Rank Stranger tip - Ragnar shuffles the course

Second-year race manager Ragnar is putting its mark on the Madison-Chicago relay with the most significant course changes in race history. Largely unchanged since race inception in 2005, this year will see changes to 14 of the 36 legs and shuffling of 6 other legs (same route, different runner).

In many cases we'll run the same road, just change transition spots.

The most significant impact is the lengthening of the overnight shifts so there'll be more time for sleep. The shift Van #2 starts at about 11pm Friday will be lengthened as well as the subsequent shift by Van #1. Van #2's shift lengthens from 25 to 31 miles (that's 45 minutes to an hour more downtime for Van #1!) and Van #1 has 4 more miles -- 30 to 34. That's going to be precious.

There is now parity in the mileage for rotation #3. Last year it was 41 miles for van #2 to 30 for van #1 and this year it is Van #1 34 and Van #2 32 miles.

The 9.9 mile leg that Kim Hill ran for Rank Strangers last year (leg #32) doesn't have an equal. That leg has been whittled downto 6 miles. The longest legs in 2012 are 8.2 miles (#9) and 8 miles (#6 and #36).

Last year there were 5 runs of 8 or more miles. This year just three. (14 legs of 6 or more miles last year; 13 such legs in 2012).

Another big change is the downgrade of St Andrew Lutheran Church in Racine from a van transition area to a regular transition area. Now we'll sleep at the Racine YMCA on the lakefront ("showers, sleeping and food located here" it says on the race guide) but we'll never forget the charm and hospitality of the church. All those nooks, crannies, offices, prayer rooms, nurseries, youth rooms and sanctuary. Pizza and hot dogs at 4AM.

The biggest change in the pre-Ragnar days was the addition -- and then removal -- of the loop around the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest operating auto-racing track in the United States, located on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in West Allis. That was in the MC200 days.

The attached chart details the changes, comparing the length of the 2011 legs with the 2012 versions, last year's runners and the tentative plan for 2012.

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Rank Stranger trivia: The Rank Stranger runners with more than 30 relay miles: 1. Eric 133.8, 2. Jeff 129.1, 3. Art 100.1, 4. Mark 98.2, 5. Marc G. 69.8, 6. Renee 61, 7. Holly 59.3, 8. Pete 54.2, Steve H. 54.2, 10. Randy 45.6, 11. Martin 42.5, 12. Chris 36.7, 13. Kim 35.8, 14. Anne 33.9. 15. Debra 30.5.