Saint Mary’s Ragnar team has smurfing good time

The SMUrfs gathered for a photo. Not pictured is Peggy Johnson.

Saint Mary's faculty and staff members were part of a team that completed the 2013 Great River Ragnar relay race Aug. 16-17. The SMUrfs (SMU Running Fools) donned blue and white Smurf costumes on the 203-mile trek from Winona to Minneapolis, via Wisconsin and Stillwater, Minn.

Each participant ran three legs of the journey, averaging 15-20 miles per runner. Saint Mary's team members included Dorothy Diehl, Randy Krainock, Rob Gordon, Steve Pattee, Trisha Karr, Dean Beckman and SMU alumnae Kelly Momsen. Peggy Johnson and John Schollmeier drove the support vehicles. Non-SMU runners on the team included Diehl’s daughter Erin Buchanan, Phil Cochran’s wife Michelle,  Pattee’s wife Deb, along with Megan O'Connell and Kathryn Stangstalien.

The SMUrfs won first place for best team name among more than 300 entries. All of the “Running Fools” reported having a Smurfing good time!