The Wildcat Running Club ran from Prescott to Mesa in the Ragnar Relay del Sol, which began Friday afternoon, continued overnight and ended Saturday afternoon. 

The club began running at 1 p.m. Friday and continued until 1:30 p.m. the next day. They finished ahead of ASU’s team, but the overall results will not be announced for a few weeks.

The club’s team consisted of 12 runners and two drivers.

Each runner ran three legs of the race, which varied in difficulty. Drivers were responsible for dropping off and picking up runners. The relay spanned 202 miles and included live music.

“”It’s just fun to get out and run in new places, and it’s also fun to go through the experience with your friends,”” said evolutionary biology junior Natasha Mazumdar, who also participated in Ragnar last year.

The club had been preparing for the run since December and members were excited to participate, according to Kevin Maghran, an engineering management junior and vice president of the Wildcat Running Club.

“”I wanted to participate in Ragnar because it is pushing my body to its limit, I have never ran so far or much in a race,”” said geosciences junior Christine Willmott. “”Ragnar will also give me a chance to visit more of Arizona since I am originally from Illinois.””

The club did extensive training to prepare.

According to Maghran, on Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends the team focused on long distance runs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they worked on improving speed and form. Fridays the club tried to do unusual runs, such as running downtown, or up and down the stairs of all seven UA parking garages twice.

Willmott said she and another running club member injured themselves in preparation for the race.

“”According to my doctor, I increased my mileage too fast and have tendinitis in my right ankle,”” Willmott said. “”I guess that’s a warning to novice runners.””

Want to join the Wildcat Running Club?

Fill out an assumption of risk form and the Wildcat Running Club roster paperwork, located on the club’s Web site: sites.google.com/site/uofarunningclub under the resources tab.

For more information, students can e-mail Wildcat Running Club President Ryan Swearingen ryan22@email.arizona.edu or Vice President Kevin Maghran at kmaghran@email.arizona.edu.