Ragnar 2012 (Before the RACE)

A little bit about Ragnar
Ragnar was a 9th century Norse King. He was a pirate, a raider, a conqueror, an explorer, and a wild man. The tough, fearless, rugged attributes of this Norse King are shared by all who participate in a Ragnar Relay.

1. Each team consists of 12 runners in 2 different vans
2. Each runner "runs/jogs/walks" 3 different "legs"
3. The race starts in Logan and ends in Park City (going through Hyrum, Liberty, Eden, Huntsville, Mtn. Green, Peterson, Milton, Morgan, Richville, Porterville, Henefer, Coalville, Wanship, Peoa, Oakley, Kamas, Francis, Heber City, Charleston, Midway, Deer Valley)
4. 197.4 miles total
5.  Teams (about 50 - 100 at a time) start at different times (5am to 5pm) with slower teams starting before faster teams.  There are 1127 teams this year (2012) with 97% of them having 12 members.  Do the math........that is approximately 13,524 runners.  Wow !!
6.  The team that Zac and Landon are on is #28, and is called "The Interweb Sheep Shippers". They will be starting on Friday the 15th of June at 10 am in Logan.
7.  The average team pace is about 11 minute miles (or 5.5 mph).  Jen Largent the team captain estimates that their team will finish about 4 pm on Saturday (or there about).
8. We are going to try and catch our boys running at least two of their different legs. (see below)
9. The Ragnar Race comes right by our house, it's been such a fun thing to watch each year.  The first runners usually start coming by our house about 3 or 4 pm on Friday and continue on throughout the night.  As we lay in our bed with the windows open (we don't have A/C), we can hear the slap slap of shoes on the pavement, and see the bobbing headlamps in the night.



Here's how it will go down for the boys.......
*Notes taken from RAGNAR manual

Landon - LEG 7 – 4 miles (Easy)
Beginning at Liberty Town Park (Nordic Valley Way & 4100 N/SR-162)
Ending at Ogden Valley Montessori School (5460 E. 2200 N. Eden)

Enjoy this leg into the unincorporated town of Eden. And yes, it was named after the garden.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be attentive when crossing the busy 4-way intersection at Maverik and Valley Market. Police Officers will be here to assist you.






Zac - LEG 10 - 3.8 miles (Easy)
Beginning at Woody’s Field (100 S. 8600 E, Hunstville)
Ending at intersection of Ogden Canyon Road/Old Snowbasin Road)

This leg continues through Huntsville. Huntsville is nestled at just under 5000 ft in elevation and is home to about 700 residents. Many of who think we’re crazy for running all day and all night in pink tutu’s and Captain America costumes. A huge shout out to Mayor Truett of Huntsville for running with us this year! Give Team ‘Huntsville High & Low Landers’ some love if you see them along the course.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Runners, you’ll see some coning on this leg of the race. Please stay on the ‘shoulder’ side of that coning and do not run in the lane of traffic. The coning is there to separate you from the vehicles.
Also, be attentive when crossing Trapper’s Loop Road. An officer will be here to assist you.





Landon - LEG 19 - 3.6 miles (Moderate)
Beginning at East Canyon Marina
Ending at Morgan/Summit County line

A short uphill then a seven-mile descent takes you into the town of Henefer. The folks in Henefer will most likely be sleeping when you come through town, so try to keep the cheering to a minimum.






Zac - LEG 22 – 7.5 miles (Hard)
Beginning at North Summit High School
Ending at Rail/Trail parking near Spring Chicken Inn in Wanship

More running on the Rail Trail. Honey Buckets will have a toilet or two at the halfway mark here too. This trail runs through the quiet towns of Hoytsville & Wanship. Coal & Silver ore were transported along this very route when the region was in its mining heyday.
TIP: The trail is dark and rocky. Bring a pacer to accompany you along this stretch at night. Some runners also find it helpful to run with additional light. In addition to your headlamp, carry a flashlight too. Also check the batteries in your headlamp, weak batteries can lead to weak light from your headlamp.





Landon - LEG 31 - 4.1 miles (Easy)
Beginning at Rocky Mountain Middle School (800 W. School House Way, Heber City)
Ending at LDS Chapel (3413 W. 3400 S. Charleston)

Welcome to Charleston! This town has a total square area of only 1.9 miles and 10% of that is water! Let’s hope we don’t have any flooding this year. Enjoy this relatively flat and short run through scenic Heber Valley. IMPORTANT NOTE: There are a couple busy intersections on this leg. Be careful as you cross them. Also be aware crossing the train tracks.





Zac - LEG 34 - 4.0 miles (Very Hard)
Beginning 3 miles up Pine Canyon Road in Wasatch State Park
Ending at the Park City/Brighton Road sign

This is it. The leg that started it all and brought ‘RAGNAR’ to life. The most challenging leg on this course and any of the entire Ragnar Relay Series! 1700 feet of elevation climb in just 4 miles takes you to almost 8900 feet above sea level. The rest of your team will thank you for tackling this beast! This Leg as well as leg 33 will both be timed.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Same as Leg 33, this is seriously steep and dusty. Be prepared. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Watch your runner on this leg to make sure they are okay. Medical personnel will be available here as well. We’ll have a Park City Fire Ambulance and MountainStar Medical Tent. Due to one way traffic on this road, please proceed up Guardsman if you need medical help, instead of trying to go back down it. Be aware that much of this leg does not have cell phone coverage. HAM Radio operators and Park City Fire will be at this exchange to help and reach out to any other need emergency personnel.
VANS – Drive slowly on dirt sections of this road to create less dust for runners. Due to the very limited parking at this exchange and the next one, please move along quickly. IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a very steep, very dusty and difficult leg with 1500 feet of elevation gain ending at about 7200 feet above sea level. Be prepared. Hydrate! Watch your runners on this leg, especially if we have warm weather. Medical personnel are stationed at Exchange 33 & Exchange 34. Due to the one way traffic on this road, it is best to proceed up, rather than down Guardsman. Be aware that much of Guardsman does not have cell phone coverage. HAM Radio operators and Wasatch County EMS will have radios at the Exchange points.

TIP: Do not underestimate the difficulty of this leg!