks from Reach The Beach, I’m still wrapping my head around the event.

Reach The Beach, New Hampshire, Ragnar, Relay Race

It was a whirlwind trip with a ton of experiences and I’ve found that it’s been exceptionally difficult to get the words together so today, I’ll share the 12 lessons I learned overall and I’ll recap the relay itself tomorrow.

 

1.  New Balance really is all about quality:

  • From being the only major athletic shoe company that manufactures athletic footwear in the US –

New Balance

 

  • To every aspect of product development, quality control and design innovation
New Balance, Kim Conley

In the Design Lab, the Smash Lab and a pair of track shoes for USA Track & Field Star, Kim Conley.

 

  • To treating their Media team like royalty:
New Balance, Reach The Beach

I’m a dork. I’ve never had someone hold up a sign to pick me up at the airport.

 

2.  Boston is all heart.  You fall in love with Boston – even if you’re there for less than 24 hours.

 

Boston Blood Drive

 

 

3.  Proper running shoes (that just happen to be cute) makes running #allthemiles a little bit easier.  

New Balance Shoes, Reach The Beach Relay

Duran Duran bling optional for some, essential for others.

 

4.  Cell service is everything: Social media > GPS.  Shoddy service makes people (read: me) stabby.

 

Twitter fail,

Instafail

 

5.  Sleep deprived runners can be transformed into human beings with food and coffee (or hot chocolate).

Allie, VitaTrain4Life, Reach The Beach

Coffee

 

6.  Vanmate encouragement should be bottled as Super Hero Juice – it can make someone conquer fears of altitude, distance and the elements.

 

BarefootColorado, Marissa L, Reach The Beach

Marissa@BarefootColorado killed beastly hills and still managed to smile. Incredible!  Image: Melissa@SoTheseAreMyThirties.

 

7.  New Hampshire is incredibly picturesque – but also very hilly.

 

Reach The Beach, NH, Attitash

…and you sleep whenever you can.

 

8.  This is “Pimp My Ride” Relay style.

Reach The Beach, New Balance, Team Pumped Up Kicks

 

9.  Gear: You will always pack too much, Night Glow Yellow is fashionable and you will walk around like this in public because you just don’t care:

socks

 

10. Must haves: Ziploc Plastic Bags, Action Wipes, Skratch Hydration (affiliate link), Pretzels, Aquaphor and BarkThins.

skratch labs

I love this hydration mix. Flavor without sweetness. Thank you Kia Ruiz for letting me try some during Ragnar SoCal.

 

12.  You can go from a beach in New Hampshire, to the airport in Boston, to a bed in LA in less than 12 hours and survive.

Reach The Beach Travel

12.  2 vans, 12 people and 207 miles of a relay can turn running into a team sport (inspired by the words of Sandra@OrganicRunnerMom).

 

Reach The Beach

A happy but tired Team Pumped Up Kicks at the Finish Line in Hampton Beach.

 

…and after all is said and done, I’d still do it all over again.

 

Disclosure:  While New Balance did sponsor me for this relay, providing travel/lodging, gear and race registration, this is not a sponsored post.  I did not receive monetary compensation and I am not obligated to write this post.  All opinions expressed here are my own.