RUNNING USA – Ragnar Relay Adds Pennsylvania Race to Roster – 15th event in popular overnight national relay series will cover 200 miles from Lancaster to Poconos

KAYSVILLE, Utah – Ragnar Relay Series presented by NordicTrack announced the addition of their 15th race: Ragnar Relay Pennsylvania. Already the nation's top provider of overnight-relay races, this announcement further establishes the growing demand for overnight relays, and Ragnar Relay's dominance as the category leader.

The nearly 200-mile overnight-relay race will start in Lancaster and finish at the Pocono Mountain resort area. Ragnar Relay Pennsylvania will debut October 7-8, 2011.

Ragnar Relay Pennsylvania will take runners on an overnight trek through some of Eastern Pennsylvania's most beautiful landscape. Beginning at Stauffer Park in Lancaster, the course guides runners along stunning rural roads, scenic rolling hills and old towns with "vintage Americana" feel. Runners will pass though Reading and spend time experiencing Pennsylvania Dutch country and farm communities. As runners travel north to the finish in the Pocono Mountain resort area, the route will weave back and forth over the Schuylkill River, giving runners an opportunity to experience the beautiful fall colors of Pennsylvania.

"We are thrilled to introduce Ragnar Relay Pennsylvania to the series," said Ragnar Relay Series Co-Founder Dan Hill. "While it is always exciting to announce more races in our series, it's an even better feeling when we get to bring a great time to those looking for a great adventure with family, friends and colleagues."

Ragnar Relay races challenge teams of up to 12 runners on courses of between 180 and 200 miles. Each leg of the relay varies in difficulty, so elite and novice runners can run together. Teams are responsible for providing two support vehicles, with six runners in each vehicle. The first vehicle drops off the first runner and drives ahead to the first exchange point. Teams repeat this pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging pattern continues day and night, all the way to the much-anticipated finish line.

The popularity of overnight relay races has grown exponentially as endurance enthusiasts have embraced the exciting team component that is non-existent in other running events. The Ragnar Relay Series is experiencing dramatic growth as team registrations numbers are sky-rocketing and selling out races months in advance. Founded in 2004, Ragnar races have grown from 200 participants to more than 40,000 in 2010, with nearly 70,000 projected for 2011.

Visit www.ragnarrelay.com for race dates and exact locations.

RUNNING USA