3 Things the Ragnar Relay Taught Us About Teamwork and Tenacity
As IT people who derive joy from looking at computers and phones, we weren’t all that surprised to read on RagnarRelay.com that Americans average more than seven hours of screen time per day but only four minutes outdoors. The Ragnar Relay Series combats those statistics by encouraging runners to build connections both with each other and with nature over the course of 200 miles. Teams of four to twelve people split the distance into segments, and each member runs three legs of the race that vary in length.
As an IT service provider that emphasizes culture and community, Concept Technology Inc. jumped at the opportunity to participate, but we were skeptical that we would be capable of running from Chattanooga to Nashville. After two days and one night with lots of laughing and little sleep, we covered 200 miles and conquered a challenge that couldn’t have been done alone.
The Relay was exhilarating and exhausting, and it taught us three lessons about teamwork and tenacity that we can apply in our office:
- The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
We’ve all heard that phrase from some high school math teacher, but we proved it true as we took turns running across Middle Tennessee. When we were first asked to run 200 miles, it seemed impossible. Even when we were asked to run just a few legs of all those miles, we were doubtful – IT technicians are not typically associated with athleticism. But when it came time to do it, we were able to run more individually because of what the team was doing as a whole. Three miles that would have been grueling alone on a treadmill became invigorating with our coworkers cheering each other on.
- Good things come to those who work.
Once our team had signed up, there was no turning back. We trained for months, running in unbearable heat and after long workdays. We put in the work because we were accountable to our teammates. On the days when our legs felt like Jell-O and we wondered why we had registered in the first place, it was helpful to remember that half a mile today would make next week’s mile easier.
- Every person counts.
None of us could have accomplished our goal without the help of the others. Those who ran the least were equally as important as those who ran the most because even 100 yards could have left us short of the finish line. We ran 200 miles cumulatively, and we relied on one another to get the team from Chattanooga to Nashville.
After a post-run party, we unlaced our shoes and iced our legs, happy to be back in Nashville having conquered Middle Tennessee. We were glad to be done running, but the race has stayed at the forefront of our minds as we apply the lessons we learned in the workplace. At Concept Technology, we function cohesively to deliver results that we could not achieve alone. We work hard to deliver top-of-the-line services to our clients, and we appreciate the value that each team member contributes to our company.
To see more photos from the relay, click here.
