Ragnar Relay Series presented by NordicTrack, one of the fastest growing endurance races across the United States, today announced its first international race with the debut of the Ragnar Relay Niagara Ontario event in Canada.
 
This 200-mile, two-day, overnight team relay event will be held June 14-15, 2013 in Ontario. It will start on the northwest coast of Lake Ontario in Cobourg, Ontario. Teams of 12 (or six if an ultra team) will head west and south, passing through multiple towns and communities in the metropolitan Toronto area. Once runners reach the Burlington area, they'll begin heading east towards the finish line area of Niagara Falls. Running primarily along the Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario throughout a large amount of the course, runners will experience the beauty Lake Ontario, and also pass through Ontario's wine country near Niagara on the Lake and St. Catharines.
 
“In 2004, we set out to create an experience where people of all ages and experience levels could participate in Ragnar to connect as a team, conquer a 200 mile challenge and celebrate together,” said Tanner Bell, co-founder of Ragnar Relay Series. “It's been a thrill to see hundreds of thousands of people participate and create lasting memories at events across the US, and today to be able to take the Ragnar Relay experience to Canada as the first of many international races to come!”
 
As part of this inaugural event, Ragnar Relay Series will partner with the Toronto-based Waterfront Regeneration Trust, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and supporting the waterfronts along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Rivers. The organization will help in the recruitment of volunteers and course development for the Ragnar Relay event, and will also receive a financial contribution from Ragnar based on total number of participants.
 
Ragnar Relay Series hosts two-day, overnight relay runs throughout the U.S. and now Canada. In 2012, the series hosted 15 races across the United States from January through November in locations including the Florida Keys, Napa, Colorado, Seattle, Washington DC and Las Vegas.
 
More than 80,000 participants from all fifty states and more than 10 countries along with more than 100,000 fans across the country came out to experience the thrills of overnight, team relay running. Race officials anticipate participation surpassing 125,000 runners per year by 2015.
 
2013 will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back race in Utah, which regularly sells out within days of its registration opening. Ragnar Relay Series is presented by NordicTrack, with additional national sponsors including Petzl, Clif Bar, SweatVac, Monster Beverages and Scott James Jewelers.
 
 
Based in Utah, Ragnar Events, LLC is the largest overnight running relay series in the United States. Traversing inspiring and scenic destinations around the country, these events make testing your limits a team sport. Teams of 12 run this 200-mile relay in the course of two days and one night. They connect in memorable relationships, conquer a challenge that could not be done alone and celebrate with medals and finish line festivities.

 

Often called a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant, this unique relay turns out crazy costumes, inside jokes, close quarters and unforgettable stories. Begun as a single relay from Logan to Park City, UT in 2004 by college roommates, Dan Hill and Tanner Bell, now over 160,000 people have run in the Ragnar Relay Series presented by Nordic Track, which boasts 15 races and is growing every year.