The new race organizer's mission isn't preserving our beloved MC200; they want to apply their cookie cutter approach to race organization. It is still going to be a blast, we just need to be sensitive to changes. (In addition to our race, which they label Chicago, there are 14 more Ragnar relays: Wasatch Back, Northwest Passage, Great River, Napa Valley, Washington DC, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida Keys, Del Sol, So Cal, Florida Central, New York, New England.)
Want details? See the Race Bible on the Ragnar website www.ragnarrelay.com ( http://tinyurl.com/3n5hny6 ) .
Just want the highlights? Here are what I consider the big changes:
1. There are numerous alterations to the course, including several new transition areas.
2. The "off" van is banned from the course.
3. Seven (7) legs are deemed "no support" which means the active van isn't allowed to come to the course. There will be at least 1 water station between exchanges for these legs. The legs: 4 (Brad), 5 (Jamie), 7 (Eric), 10 (Renee), 11 (Ed), 13 (Art) and 30 (Jeff).
4. Reflective vests must be worn when we leave the active van.
Why the changes? Ragner says it is the size of the race. Some of the old transition areas were too small to handle this year's 360 teams (more than twice the previous high). "No support" legs? There are safety concerns about letting a mass of vans onto the little side roads to root on our runners.
Ragnar says: "There will be 14 race officials monitoring all race rules along the course. Teams will be observed throughout the race to make sure they are following the rules. Teams will be notified by text message when a rule violation has occurred. If a team receives 3 violations they will be disqualified. Course marshals may also disqualify teams on the spot without prior warning for serious rule violations."
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