Resources & Links
2026 Runner Packet
The official race bible — course details, leg distances, exchange info, rules, and cutoff times. Read it before race day.
Packing List
Official Ragnar Road packing checklist — everything each runner and van should bring.
Captain's Checklist
Captain-specific to-dos and deadlines leading up to and during the race.
Team Logistics Meeting Agenda (July 12)
Our meeting agenda & notes doc — rules, legs, exchanges, and logistics. Add your notes before we meet.
Key Contacts
Race Command: 661-724-6271
Text this number during the race to reach Ragnar staff. They also text important updates to your van through this system. Save it in all 6 phones before race day. Provide at least one phone number per van at check-in.
Race Director Info Session — July 24, 7:00 PM CST
Online AMA with the Race Director before race week. Good opportunity to ask course-specific questions.
Pre-Race Packet Pickup — Aug 6, 5:00–7:30 PM, Stillwater High School
Day before the race. Both vans can check in together or separately. All safety gear must be present at pickup. Saves time on race morning.
3-Strike DQ Policy
3 violations across the entire team = disqualification. Every person in the van is responsible. Know the rules. Brief everyone before race day.
Actions that earn a strike
- Running during night hours without required safety gear (vest + headlamp + taillight)
- Non-runner crossing a road without an orange safety flag
- Van stopping on a designated No Van Support leg
- Van arriving at a major exchange before the assigned hold time
- Runner using a restroom outside of designated facilities
- Inappropriate or offensive van decorations
- Failing to follow instructions from race staff
Night Safety Hours
Night hours: 8:00 PM – 6:30 AM
All safety gear is mandatory during this window. Hours can shift due to weather — monitor Race Command texts. When in doubt, gear up.
Active runner requirements during night hours
Reflective vest — worn, visible
Headlamp — on and illuminated, facing forward
Taillight — clipped to the back so cars see you from behind
Headlamp — on and illuminated, facing forward
Taillight — clipped to the back so cars see you from behind
Non-runners outside the van also need a safety vest during night hours
Anyone standing outside the vehicle at an exchange during night hours — whether cheering or just waiting — must be wearing a reflective vest. No exceptions.
Hold Times
If your van arrives at a major exchange before your assigned hold time, you will be held for 1 hour as a penalty. Check the official Ragnar pace calculator for your team's specific hold times.
Major exchanges with hold times
Hold times apply at: Start, Exchange 6, Exchange 12, Exchange 18, Exchange 24, Exchange 30, and the Finish. These are the major van handoff points where both vans converge. Don't show up early.
Pace Cutoff & Time Limit
FINISH-BY CUTOFF: every team must be across the finish line by 8:00 PM Saturday (Aug 8) — the official race time limit. Starting at 5:00 AM Friday, that gives us about 39 hours to cover all 201.7 miles.
Ragnar requires a team average of at least 11:00 min/mile to finish within the allowed time — the official minimum pace. Slower than that and the team risks being pulled or finishing past the 8:00 PM close.
Hard cutoff: cross the finish by 8:00 PM Saturday, Aug 8
Official race time limit is 8:00 PM Saturday, and Ragnar requires a team average of at least 11:00 min/mile to finish in time. Miss it and the team risks a DNF.
Our start: 5:00 AM — Friday, Aug 7, 2026
Start times are assigned by Ragnar ~4 weeks out based on our team's projected pace (slower teams start earlier). 5:00 AM is our planning assumption — confirm the official assignment when it arrives.
We're well under the cutoff
At our projected team average of about 9:37 / mile, the full 201.7 miles takes roughly 32.3 hours — starting 5:00 AM Friday puts us at the finish around 1:20 PM Saturday, about 6½ hours ahead of the 8:00 PM cutoff.
Exact cutoff times come from the official Race Bible
The hard per-exchange cutoff clock times and the finish-line closing time are published in the 2026 Road Minnesota Runner Packet and our assigned-start email. Use the figures here as a planning guide and confirm against the official packet.
On-Course Rules
Run against traffic — unless course signs say otherwise
Ragnar's standard road safety rule. Course signs will indicate exceptions for specific segments. All runners should know this before the starting gun.
Bib must be on the front, number clearly visible
Every runner must wear their bib on the front of their body during their leg. The number must be readable. This is checked at exchanges.
Orange crossing flags — required for non-runners crossing roads
Ragnar gives 2 orange flags per van at check-in. Any non-runner crossing a road must use one. Flags must be returned at the finish line. Don't lose them.
No Van Support legs — know them before race day
Certain legs prohibit the van from stopping, cheering, or handing off supplies to the runner. Check the runner packet for which legs are designated No Van Support. Stopping on these legs is an automatic strike.
Race Day Reminders
Arrive 1 hour before your wave start — mandatory safety briefing
Van must check in and attend a required 10–15 minute safety briefing at the start line. No briefing = no race. Don't cut it close.
The wristband IS the relay baton — do not lose it
Ragnar issues one wristband per team at check-in. It gets slapped onto the incoming runner at every exchange and is the only proof of relay continuity. Losing it is a serious problem. Designate a keeper.
Hot showers available at Exchange 24 — $2 cash
One known shower location on the course. Bring $2 in cash per person if you want to use them. Pack body wipes for all the other exchanges.
Cupless race — no cups provided anywhere on course
Water refill stations exist but Ragnar provides zero cups. Every runner needs their own reusable bottle or hydration pack. No exceptions — this isn't optional.
Van Requirements
Allowed: 12 or 15 passenger vans, large SUVs
Must fit in a standard parking space. Max dimensions: 6'6" wide, 20' long. Two vans per team total.
Not allowed: RVs, motorhomes, campers, trailers, buses, limos
These vehicles cannot enter exchange zones. If you show up in one, you'll be turned away. Stick to a standard 12 or 15 passenger van or a large SUV.
Volunteer Requirement
Our team must provide 1 volunteer (required for full relay teams, which includes ultra). No volunteer = the team is not allowed to race.
How to meet it — pick one
1) Recruit 1 volunteer (must be 16+, registers for a shift, brings their own transport/food/drink), 2) Pay $120 to opt out and let Ragnar recruit, 3) recruit an Exchange Manager (earns race credit), or 4) nominate a community group to manage an exchange.
Sign-up opens July 11 at 12:00 AM
The captain gets an email at midnight July 11 with the volunteer sign-up link — forward it to our volunteer (they'll need our team number). Do not sign up for them.
Exemption? Only if the whole team lives 100+ miles away
We're local, so this doesn't apply to us. Exemptions must be requested (not automatic) and require a complete roster with everyone's address & pace entered.
Event Day Logistics & Check-In
Event details are finalized closer to the event — always confirm against the latest Runner Packet.
Start & finish windows
Friday: start line opens 5:00 AM — reference your team's assigned start time. Saturday: finish line closes 8:00 PM.
Check-in at the start line
Van 1 receives runner bibs, a van number sticker, crossing flags, and a slap bracelet. Participant T-shirts are picked up at Exchange 6.
Age restrictions
Runners must be 12 or older. Anyone under 18 needs a parent/legal-guardian waiver. Any vehicle carrying a participant under 18 must have at least 1 adult (25+) aboard.
Pace requirement: 11:00 min/mile team average
Your team must average at least an 11-minute-per-mile pace to finish within the allowed timeline. (We project ~9:37 — comfortably under.)
Mandatory kit — presented at check-in
Official (full 12-person team): 4 headlamps/flashlights, 12 reflective vests, 4 LED tail lights (2 headlamps, 6 vests, 2 tail lights per van). ➡️ For our 6-person ULTRA team (1 van): 6 reflective vests, 2 headlamps, 2 tail lights.
Exchange Point Facilities
Start Line
Hydration · Van 1 & Ultra team check-in · Ragnar goodie bags (1 per team).
Exchange 6 — Stillwater High School
Van 2 check-in · race packet pickup & goodie bags (1/van) · Team T-shirts (Van 1 & 2) · Ragnar gear tent · partner tents/giveaways · Kona Ice & Bratwerks food trucks.
Exchange 12 — Running Aces
Massage therapist ($1/min — prep those legs) · Forest Lake Good Samaritans fundraiser (snacks, coffee, water $1–2, cash only) · Chill Vibes ice cream truck (cash/card) · medic tent.
Exchange 13 — Ragnar Leg
This ~12-mile leg gets people hungry — burgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks, candy. Runners who complete this "Ragnar Leg" earn a special medal.
Exchange 18 — Pine County Fairgrounds
Medic · hydration · outdoor sleeping · Moms Parkside Cafe (Southwest Chicken or Beef Rice Bowls $12, gluten-free, veg options) · Pizza Pub (pizza by the slice + fresh fruit cups).
Exchange 20 — Tobie's (Hinckley)
The iconic Tobie's: six-packs of famous caramel rolls & sticky buns, growlers of coffee. Pre-order: call 320-384-6174 to keep morale & energy high on the early-morning legs.
Exchange 24 — Willow River Schools
Medic · hydration · showers (limited — community showers in the school locker room, bring a towel; packet also notes $2 cash) · outdoor sleeping (football field) · indoor sleeping (gym) · Willow River Schools snacks & meals (PTO fundraiser).
Exchange 28 — TJ's Country Store (Mahtowa)
Famous breakfast brats & breakfast items. Deli offers pasta salads, hot meals, ice cream, jerky, bakery items. Grab first-aid items and Biofreeze from the grocery. Stock the van before the final push.
Exchange 30 — Carlton
Medic · hydration · outdoor & indoor sleeping · Magnolia Cafe (from 5:00 AM: Ragnar-themed breakfast burritos, bagels, fresh cinnamon rolls, muffins, ice cream).
Finish Line — Duluth Rose Garden
Check parking beforehand — there's no designated parking. Beer garden (Lake Superior Warriors & Ursa Minor) · one free pizza per van · Blue Sky Coffee & Johnny B's food truck · Ragnar gear store · partners & samples · finisher medals · team photos · DJ & games · medic tent.
What's Included
Included with registration
Finisher's medal · event T-shirts · post-race awards for top finishers · chip timing · first-aid stations · hydration stations · one free pizza per van · DJ & games · food available to purchase from local food trucks · partner tents & activities · route information.
Route Information
36 legs · St. Paul → Duluth
This epic journey starts in St. Paul and winds through quaint towns and beautiful lakes all the way to Duluth. The majority of the terrain is paved paths with plenty of shade. As the finish nears, so does the stunning view of Lake Superior — perfect for a dip after two days of tough running.