12 unstoppable women over 40. 1 of them being pregnant! 200 miles. 36 legs. 23,800 elevation gain. 2 vans. 2 drivers. Very few hours of sleep. A non-stop laugh fest.
There is a specific kind of madness that sets in around 3:00 AM on a California shoulder. It’s the smell of extra-strength deodorant, the crinkle of family-sized pretzel bags, and the rhythmic thump-thump of a runner’s stride hitting the pavement in the pitch black.
We are the Runaway Moms. Twelve women, two drivers, and two vans packed with more grit (and rollers and massage guns) than should be legally allowed. We descended upon the coast from Oakland, CA, Chico, CA, and the Colorado Rockies, leaving behind jobs, families, school lunches, drop offs & pick ups for a different kind of labor: the Ragnar Relay from San Diego, CA to Huntington Beach, CA.
You can’t survive 200 miles without a very specific ecosystem of personalities. Here is the Runaway roster:
Noelle - The Captain: Fearless leader, keeps us moving
Bénédicte - The Driver Van 2 & Light Chaser. Everyone’s #1 Fan and official photographer for the group
Cherie - The Ringleader: Master of the color-coded spreadsheet
Emily - The Workhorse: Crushes elevation without breaking sweat
Laura - The Hype-Girl: 2 AM dance parties with tequila shots guaranteed
Lisa - The Sweet Provider: Pocket-sized brownies, literal lifesaver
Natalie - The Navigator and The Driver Van 1: Can read maps while sleep-deprived
Anne - The Anchor: Finished strong, despite zero sleep
Jess - The Zen Master: Calm amidst the van-stinky chaos
Alisa - The Gear Guru: Always has an extra sock
Servane - The Comic Relief: Keeps us laughing through blisters
Rebekah - The Early Bird: First one up, always ready
Christine - The Comeback Kid: Ran through the literal pain
Terra - The Powerhouse: Running for two; absolute legend
A relay isn't about the individual PR; it’s about the community of the van, getting out of our comfort zone and mostly making memories. It’s that instant, unscripted sisterhood where a woman you didn't know an hour ago is suddenly leaning in to help you fix your gear—as if you’ve been teammates for years. It’s the screenshots of our 100+ message text thread titled “Slow down!! We are still sleeping!!” As one of our moms put it during a particularly grueling hand-off near Carlsbad: "I didn't come here to run fast; I came here to remember who I am when I'm not making dinner."
The visuals weren't polished. They were raw. They were iPhones propped up on dashboards, bra life shots of damp sports bras hanging from the van’s clothes hooks like colorful flags of surrender, and the collective passing out on the sand at the finish line in Huntington Beach.
Before we hit the road, the Title Nine team did a deep dive with us. They didn't just send boxes; they sat down with us (virtually and otherwise) to map out our bra-scape. We had different bodies, different needs—racer backs for the high-impact sprints, wireless comfort for the long hours spent cramped in the van, and sizes that actually accounted for real mom life.
The reviews are in:
"The racer back is ultimate set-it-and-forget-it gear. It distributes weight perfectly across the back, so I didn't end the race with the usual neck strain.”
- Emily
"The adjustable straps were a game-changer for me. I could tighten the support right before my leg started and loosen it back up for the long drives between exchange points. I can’t wait to use them during the rest of the pregnancy and beyond.”
- Terra
T9 recommended the High-Support Model for me. This one is the gold standard for zero bounce. It feels like a second skin that locks everything in place. Even during the frantic exchange zones, I never had to adjust it once.”
- Rebekah
The reviews are in:
"The racer back is ultimate set-it-and-forget-it gear. It distributes weight perfectly across the back, so I didn't end the race with the usual neck strain.”
- Emily
"The adjustable straps were a game-changer for me. I could tighten the support right before my leg started and loosen it back up for the long drives between exchange points. I can’t wait to use them during the rest of the pregnancy and beyond.”
- Terra
T9 recommended the High-Support Model for me. This one is the gold standard for zero bounce. It feels like a second skin that locks everything in place. Even during the frantic exchange zones, I never had to adjust it once.”
- Rebekah
By the time we hit Huntington Beach, we were salt-crusted and totally delirious. But as we crossed that final timing mat together—a sea of Runaway Moms in mismatched gear and tired smiles—the why became clear. It wasn’t about the miles. It was about thewomen, the connections we had made and about the memories. We chugged that post-race beer, swapped stories of the hills and rain storms weconquered, and immediately started planning the next one! Because once you've survived a van with 13 other women for 36 hours, you're not just a team—you're a movement! It’s finally our moment, and we’re taking it right now!
By the time we hit Huntington Beach, we were salt-crusted and totally delirious. But as we crossed that final timing mat together—a sea of Runaway Moms in mismatched gear and tired smiles—the why became clear. It wasn’t about the miles. It was about thewomen, the connections we had made and about the memories. We chugged that post-race beer, swapped stories of the hills and rain storms weconquered, and immediately started planning the next one! Because once you've survived a van with 13 other women for 36 hours, you're not just a team—you're a movement! It’s finally our moment, and we’re taking it right now!
Bénédicte Lassalle doesn’t just take photos; she captures the grit, the grace, and the wind-blown reality of a life lived outdoors.
Bénédicte isn’t interested in the perfectly posed.
She’s looking for the sweat on the brow after a 10-mile climb and the raw, unpolished magic of a moment caught mid-stride. Based in Oakland, CA,
Bénédicte has turned her lens into a powerhouse for storytelling. Whether she’s chasing her daughter on her bike across France or documenting the quiet strength of a group of women hiking and backpacking, her work her work is a masterclass in authenticity.
Bénédicte Lassalle doesn’t just take photos; she captures the grit, the grace, and the wind-blown reality of a life lived outdoors.
Bénédicte isn’t interested in the perfectly posed.
She’s looking for the sweat on the brow after a 10-mile climb and the raw, unpolished magic of a moment caught mid-stride. Based in Oakland, CA,
Bénédicte has turned her lens into a powerhouse for storytelling. Whether she’s chasing her daughter on her bike across France or documenting the quiet strength of a group of women hiking and backpacking, her work is a masterclass in authenticity.
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