Course update!

Well, the course was driven yesterday, and if things shape up it should be a brutal course, but could have some fast times depending on the wind. The roads were 100% passable in a front wheel drive wagon (driven capably by an ex-Rally driver). But the minimum maintenance roads could be a slog. In fact depending on how things dry out and if the county decides to start re-graveling lots of the roads could be a slog.

Here is a picture from one of the roads:

Not too bad eh?

If you are looking for info on the tulip notes, we will have some stuff posted on them sometime this weekend (I will be out of town for work until Saturday). If you really have a hankering for crafting up a card holder, the dimensions and style will be the same as last year. A quartered 8.5 x 11 sheet (so roughly 4.25 wide by 5.5 high) will be the ticket yet again.

Hope the training is going well!

Some Details on the Race Day for those who are wondering

Hi again

On race day (April 18th!) registration will open at 6:30 am in Colville Park in Red Wing, MN. The main parking lot area will be where we convene. The official starting line will be the Dog Poop sign again. I think that there was a port-a-potty style bathroom at the start last year, but not certain

The start of the race will be 7:30 am sharp.

The First Checkpoint will be at roughly the halfway mark. The same park in Zumbro Falls will be the meeting area. There will be outside support allowed at this point, and this point only! This is a change from last year. The second checkpoint will not allow outside support. If you are not checked in at the Zumbro Falls checkpoint by 2:30 pm you will not get the second half course tulip notes.

There will be another checkpoint along the way with about 25 miles to go. This one is for our own sanity so we know where people are on the course. NO outside help or support will be allowed here.

The race will finish at the same place that the race started. Colvill Park. You must be at the finish line (dog poop sign again) by 7:30 to complete the race officially.

Here are the towns you will go through and what you can expect to see in the way of amenities:

Red Wing (start and finish) - hotels, gas stations, etc. No gas stations or convenience stores are on the route until the last mile or so. Also has a hospital, Peebles store and (2) Subways for some reason.

Zumbro Falls (Checkpoint 1) - two convenience stores and a couple of bars that may provide a decent burger

Millville - no stores or bathrooms or parks are on the course or even in Millville

Lake City - a convenience store will be on the route, there are also fast food opportunities a few blocks off the course and we'll be rolling right past a medical center.

There will be at least 55 or so miles without easy refueling so be prepared with enough water and food. The weather last year was about freezing and WINDY. Brutal. The week before it was about 70 and sunny. Could be warmer, could be rainy... could be snowing... BE PREPARED! You are responsible for you. 

More reports from out on the course tomorrow probably.

Official Race Roster Part Deux

Alrighty... April 18th is gettin' closer... if you have gotten a confirmation email from one of the Ragnarok directors and your name isn't on this list, let me know at igiesen at charter dot net . Thanks all...

In alphabetical order (last initial):

xBakken, Justin - Open M

xBekke, Tim - Open M

xBell, Pete - Open M

xBerrigan, Corie - Open F

xBoehnlein, Michael - Open M

xBraasch, Grant - Open M

xBraun, Craig - SS M

xBruessel, Brent - Open M

xDittmer, Dan - Open M

xDukek, Brian - Open M

xEk, Tim - Open M

xElson, Brandt - Open M

xEverstone, Hurl - Open M

xFarrow, Charlie - Open M

xFischer, Todd - Open M

xFredrickson, Eric - SS M

xFry, Jeremy - Open M

xGoetzelman, Steve - Open M

xGoltz, Caleb - Open M

xGrabowski, Anne - Open F

xHaberman, Paul - Open M

xHansen, Dan - Open M

xHansen, Scott - Open M

xHaraldson, Scott - Open M

xHargrove, Ross - Open M

xHerringer, Zachary - Open M

xJargo, Kevin - Open M

xJeppeson, Shawn - Open M

xKarow, Eddie - Open M

xKershaw, Jeremy - SS M

xKinderman, Scott - Open M

xKing, Susannah - Open F

xKrizek, Elliott - Open M

xLambert, Andy - Open M

xLarson, Dave - Open M

xLarson, Marty - Open M

xLavell, Josh - Open M

xLawrence, Matt - Open M

xLawrencre, Troy - Open M

xMeiser, Joe - Open F

xMeyer, David - Open M

xMontgomery, Margaret - Open F

xMontgomery, Monty - Open M

xMuraski, Mark - Open M

xMuraski, Matt - Open M

xMillner, Chad - Open M

xNancekivell, Ian - Open M

xNickles, Ray - Open M

xNovak, Jason - Open M

xO'Cary, Neil - Open M

xOswald, Nick - SS M

xPalmer, Jim - Open M

xPerry, Brad - Open M

xPeterson, Josh - Open M

xPitts, Justin - Open M

xPramann, David - Open M

xPrudhom, Jason - Open M

xRegenold, Stephen - Open M

xRobb, JJ - Open M

xRosenberg, Andrew - Open M

xRyan, Pete - Open M

xSauber, Larry - Open M

xSauber, Lonie - Open M

xSauber, Rebecca - Open F

xSaul, Ron - Open M

xSchneider, Joshua - Open M

xShepherd, Bob - Open M

xSime, Eric - SS M

xSkogen, Chris - Open M

xStock, Pete - Open M

xStruve, Jesse - Open M

xTenge, Ryan - Open M

xTri, Charly - Open M

xVosberg, Roy - SS M

xWaxmonsky, Nicole - Open F

xWeisbrod, Heath - SS M

xWorley, TC - SS M

xZipfel, Jeff - SS M

CREEPING CLOSER!!!

Hopefully all of the lucky ones who are in for the '09 edition have been training. We have a few additions and changes from last year's course that should make for some added fun times. Yes, there may be a few more hills.... (in Mr. Burns's voice) Excellent.....

Conditions on course last Saturday:

Yes, that is a minimum maintenance road, and yes that is 3-4 inches of snow on it. At least two sections of min. maintenance road that you will have to contend with. I would guess by the middle of April the snow will be gone (but what will be in it's place???? those who finished last year remember what can happen.... mwah ha ha haaaa).

Final, Final, Updated, Final, Official Roster will be posted later this week. If you haven't heard from me in one way shape or form via email consider yourself unlucky and not in. Sorry!

2 Months, 18 days!!! hope your riding!

Sorry about the lack of updates... truthfully not much to say.

With the beautiful weather we were treated with yesterday I managed to hop on the steed and get a ride in. The roads we mostly frozen, the tops of the hills were PB. Min maintenance road still have snowmobile traffic on them (that was scary). I did manage to snap some pics I'll get them posted up soon.

Safe riding!

Just incase you need something to look at.

These are not to recent, as you can see there is no snow.

I think we're "full"

Hi all...

1) Maybe I'm just naive, but I'm a bit shocked at how fast 50 slots have filled up. Thanks! We must have done something right last year.

2) If you showed up last year, with the weather as it was, to race and don't see you name on the list (haven't gotten a confirmation email from me either) don't fret. We are opening up additional slots for you. We will know who you are. Let's say.... have a card in the mail by Dec. 31st and your spot will still be there. Yes we'll be over 50, but they are our rules, so we can break them.

3) If you want to be put on a waiting list, let me know (via postcard). Invariably there will be quite a few people dropping out as spring rolls around so all isn't lost.

Again, a big thanks to those who have entered. This is still only the second year for this race so we're still getting comfortable with the logistics. In future years we may open the race up to more folks, but for now it is what it is. Thanks again and have a happy halloween!