03-10-25 - Council Meeting Agenda Packet

Home Search

W RAGNAR Special Event Information - Ragnar Relay Minnesota The Ragnar Relay Minnesota is a 200-mile-long distance running relay race proposed to start in St. Paul and end in Duluth August 8-9, 2025. Runners will experience "Minnesota Nice" on a scenic course that runs north on miles and miles of roads and trails! We anticipate 230 teams comprised of 12 individuals and 2 vehicles ("Ultra" teams have 6 participants and 1 vehicle), therefore we expect about 2,500 participants in total, but only 230 or less runners spread over 30-50 miles of course at any given time. Teams take turns running relay style to complete the course, picking up a runner and dropping off the next runner at each of the 36 exchange points along the course. Parking/Traffic Flow: • Ragnar teams start in waves staggered from 5:00 am —1:00 pm to spread participants along the course, allowing about an 8-10 hour time frame to pass through communities. • We anticipate less than 300 parking spots during our peak hours for Ragnar vehicles at major exchanges. Throughout most of the race, you can expect only 30-60 vehicles onsite. Each team is responsible for providing two support vehicles, with six runners in each vehicle. The first vehicle will drop off the first runner at the start, and then proceed to the first exchange point. At the first exchange, the vehicle will drop off the second runner and pick up the first runner when that runner's leg is complete. Teams will repeat this pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging pattern will continue all the way to the finish line. Race Personnel Onsite: • Ragnar will have an exchange manager and volunteers present during the entire race at each exchange point. Additionally, Ragnar staff will be present throughout the event to ensure everything is running smoothly. Sanitation and Garbage Disposal: • Ragnar will provide portable toilets at all exchanges. • Ragnar staff and volunteers will manage all trash clean up. A trash dumpster will be provided to collect team trash and will be removed after the event. Safety, Emergencies and First Aid Runner safety is of foremost concern. Before entering the course, teams must go through a safety gear check and training. All runners sign waivers acknowledging that the course includes areas where there may be traffic congestion and that they must obey race rules, which require observance of all applicable traffic rules and regulations. Runners and community residents can notify Ragnar through the Ragnar Race Command number, 661- RAGNAR-1 (661-724-6271), with any concerns of problems along the course. Medical personnel are at each Major Exchange point, approximately every 25-35 miles of the course. If a runner encounters a first aid issue at a minor exchange, they are to proceed to the closest major exchange to be treated. In the event of an emergency, runners are directed to contact 911 and then notify Ragnar staff. W RAGNAR