It was 55 degrees in a New England fall fog when 13-year-old Jonathan Glier made Ragnar history.
Son of Florence residents David and Amy Glier, Glier completed his 12th Ragnar relay race in 12 months Oct. 23, earning him the title of the youngest-ever recipient of the Ragnar Immortal Award.
What's a Ragnar relay race? Up to 12 relay runners can complete three legs in a Ragnar relay race, which all told equals around 200 miles. Glier completed his 13.4-mile portion of that October race in 23 hours and 47 minutes.
Only a rare few ever earn the Ragnar Immortal Award by completing 12 regional Ragnar relay runs in as many months. At the finish, runners become “Immortals,” receiving a four-pound, 15-x-15-inch metal around their necks. The medal is bigger than Jonathan’s head but didn't come close to the determination needed to complete those races.
That drive is genetic.
His maternal grandfather Randy Ryan Sr. and uncle Randy Ryan have earned the award before, being featured in Runner's World magazine in 2017.
On Oct. 30, grandpa and uncle Randy stood beside him to receive their own 2021 Ragnar Immortal Awards.
Jonathan said his grandpa Randy inspired him to run with some 5K races early on.
“First time we ran together was the 2018 Flying Pig. He was just 9,” his grandfather said. “I never ran a damn thing in my life and a guy at work mentioned these races. So I called my son and we did our first one in 2011. Then it kind of took on a life of its own.”
David Glier, of Glier's Meats and Glier's Goettafest fame, thinks running comes as naturally to Jonathan as combining sausage and oats for goetta.
“When it comes to competition, he's like an eel through water,” he said.
Jonathan has his family's support but they used the experience as a character-building opportunity.
When the family learned a previous 2020 “remote” Ragnar race counted toward his 2021 tally, his grandfather made Jonathan toss that out of his total and complete 12 races in one year
If it takes 12 races to earn it, you're going to do the 12 runs to earn it.” Randy Sr. told him.
Jonathan shrugged at the notion of extra work.
“I got excited when I realized I can get this and possibly be the youngest one to get the award. I try not to worry about all the traveling or what if this happens or that happens? It can be overwhelming,” he said.
Jonathan is a straight-A student at RA Jones Middle School, runs on his school's cross country team, has a green belt in karate, serves as a student ambassador in his community and plays the violin and alto saxophone.
He offers advice to young or new runners. “Start small. Don't think you have to run 10 miles a day to be great.”
Is that required to catch up to an Immortal? Jonathan grins looking at his grandfather, whose arms are folded, looking to the heavens with the same grin upon his face almost as if to say, “It’s a good start.”
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